Mistakes in my Kitchen

15 years ago

Jean Tigar

Now that my husband, our handyman, and I joined forces to modernize our 40-year-old kitchen, I am discovering things I wish we had done differently. NEXT time I'd remember that, garbage disposer or no, a kitchen still must have a garbage can. I wish I had room for a full-size, step-on can as near the sink as possible- so I could eliminate the unsanitary, unsightly and unfortunate brown paper bag now tucked in our refrigerator corner to hold the cans and things you can't grind!

I forgot about my wall can opener, too. Now that our kitchen is tiled 'way up to here, there's absolutely no place in the right area to anchor a can opener. I should have taken a firm stand about this one. And with windows as near the area of preparation as mine are now, I should've skipped curtains entirely and settled for Venetian blinds and perhaps a fancy cornice. The curtains get soiled almost quicker than I can keep two sets washed - they act as irritating reminders of my carelessness and speed.

The words "carelessness" and "speed" remind me that I should never have consented to a cabinet above a sink. I am forever dropping or carelessly pushing things off the shelves onto the beautiful porcelain surface beneath. I could also have easily incorporated at least one pullout drawer type of base cupboard- I discovered too late that this would have eliminated getting down on all fours when I want things from way back in a bin.

But despite the mistakes, my advice is to get at the kitchen remodeling- no matter what you have to do without in order to pay for it! Had we known how many miles of walking a modern kitchen saves a year, how really wonderful life can be when meal preparation and cleanup are easier, we'd have done it years ago.

I typed this word for word from ...The American Home magazine - February, 1953!!

I had been reading the old Look magazines on google books so today I stopped at the second hand store where I knew there were some old magazines. Evidently someone else likes those old magazines, too, because there was very little left. And there were no bargains! I bought this one and I think I will call and have them save the rest for me. There is also a pictorial of a new kitchen. I want to scan it at work so I can get a high resolution scan to post. You would not believe this kitchen! Looks exactly like the kitchens posted here. I had no idea built in wall ovens, dishwashers, and islands were available in 1953. Certainly not anywhere I visited. No doubt these were "rich people". She had the work areas even more defined than now days. I wish they would have put the measurements on the floor plan, though. And what is an "electric sink"??? Oh, and lest I forget - stainless steel. I would love this kitchen.

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Comments (12)

remodelfla
15 years ago
architectural salvage places could become your friend.
blfenton
15 years ago
I mentioned in another post that I have a House Beautiful magazine from 1995 (a youngster compared to yours)and the kitchens in there would fit right in with the FKB. White kitchens with hardwood floor, drawers, islands, clean lines. When something is designed well it will stand the test of time. It took me 15 years to get from that magazine to my new kitchen and the waiting was worth it.
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home4all6
15 years ago
Wow! I was reading that thinking it was really your post, and believing every word. I thought ti was funny that you were so concerned about your can opener, but to each her own :) And the curtains surprised me a bit, too. But I never would have guessed it was so old! cool!
pinch_me
Original Author
15 years ago
I did look for one of those swing away can openers. Found them and like the lady in the story, couldn't find a good place to put it. My mom's wasn't in a very convenient spot either but it worked. Wait till you see the kitchen in that issue.

My curtain saga is its own story. I've found some really cool retro looking stuff on eBay that goes better with my retro tablecloths. The bad news is I like the curtains I already made. I recovered two of four chair seats with the yellow; two are still red. What I really need is a second or third kitchen so I can use up all my ideas. I'd still do a diner kitchen if I could. I'd need the right house for it though.
Katie S
15 years ago
FABULOUS!! My father says the "electric sink" refers to a garbage disposal, something relatively new at the time.
kitchenconfidential2
15 years ago
Not hiding outlets

Not ordering all drawers for my island

Not interviewing the contractors referrals
formerlyflorantha
15 years ago
What a hoot, Pinch Me!

I wonder if that author forgot to include a wall-mounted pencil sharpener as we did. Maybe there will be a place in the new closet? Or will we step into the garage?
pinch_me
Original Author
15 years ago
ours was inside the basement door. I hadn't thought about that for 50 years!
mcraney
15 years ago
An electric sink is a dishwasher.

Linking to a youtube video of a 1949 "electric sink".

Here is a link that might be useful: Electric Sink
dianalo
15 years ago
I had forgotten about wall can openers! I wonder if I can fit one somewhere in our plan.... hmmm....
aliris19
15 years ago
Wall can openers: *ew* those things were so disgusting. I know ... we've still got one. Caked, corroded, rusted vintage goo; yummy. I'm surprised you don't get tetanus just looking at the thing. It's hanging in an old family house along with all sorts of other vintage stuff attached to the wall: ice crusher, jar opener, bottle opener, huge twisty timer, old kerosene something-or-other (meter? tank?), double-string of hooks for giant pans and pan lids right on top of them. I love all the stuff hanging in that kitchen. You should see the stove (dual fuel: half propane, half kerosene I think?). And the sink is majorly wonderful -- huge double about, dunno, at least 15" deep on one side, covered over by a sliding coated metal drainboard. I love this kitchen....
pinch_me
Original Author
15 years ago
aliris19- you8r house? Can you take a picture? I'm trying to "decorate" in 1930-40. My sister and I visit the antique shops and say, "Oh, Look! Mom had one of those!" And then we look at the price tag and gasp. If only we would have known, all their stuff wouldn't have gone to the auction 30 years ago.

That old diswasher is beautiful! I wonder how women who had one were viewed by other women? Lazy? Modern? Were they envious? In my neighborhood they would have been gossiped about. Something tells me if you could afford one of those, you wouldn't have lived in my neighborhood!