yes I am all for leaving appliances until they die. unless you are moving and must sell. they all die soon enough. I have never moved into a new home that the dishwasher have not die within 3 months.

I was a little concerned at first about the aesthetic, but hearing the positive feedback has made me think of it in another light. I am new to home decoration but I lean towards the "transitional" style over mid century. That being said I do see how these could be considered attractive. A lot of the kitchens I find myself bookmarking on Houzz have a medium wood and white subway tile and light counters...this is not far off of that, albeit 60s.

I want stainless steel appliances, I know that much. The measurements are actually 23 1/4 x 29. I believe with the surrounding frame I could go up to 26in wide (?)

I think my challenge will be making this look updated to my tastes, whilst not compromising the integrity/ history of the kitchen. I can see how pre fab cabinets may not be better quality wise, and they won't necessarily give me more space.

Maybe subway tile? Would a non laminate counter and tile backsplash be odd with cabinets this old? The floors are brand new (put in by the bank) so I would probably leave them alone for now as they extend into the dining area too. If I did subway backsplash, would I just go above the existing ridge or probably replace counter at the same time?

Practically questions if I keep: how to clean inside best and what is the best way to line cabinets these days? Surely not contact paper ;)

When you choose a house you choose a design style. Design with clarity!

I think non-laminate countertop material is fine!

And if you like subway tile, fine also, just keep it subtle. Your countertop should be really attractive to pull this together. Don't be afraid to use color for the counter.

Tile was used a lot in midcentury kitchens for backsplashes (and counters)

The sizes of ovens are "nominal" so they are usually smaller cutout wise than the size. You may be able to squeeze in a 27" oven.

There are a lot of really nice quartzes out there for countertops. I don't see a typical granite working very well with these cabinets but you have lots of non-laminate choices as well. (Although there is nothing the matter with laminate. Look at how old that laminate is and even around the cooktop it appears to be in good condition. I am not pushing for laminate here, just saying it is actually a suitable countertop material, even though it's not popular and considered "low end in a lot of markets right now).

Belltown Design- do you mean that in buying a 60's house I have chosen that style and it is best to stick to it? Or do you mean that if I like Transitional style instead of Mid Century that I should stick to that?

Im gathering that one school of thought is to not deviate from the house's era style. I certainly don't want the house to feel disjointed.

Hi Charm,
What I am saying is that for the sake of interior design unity, the fundamental architectural style needs to be honored. This is the foundation and springboard of where to go from here with the house. This does not mean that your house should be a "museum," but if you start installing transitional style elements it will become a hodge- podge. Your solid core flat paneled cabinetry is the essence of this home's aesthetic. If you have a ton of $$ you could pull off a more eclectic style, yet with this home, it was meant to be simple, straight forward and cost effective - why not stick with that while making it your own....

You can always tweak mid century design to a more contemporary taste.

Which is why I suggested the IceStone countertop. (resistant to heat, scratches ) with a green glass subway tile. You could update your floor to wood in a different shade than the counters. Or a slate-like tile

I would also suggest removing all that bizarre moulding at knee height (Never seen that thing) and use an appropriate sized base moulding. about 5/12 "

I think the more you deviate from the original design, the more work you have to do to make it look cohesive.

For example, a lot of current bathroom fixtures are vaguely Victorian looking, faucets especially. If you wanted a Victorian-style bathroom, it would look very out of place if the rest of the house stayed as it was. However, if you remodeled the entire house to have a cottage feel, it might work. These are just illustrations I am not suggesting anything in particular.

So I think you could skew a bit away from staying period in the kitchen since no house is designed in or lived in in a total vacuum. Transitional means between periods or designs that bridge styles, so it can fit in with various original styles. But--if you are trying to do very little, it makes more sense to let the original house tell you what to do by staying "compatible" with the original.

There are some exceptions to this, it wouldn't make sense (for most people)to try to make a kitchen or bathroom in a Victorian house look period Victorian with a high tank toilet and all that. So a contemporary kitchen or bath might be a good fit. What make the most sense though is to Not do something new, that is in a style that is older than the original house itself.

So a midcentury style kitchen would look sort of off in a house that was obviously built in 1990 and a Victorian style kitchen would look off in a house that was obviously built in 1955. But a midcentury bathroom or kitchen might look fine in a Victorian house because the remodel came After the original.

