This kitchen has concrete counters for a modern look, yet the cabinets are transitional leaning traditional with the panels and cup pulls. The modern/vintage look would look great in your older home.

Darzy, I love the kitchen photo you sent. A nice mix of old and new style...modern/vintage is exactly what I'm going for. And regarding the concrete counters, I could not think of anything else that would look good with those Youngstown cabinets without actually getting retro countertops and I didn't want that. I"m leaning towards new...counters and cabinets.

I think it's a difficult dilemma. If the cost of repainting them was less, would you keep them? What about sanding the rusty parts and spraying them yourself (with Rustoleum, for instance) and then seeing how you feel about them in a couple of years. There are alot of really nice laminates now. Retrorenovation is a great website with lots of information about older kitchens, including Youngstown.

Very exciting! I don't know which way you should go, but while you are deciding you may want to check out what original Youngstown items are going for on ebay. Someone is asking $125 for just the Youngstown badge, like you show in your photo. There's a sink for over $1000. Someone sold a half-round shelf extension for $317 and 36 people bid on it. If you do want new, someone may value your retro items and help fund your improvements.

Maybe having them sprayed by an autobody shop is an option. I actually have almost the same dilemma as you do, only my cabinets are wood. It's so tempting to remove everything and have functional drawers, pullout shelves etc. It's even more difficult when one sees all the beautiful kitchens on various websites. Sometimes they all start to look the same though. Your kitchen is almost 60 years old...how many of these new kitchens will still look good 60 years down the road?

Hard decision. If you post better overall photos we can get a feel for the layout and functionality of the space. Have you lived there and cooked in the kitchen yet?

I had psycho linoeleum on my floor, and once I removed it there was hardwood underneath, which I sanded and stained. It made a big difference in how my old kitchen looked. It looks like you have a nice old fashioned tile backsplash and a laminate countertop in good condtion.

cwarnaarbates yes I would definitely keep them if the cost of updating them were more reasonable. I should call an auto body shop and see what they would charge. Anything under $7000 would be an improvement! The fact that the kitchen is so well preserved after 60 years really appealed to me initially. I was very excited to give it a nice retro look with a modern twist! I still might, I just hope I can do it for a better price. Maybe I'll just do what the original owners did...paint them. Like you said...Rustoleum!!!

The rest of the house had old carpet and underneath it we found beautiful hardwood floors which I did have sanded and stained. We haven't looked under the kitchen floor yet, but I don't think its hardwood. That would be a nice surprise though. :)

omelet , yes I was hoping the fund the project by selling the cabinets if I do decide to get new ones. I'm sure someone out there has more patience with restoring than I do. But maybe once I actually move in I will be inspired to take on the project! :)

edwards4four I have not lived there yet. Here is a better photo of the kitchen. It is a simple galley kitchen with a breakfast nook on one end. Check out this stove! Not sure if ti works but talk about retro!

I love your cabinets, but I'm an old house person. It is a hard decision because none of the costs are minor. I have taken up linoleum in two kitchens (one was built in 1926, the other in 1936). The '36 house had pine floors which we refinished at the same time we refinished the hardwood in the rest of the house. The '26 house had 2 layers of linoleum with the first one nailed down. Due to the nail holes we had to lay new hardwood in the kitchen. The '36 house had a stove like yours. I loved it! It also had an all-in-one KitchenAid dishwasher/sink. I would take both of those back in a heartbeat, especially the KitchenAid. Take your time. Decide if you love that retro look. They are worth saving if you do.

If you decide to keep the cabinets, I'd say go ahead and keep the counter too. If so, I think the black/white check floor would look neat.

The cabinets are old but are the counter tops. What are they made of. We have a 1950 house and the kitchen was not as good as yours. The Formica was red and had a metal edge. We updated. However we still have the original bathrooms. For their age they look great.

teejaysawards, The kitchen counter tops are newer, they are white laminate or Formica, no metal edge just very basic. I believe they were put on in the mid 60s. Like you, I am also keeping the original bathrooms because they are in excellent condition and I love all of the tile.

Darzy, yes I LOVE that flooring and the retro look. Thanks so much for the photos! Whether I get new cabinets or keep the old one,s I still want the black and white floor! :)

sandi125, I assumed the floor under the linoleum was not wood, but now I am excited to find out! If it is, I just may have to refinish it. I know wood in not optimal in kitchen, but I have always liked the way it looks. This will really be a difficult decision because I have my heart set on that black and white flooring! ;) Regarding the stove, I guess it can't hurt to get someone to look at it and see if it still works. But wow, that thing is old and I just worry about using it. It still looks very nice and I do like that its so wide. :)

Thanks!

Wow. What did you decide to do? I have heard once you live with the metal cabinetry you fall in love with it and gain an apriciation for how well it is made. My sister in law has a very expensive kitchen put in 10 years ago. All the soft close hinges and such are failing and the solid wood doors are falling apart. It really speeds to the older craftsmanship.

Well, I was really hoping to keep those metal cabinets. I tried very hard but the cost was way out of proportion. Here's what the kitchen looks like now. I still need to paint, put on the door knobs and handles, and finish the electricity. OH! And as it turns out, the huge double sink was NOT cast iron it was some sort of lightweight resin, not worth the trouble. I will post better pictures when its finished!

Nice!

You have done a great job. Love the black and white floors!