I'm guessing you're like me (can't do a total remodel). I'd turn the dated glass brick wall into a feature by adding retro banquette seating. The cabinet doors are flat, so painting them white or slightly greyish would be an easy DIY. With new paint and hardware, you could update the kitchen cheaply and perk up the tile.

I would like to suggest changing out your hardware for a brushed nickel option. This will enhance your existing cabinet color. You can also play up your grey counter-tops by using either a cement white or grey color on your walls for a more industrial retro or lofty feel. Toss in pops of color in your accent pieces such as fuchsia, yellow, chartreuse, or orange for a little spice. You also have the option of changing the color of your sink by having a tub and tile resurface professional spray it while it is still in place.
Have fun with your retro project. With little money, it can be a great space.

I will take better pictures and add this evening, I'm not home. Thank you all for your feedback so far! :) I can't do a complete remodel and admittedly I don't desire to, I really love the classic look. I just want to make it pristine again. For now addressing the hardware/painting is all i can do. Also really appreciate the banquette seating idea and accent suggestions. Now just have to figure out wear to find those seats...

Since you're keeping the retro, go with a 40's color, like an aqua wall. Paint the cabinets light to mid grey.Really, tho ANY color you love would look great with your grey tiles. Grey and white checkerboard floor with a diamond of soft aqua/teal interspersed. Picture the colors in those old 40's, 50's fabrics. Maybe add a print valance and recover your chairs (think pink--pay homage to cool pink sink?). Often, there's a dusty gold/yellow or pink with aqua in those fabrics, too. Find a fabric you love and pull your colors from that. Search retro fabrics for color, style ideas. If the floor is good, work with it, otherwise paint and seal it! You can do all this with paint, a bit of fabric and cool new hardware. Go for it!

these images are better. Thanks for your feedback Cyndie.

First, I'd get an oneness thermometer to test the oven's accuracy. Then see if any pans fit in it. These old wall ovens generally don't work, and sometimes the door doesn't shut properly. Then check out the cooktop. I'd hate to make my plans around pink appliances if they aren't operational.

But, the rest looks pretty good! Are those glass tiles in the backsplash? Looks like a real soft aqua-tinged color... A great color to continue with if so.

Sorry.. iPad likes o spell for me! Oven thermometer is what I wanted to say!

Btw...are the glass blocks on an interior wall? If so, I'd carefully remove them.....

Hi Isemartha the oven is operational. The glass tile backsplash is exposed on the exterior of the house as well. It looks aqua but it is clear my neighbors driveway light is just shining through. Yeah I'm not set on keeping the pink but definitely don't want to change out counters they are in great shape.

Go to your paint store and ask them to recommend a product (acetone?) that will clean off the years of accumulated polishes in cabinets without stripping them. The color will really improve.. Wear rubber gloves and open windows while doing it. A good coat of wax (paint guy should be able to guide you with that as well) should do the trick.

Counters look fine. Are they a medium grey? If so, knobs in that color family would work well. Can't see your floor but if you have a World Market near you, they have a very good variety of inexpensive area rugs/runners to bring some life into your room, and a different selection of sizes too. It may be worth having a pro come deep clean floors and put 2-3 coats of wax down. They can tell you what to use for cleaning them afterwards that won't remove the wax shine. (Yes, I did this for a few years until I could afford replacement!)

Re: a banquette.. Look for a place that sells used restaurant furniture. Reupholstering them won't be cheap but nothing is! A good choice for heavy use in kitchens is Sunbrella fabrics. The coating on fabric is terrific.

What about the glass block wall. Can you take that down and leave open?

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/4'x6'+pink+and+orange+kaia+flatweave+wool+area+rug.do?fMb=1&green=6EBDC1C8-C0FA-56C3-0F41-5B38669BEEF2&Clickid=mybuys_prod_cs

Here is a link for an orange and pink geometric rug... Without seeing a bit more detail it is hard to say. But, this give you an idea and their rugs are on sale this week for 50% off and think I noted that they are offering free shipping

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/design-dot-and-polka-dot/type-fabric/premier-prints-ikat-domino-flamingo-fabric-.htm

Fabric for banquette... Ikat design in grey with pink center to bring a pope of appliance color without going over the top

Wow, pink kitchen sink! That's a first. Some thoughts:

--Clean the cabinets, if you're not painting them white, and add nickel hardware.