The problem with many current styles are that they reference historical styles. So a 2015 contemporary kitchen could look great in this house, but a 2015 kitchen with beadboard and a farmhouse sink and a Victorian looking faucet and such would not be such a good fit for this house.

Does that make sense?

I love the feel of this room. The bones are adorable. That rounded, shelved, little "jetty" is classic Mid-Century. Before making any moves that cannot be undone, read up a little...search photographs, dig dig dig. You will see elements you love & some that make you cringe!

This site is a must for anyone with a MCM home: Tons of great info, purchase sources & anything else you need to do that room

*her kitchen page: http://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/

I love that once again...they're making the boomerang countertops! You may love them or hate them, but they are fun!

https://www.google.com/search?q=formica+boomerang+countertops&biw=1229&bih=665&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Ko38VI6-MYiHyAS164HQAQ&ved=0CDkQsAQ&dpr=1

Even Ebay has an MCM community!!

http://community.ebay.com/t5/Mid-Century-Modern/bd-p/21000000006

Have fun! You can update & not lose the era OR your style aesthetic...

One last thing...I'd love to see a couple pics of outside or other rooms. MCM homes are so cool!!! :0) They have a unique following all their own!

OKAY-- budget time. Don't replace the cabinets - I think they are wonderful. Just clean them up and maybe change the handles to the pencil style handle. They are making them in copper now and that would be great. Don't try to find a wall oven to fit - I think Gaggenau (ouch $$$) is the only one that makes one that narrow. Instead, take out the cooktop and do a drop in cooktop/oven combination in that space. You can have a cabinet maker make pullouts and doors to replace the oven area and use it as a pullout pantry or dish cabinet if you need it. I would use Cesaerstone countertops in grey or white and do not use subway tile. By the 1940s people were no longer using subway shaped tiles as much. A very linear horizontal mixed material (stone, glass) is truly in keeping with this house. I know you see if everywhere right now, but your house is the one it was designed to go in.

Nope. I have a cabinet like that and found plenty of 24" ovens. a 24" oven is ususa;y less than24 so that they fit in a 24" cavity

Yes I found 32 options for 24" wide ovens on one appliance site. They are plentiful.

What about an induction cooktop with the money you save from not replacing the cabinets?

Also, I definitely agree that the cabinets would probably look better to you if they were simply "cleaned up"/restored. The clear coat can yellow over time and get dirty.

And also agree that the chair rail moulding is odd looking in that kitchen. What's the other side of the room look like, by the way? (I always want to see more pictures of other people's homes. :) )

The reason I suggest spending the $$ on an induction top vs new cabinets is that cooking on electric coils is the worst, plus it's not terribly safe if you have smaller kids around and it's pretty easy to burn food etc. Running a gas line in would likely be pricy, but an induction top is just as good as cooking on gas, if not better. I have a single induction unit I bought as well as my gas range, and I love the induction cooker. And it's the easiest thing to clean ever. I love to cook but hate to clean, so it's a winner in my book. So maybe this would be a good use of your funds, even though it's a bigger investment upfront.

I sold my 2 yo induction stove. I hated that thing! My idea of a constant temperature is not on-off-on-off-on-off

Bought this bad boy to replace it.

I realize this wouldn't work for charmdesign, but there are some cool vintage appliances out there to be found.

If you have small children around, do what mothers have done for generations...tell them NO and when they don't listen & burn a finger, they learn "HOT" real fast & never do it again. We all grew up that way & lived through it just fine.

The cabinets are fantastic- you really shouldn't replace them for lesser quality. Invest in high quality appliances and the attention will be drawn to them, not the minor style inconsistencies that exist if you choose to keep them. The 4" lip on the counters is dated and needs to go! Looking at your idea book, the plain, smooth white countertops, I think, would be the best of your choices and wouldn't interfere with any design decisions you might make with the house. I would choose a glossy tile for the backsplash. White is fine and would allow limitless choice for wall color, curtains, linens, etc.

Shelf lining- silicone comes in thin sheets that can be cut and used for lining. Easy to remove for cleaning.

mid century, these knobs would b great.

I would restore or paint the cabinets and update counters, hardware and fixtures. For a bigger change, you could add glass to a cabinet door or two with some led lighting.

these knobs would look good for mid century

If you are on a budget then the new stainless stove/0ven range is the best buy. Take out the oven and sell it on Craigs List etc . Remove or raise the cabinet above the stove for a microwave if you want one up high. Where the oven was remove the middle of the cabinet and replace it with additional counter so you can actually have room to cook in the cook area! The you will have a baking area for your mixer and room to prep food for cooking on the stove. And I would remove the space cobbling shelves and hang them on a wall in the hall way as a planter or something useful. This is a darling area and you will have so much fun with it. Do knobs in stainless and a if you can manage it a counter depth refridgerator will give you more space right by your entry area. You will need it, I'm sure.

Wonderful cabinets and they appear to be in good condition - no broken hinges, missing corners on the drawers or doors or other indicators to say replace. I love the plywood cabinets from that era for their clean lines and great functionality. One of my favorite attributes of plywood cabinets is you can put in racks, holders, and other cabinet organizers by fastening them directly to the plywood.

That appears to be a good layout for a kitchen of that size and age. I would update the countertops if they are in poor condition, otherwise save your money for later projects. There are many issues you may come across in your older home and having some budget flexibility is always a good idea. I'm not a fan of replacing perfectly well functioning products unless you have the time and budget to replace them with original or better quality.

Thanks for all the feedback. RE: more photos of the other half of the kitchen and the rest of the house will come in a few weeks when I close on this house.

I am digesting the feedback and will reply soon.

While working in retail there was a category called 'organic' - it was transitional in that there was no period design, just simple shapes. I am not an expert but when I see your cabinets I 'see organic'. Why not is it called painted glass backsplash in soft white, which has no grout patterns to detract? Especially with recycled glass counters.

Love your kitchen. That stove area would be a no-go for me as a cook. Someone mentioned it earlier. No space to left or right!! Let's see the rest of the kitchen. Thinking maybe a slide-in in the peninsula (deep enough?), then make stove area a workspace? Keep cabinets and embrace mcm. Love your front door too. Bet that whole hose is cool. Furniture will be fun! NO GRANITE COUNTERS!!!

stainless steel counters

Sorry, but induction beats the pants off of an electric coil cooktop. There is not much to debate there. You actually don't want a constant temperature when cooking, you want quick change in heat response from your cookware and cooktop, which is what induction offers. Sure, you can pull your pan off the range and try to assess when to return it to the heat, but in practical, daily scenarios this is inefficient and leads to problems for the average cook.

There's a reason you don't see electric coils in miche

Lol. Well, went to take care of the cat and ended up hitting "submit" by accident.

My point was going to be that there was a reason you see induction in professional kitchens but never ever electric coils. I'm glad people enjoy their electric ranges, but, having worked in fine dining in such small towns as Chicago and Seattle (mostly Chicago), and being friends with a lot of professional chefs, plus doing a lot of cooking myself, I can pretty much confidently say that induction is superior. Constant, non adjustable temperature is not your friend if you want great cooking.

I'm on the "don't replace those lovely cabinets" team! Updating the handles would do wonders for them (stick to something simple). If you DO decide to update, consider IKEA cabinets instead of something from Menards or Home Depot, etc. Ikea has great prices, good quality (though probably not as good as what you already have), but most importantly for you, something that would "fit" style-wise with your MCM home. You can either use IKEA doors or have doors custom-made for not-much-more. (Semihandmade.com / Dendra Doors / Scherrs , etc.) If you keep your cabinets, you could splurge on a retro stove like this: http://bigchill.com/ Or at least something with simple, sleek lines. Or some of this retro tile (a pattern literally revived from the 1950s): http://www.heathceramics.com/home/pages/tile-build/collections-brands/dimensional-2

^ which of the Ikea lines would work style wise?

@bungalowmo, I was joking to mention the rounded jetty cabinet at the end of the peninsula. We had that in our kitchen growing up in the 60s in a house that dated from 1960 and I think they are completely charming.

I was going to mention RetroRenovation, as well. One thing that Pam goes into is what she calls Mid-Century modest which are the houses that are not classically MCM, but more like the common brick ranches that I grew up in and live in now.