--Love the banquette idea. It doesn't have to be a fortune to have a carpenter build that for you. If you look up "Ikea hacks banquette," you'll see some DIY projects using Ikea pieces. The fabric isemartha picked for a banquette is great for the period.

--The glass bricks are unique, and if you can't change them out right now for windows--then embrace them.

--Yes, spiff up the cabinets with nickel hardware and get them cleaned up. Down the road, consider painting them white. Add some pink vintage pottery and glassware to your open shelves if you go white. It's usually pretty cheap in Etsy and ebay. Here's a Goggle link for all things vintage pink: http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=ze0jVPDQE4ScyQTMz4GYBA&ved=0CC0QsAQ&q=pink%20vintage%20glassware&tbm=isch

--Below is gray and white checkerboard flooring that would tie in with your counter and gives a period feel without being dowdy. (click on photo to open and see the floor. It doesn't show up in thumbnail.)

--I can see a schoolhouse lamp over the sink. Here's one with nickel from 1-
800lighting.com

--Paint color for the walls stumps me since you have the golden oak and gray. My best guess is Benjamin Moore Atrium White, which has a pink tone in it. But more sophisticated would be the very, very lightest shade of the gray--almost a white--of your countertop. I hope someone else weighs in on that. Yes, an aqua might work, though you're getting gray, white, pink, and aqua--could be a bit on the busy side.

Meanwhile, you might want to post questions on http://retrorenovation.com/ for ideas.

Better gray and white checkerboard floor photo:

Check out retrorenovation.com

Love the handles by the way!

Painting the cabinets would give the kitchen a fresher look. Pick a pastel color or white.
Also found a picture of a similar kitchen, not bad, I'd say. :)

I am short and I also need some help with cabinets. I am planning on having mine replaced!

Your (greek key?) cabinet handles are awesome! I'd just clean those bad boys up, along with the cabinets, and continue to use them if they're in good shape. If your pink appliances are still in good working order, embrace them!

You asked about paint colors. Try matching some paint chips to the pinkish white sink, then the gray tile, tape them to some cardboard, and take them with you to the paint store, then bring home a lot of off white chips. For redecorating a whole new house, it's often worthwhile to buy the $40 fandeck from your favorite paint company.

The cabinets look a lot like red birch, not red oak. I've found Scotts Liquid Gold or mineral spirits to be very good cleaners for old finishes. If the finish is gummy around the pulls, you may want to strip and refinish, but in the meantime, you can try overcoating with an old fashioned varnish, not polyurethane. Practice on the back of a cabinet door first! It;s often useful to put a small door from some rarely used cabinet in a box in the car for a few days as you go back and forth.

Check the garage for extra tiles, you may be lucky. Add one to your box.

By the way, changing the light bulbs will change the overall appearance of the colors. If you plan to change the main light fixture, do that first and then pick the paint color.

Those square recessed lights are now in demand by people doing restoration, even though they are not very good at actually providing good lighting over sinks.

You asked about flooring. A lightly patterned sheet vinyl would be a good option. Marmoleum is an expensive alternative. If you need to live with the gray for now, strip off the old wax and recoat with a couple coats of Pledge with Finish. Mop and Glo will work, too, after you strip off the old wax. You can rent a floor scrubber to make the job go a lot faster (and you should only have to do this once!).

You can also do some floor archeology by prying up a corner of the gray flooring in a closet or pantry area. Often interesting to see what colors were there originally.

No need to make mosaics. Four full size photos can be uploaded at a time. Then they will zoom to full size when clicked on.

If you can remove a drawer and take it outside for a few photos in broad daylight, you can start a new thread with a subject like "What wood is this kitchen drawer from 1940's?"

I cant begin to thank you all enough!! i am sooooo excited to try an implement each of you all's suggestions. I'll definitely post further pictures of the process. I am still stuck on whether I'd like to paint the cabinets or not they are in great condition and already finished. May just clean them. I may attempt to paint the original hardware in nickel finish.

ugh, easier to replace hardware than to paint it, and likely to give you a better finished look (in terms of style).

Maybe just give the cabinets a good cleaning and polish. Leave the hardware as is if it's orginial as someone upthread said. Any nickel paint would wear off. We didn't get a close look at the hardware. Certainly painting the walls, getting a great light fixture (I'm talking to you, schoolhouse fixture--find one with black trim if you keep current hardware) and new flooring could spiff things up quite a bit. And I'm voting again for adding pink Depression glass and pottery for your open shelves.

any thoughts on whether i should keep the interior of the cabinets pink? i am thinking of going over this with a fresh coat of paint. As far as the floors i am presently looking into someone coming to clean, polish and seal them so hopefully they'll look like new again and shine.

Yes, say goodbye to pink interiors of birch plywood cabinets. Birch 40s-60s =oak 70s-90s. Just prime all the wood white and live with a few days to see how it changes the room. Then pick a color (aka lite grey ;0) to paint them inside and out. The handles are cool but the jury's still out about the scale. They look heavy and busy with all the curves in your narrow room, but new ones could get pricey. Didn't realize oven was pink too--delightful! What about dw color? A 70's add-on maybe? working? Loving tall wall cabs and round table with curved glass wall. Is this a galley kitchen? Wheres the fridge--on opp wall, next to oven? Are your floors orig linoleum? Details, details, I love details (and kitchens)!!

If there are 900 other things to do in your new house, and the pink interior paint is in good shape, just leave it for a few months. Use a fun patterned shelf liner instead, the easily repositioned kind.

Professional stripping and waxing is worth the money when the floors are really in need of help. The pros can do a superb job quickly. The same pros can often clean and seal ceramic tile in bathrooms, too. Definitely worth the money.

Do you have more photos taken in broad daylight?

lol Cyndie everything in this kitchen is original from the floors to the top of the ceiling I'm guessing. The house had only one owner live in it and was built in 1938. I'm trying to keep it as mid century as possible. I think I am leaning toward painting the cabinets, the birch just seems sooo heavy and definitely changing out the handles if they don't look good with the white. I'll consider cabinet color too if the white doesnt look good. Apple_Pie_Order I plan to have the floors cleaned and shined up this Sunday. I'll make sure to post a picture in addition to a broad daylight photo. Hope it comes out great. Thanks for your feedback :) Really appreciate it.

links to the kitchens I'm digging for inspiration so far...really loving the pale green/mint cabinets. Love the wood floors and or checkered as well.





https://www.houzz.com/photos/1950s-retro-chill-aqua-kitchen-eclectic-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~2685615

Thanks for additional info. One owner since 1938?! There may be some "deferred maintenance". If you just bought the house, you may be able to buy a home warranty. Some warranties are worth the money. It's Often an older house with one or two residents may have some problems with plumbing backups once a new family has moved in.

It's nice that you have sturdy, well made stick built cabinets. Take a look at new door pulls; take an old drawer with you to the store to save time. BTW, you can buy new drawer boxes if waxing and tidying up the runners and drawer stops doesn't cure all the wear and tear. THey are not expensive.

You might also want to try grout paint. It can be bought at home centers. White or off white paint on the gray tile's grout may freshen it up quite a bit. If you pick up some gray paint chips, match the tile color, and then you can get a small can of oil based paint tinted to match exactly. Use it with a tiny brush to patch up any chips in gray tiles. Works very well. Latex paint doesn't work nearly as well as a chip fixer upper. The pink tiles may be matched by a $3 pink nail polish if you are lucky.

I'd go with pale aqua to contrast with the pink and cabinets. It will also work with the grey tile. There are lots of pink kitchen gadgets currently. Use retro depression glass and fiesta ware to accent the sink and appliances. I remember agua trim dishes that we collected with coupons from the grocery store.
I would worry about the interior of the cabinets last. If you decade to tackle painting cabinets white then you may need to change the interior.

I love the wood cabinets. A contractor told me that stain last longer! I am having my kitchen redone also! I need more room! I am having to spend on one item at a time. I have already done my counter (marble), and replaced the sink. I've been told you have to have a special gadget for pictures, that I don't have!!

Have you looked at some of Vetrostone USA countertops and backsplashes? We have a variety of different colors that may help with the look you are going for! It is an eco-friendly durable surface containing exotic seashells and sea glass.

Kadoos to the previous owner for maintaining this kitchen for 76 years. Wow! Love glass block or glass of any type. Retro is in but these colors would go right in modern. Definitely in mid century . If you get a large sheet of poster board paint it the color you are thinking of and tape it to the cabinets it would give you a better idea on your choices. Enjoy

Love funkologists picks for mint kitchen.