Charmdesign, the 1950's was all about simple design--clean, straight lines, no frills, modular, "futuristic". So I think a lot of the IKEA doors would work, depending upon what look you wanted. Unfortunately, IKEA's website sucks and doesn't make it easy to browse door designs, specifically. However, I think you could mix in some of the stainless steel Grevsta, the walnut-look of Brokhult, any of the high-gloss fronts like Ringhult (white or gray) or Fladie (bright green) or Jarsta (bright yellow), any of the fronts without ornamentation like Ekestad, Tingsyrd, Haggeby, or Veddinge and the glass door Jutis. Here is a Buying Guide download that I have found more helpful (by far!) than anything else on their website: http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/pdf/buying_guides_fy15/sektion/System-bg-SEKTION.pdf You can also pick up a hard copy in their store (kitchen area) and I think you can request one to be mailed to you. Also, the other companies I mentioned above make custom doors for IKEA cabinets and it's more affordable than you might think. Some of them advertise that their prices are only 10% above IKEA and for that you can get real wood (veneer) fronts. IKEA cabinets are 10-20% off through the end of April (they usually have this kind of sale 2x year). Also, they will be coming out with additional door front styles in August (though some they carry now may be discontinued as well).

One more note....I've been working with the designers at http://inspiredkitchendesign.com/ to design my kitchen using IKEA cabinets and custom doors. The process was fast, smooth, and inexpensive. I've done some of the other cabinet designs in my house (entertainment center built-in in living room and both bathrooms), but I decided I was spending too much money on a kitchen to mess it up. It has worked out quite well.

Here are some links to companies who make doors for IKEA (or in some cases, any other) cabinet bases: SemiHandmadeDoors: http://www.semihandmadedoors.com/ Dendra Doors: http://remodelcabinetdoors.com/ Scherr's Cabinet & Doors: http://www.scherrs.com/ Dunsmuir Cabinets: http://www.dcabinets.com/ Kokeena: http://kokeena.com/ -- and most local cabinetmakers can do this, too--it's just not that complicated. I think maybe Barker does, also: http://www.barkerdoor.com

I'd kill for those cabinets -- is your home for sale?? Seriously though, keep the cabinets and update with a fresh quartz or colorful laminate countertop. Please, no glass tile backsplash! Go with a handcrafted tile, such as Fireclay. Best design advice I've ever heard? "Don't fight your architecture."

@Plum Prairie - I wasn't sure anyway, but why no backsplash [curious]? I thought flush/flat would 'like' flush/flat/no grout? like in the old days when laminate was also a backsplash.

I'm about to head into a kitchen reno (hence, my browsing of Houzz) and even though I'm not really into baking or cooking, I need more than a 24" oven. I recently moved from a huge home where I'd spent a fortune having a custom kitchen put in and enjoyed it immensely. My appliances were all professional level and I had a wall oven and large counter cooktop. You can imagine my horror upon discovering late on the afternoon of Dec. 24 that my roasting pan wouldn't even fit into the little 24" oven my 'new' little home's kitchen contained. Perhaps, you might put just the standard stove/oven into the space where your counter top elements currently sit.

Every once in a while, you may need a bigger oven. BTW, all of my baking sheets (standard size) needed to be replaced with smaller ones, too.

Your cabinets appear to be in amazingly good condition! I'd try to work with them if you're able. If your budget is not very flexible, you'll end up with ones that won't match the quality of your current ones.

You oven looks great. Just add stainless steel frdge, dw, ct, micro and go from there. If this has been said already I apologize as I am coming late to the party. But my daughter had a 24 inch double oven for years and it worked nicely. Your oven looks in great shape and rather timeless is design.

those cabinets are awesome! its amazing what a little stain or paint can do to transform the space. I would try to stay within that style, which I think others have suggested, and go "mid century modern" with greens, blues, and whites. A nice quartz countertop with a funky backsplash.

I'm not daring enough for this countertop, but the backsplash is a great idea!

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/mid-century-modern-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~851989[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mid-century-modern-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-los-angeles-phvw-vp~851989)

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/colorful-mid-century-modern-residence-midcentury-kitchen-phvw-vp~2041975[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/colorful-mid-century-modern-residence-midcentury-kitchen-phvw-vp~2041975)

The oven is broke - needs a coil replaced which I believe is $50. Still entertaining new cabinents, will wait for qoutes to decide. Bought a stainless side by side counter depth fridge and dishwasher so far. Still need a microwave.

Husband isn't interested in replacing the wall oven with another similar sized one...he is leaning towards fixing the oven if possible, or remodel to save money on a range vs separate cooktop and oven...also looking to increase counter space and functionality of the cabinents. Eg some are pretty small.

We are finally closing next week so stay tuned!

Re: color scheme

As far as a homage to MCM, green blue and white have been suggested. Doesn't have to be advocado, right? I would consider turquoise or a subdued china blue. Or maybe just color pops of a variety of colors.

Keeping the cabinets is your homage to the era- any colors you want-retro, modern- doesn't matter as long as it's simple and clean. The refrigerator choice is going to make that difficult, though, especially if you're already finding the storage space limited.

You're on a budget; think before you swap quality for lower end. It might be good to live with the room for a while before you make any major decisions.

if you choose to replace, offer the kitchen for sell on e-bay or to a reclaim place. people would pay god money for such nice MCM cabinets. I personally would keep them and fix the oven.

I think the cabinets are charming, along with the semi-circular shelves at the cabinet end. Since the cabinets appear to be in perfect condition, I definitely would keep them and the copper-colored hardware. To keep everything small scale, I would look around for apartment-size appliances to replace the small oven and the cooktop. To keep the kitchen bright, I would stick with white counter tops and a white backsplash. However, to add contrast to a white back splash, I would insert a rectangular-shaped copper trim (to match the hardware) in a horizontal row above square white tiles and then finish the top of the back splash with rectangular-shaped, bull-nose edged white tile trim above the copper. Another nice accessory would be eyelet-edged shelf liner, provided anyone still makes this paper variety. As an alternative, you might make fabric cloths to line the shelves and have white eyelet edging to drape over the front edges of the shelves. The fabric type can be washed easily, of course, and should last for years.

Incidentally, my kitchen has the same model of cabinets, being solid maple with the same copper hardware. A friend in a nearby town has the same model cabinets with the same copper hardware, and she is the only other person I know of, besides this poster, to have this sort of vintage kitchen. I have lived in this home since 1978, and the initial renovation was around 1960. For years I did not know what to do with the orange-toned maple cabinets, but I have learned to love them. I still have the white laminate counter tops with the metallic gold splatter design, and my mother has this same laminate counter top and back splash on the fruitwood cabinets she chose when Dad built their house in 1960. At any rate, the laminate has held up beautifully, and it goes well with maple and fruitwood cabinets. As to how long furnishings last, a lot depends on the care the materials receive. We always have used "hot pads" and trivets on the counter tops and never have burned the surfaces.

I would kill to have those cabinets!

I have 20 year old builders grade cabinets that are crap. The previous owners spent all the money on sub zero fridge that is rusty, the size of a truck and the cost of a year's tuition at prep school. There is a JennAir double oven–bigger one does not work–-and cooktop that does from nothing to BOILING. My point is is that they don't make appliances and cabinets like they used.

You have something that is easily dressed up with paint and or refinishing and minor cosmetic work, what ever your style! Put in a countertop that you love and match with a paint color on the walls that compliment it. There are so many inexpensive flooring options now too! Choose new fixtures…kitchen jewelry!

Buy a hutch for dining room or build shelves on the end of cabinets to help w/ your storage worries!

Great luck, wish I had it!!

You can always tweak mid century design to a more contemporary taste.

Which is why I suggested the IceStone countertop. (resistant to heat, scratches ) with a green glass subway tile. You could update your floor to wood in a different shade than the counters. Or a slate-like tile

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Love, love, love the green in that countertop and backsplash. It works equally well today as it did during the era of "avocado and harvest gold" that I grew up in. Do you recall the back splashes done in metal tiles of stainless steel or copper? A row of copper tiles embedded in the subway tiles would add a retro element. Shopping for accessories for this room at flea markets would be so much fun. I myself would hunt for some of the old daisy patterned pieces in tangerine, lemon and lime.

I just moved into a house with plywood cabinets in a really funky kitchen - have never seen counters shaped like these before! I love the doors with their copper hinges and round flat knobs, but the cases are just cheap pine. I am going to refinish the doors, rout the edges (some are chipped from cuts with a dull saw blade) and clear coat them again, but paint all the cases pure white in a satin finish. The knobs have all been cleaned and I will strip the black paint off the escutcheons and re-spray them, but probably not black. The few 2 x 6 avocado bull nose tiles will be replaced with white and the kitchen walls will be painted the same green grey that's in some of the tiles. Once that is done I'll decide to either replace the counters with a soft green/white laminate or butcher block. I think when it's finished I will have maintained the integrity of the design but updated the look somewhat.