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Mid Century Kitchen - Floors + Cabinet Color help

8 years ago

Hi - Closing on this house soon and have a handful of updates to do. The entry into the kitchen has a lot of textures/colors right now, so looking to simplify into a cleaner look and also extend floor to the entry way (Old slate needs replacing). I've been told not to paint the kitchen fireplace!

LAYOUT/COUNTER/APPLIANCES: Will keep U-shape (Just a bit bigger), whiteish engineered quartz and stainless appliances.

FLOORS: Going to take up this old vinyl, and replace with??

+ OPT 1: A thin concrete or concrete-look marmoleum (But don't want marm in the entry).

OPT 2: Extend the oak hardwood into the kitchen and entry for a seamless and warm look.

CABINETS: Going to pull these old guys down and replace with slab cabinets, but what color??

+ OPT 1: If concrete/marmoleum floors, semi-handmade or local crafters flatsawn walnut.

+ OPT 2: If hardwood oak floors, white slab (Not high gloss). Too boring??

ENTRY

ENTRY INTO KITCHEN (Left) and LIVING ROOM (Right). Texture overload!

FLOOR PLAN: http://imgur.com/Rv3BnNR


Comments (19)

  • 8 years ago

    Is half of the fireplace stone and the other side brick? If you do not like the color of the brick...I would be tempted to paint or try concrete stain the brick side.

    I really like the entry metalwork but the half wall underneath..not so much.

    I think I would check into matching the wood floors...then refinishing old to match the new. Coordinating the stain to go with walnut cabs would be very nice. Be aware that some of that old flooring had aesbestos backing .

  • 8 years ago

    You're correct - One side stone and one side brick! This is on the other side of the kitchen.

    Awesome, thanks for the suggestion.

  • 8 years ago

    LOVE the stone fireplace! Are the living room wood floors in good shape? Since walnut lightens as it ages, I would really consider unstained walnut for the cabs after seeing the living room.

  • 8 years ago

    Congratulations. You have a wonderful new home. So many wonderful elements. The kitchen looks like it was redone in the 80s. Luckily, people now understand the gem you just bought. I can't make many relevant suggestions as I am awestruck right now.

  • 8 years ago

    If you go with slab, I would not do white, I would choose some sort of color.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Congrats! Nice! You will have fun with that one :) I agree with rantontoo I like the metalwork in the entry just not what ever is below. Your right to do the floors and cabinets. That will make a huge difference. I vote for flatsawn walnut slab doors for this place all the way ...no white. I like your idea of one consistent flooring throughout and the hard wood would be nice with some texture, but wondering if it would be too woody ? And maybe not enough contrast in color? Also, I think it would be nice if the walnut cabinets were stain matched to the wood ceiling color in the living room so the rooms tie in. I'm not real familiar with marm floors but I like the concrete or concrete look idea. If you go that route I think the flagstone in the entry needs to go bye bye ... otherwise 3 floor materials no good.

  • 8 years ago

    Just love this, no suggestions but can't wait to see what you do with this beautiful home.

  • 8 years ago

    Wow what a beautiful home. I love the wood ceiling and oversized fireplace!!

    Cabinet color would depend on what flooring you pick. Tough one... Sorry I don't have much advice. But I can't wait to see it finished.

    I do agree with palimpsest - leave the stone in the entry and don't do white slab cabinets. Your home was "warmth" with the wood ceiling and white is too stark, esp slab.

  • 8 years ago

    Love your home. No white cabs. Flat sewn walnut, or bamboo or another warm wood slab cabinet. I actually quite like the solid oak slab you have running the back of the peninsula - looks great with the overall look of the house. Not suggesting you keep that, but as an overall design asthetic, it works. Get rid of the upper cabs hanging down between the kitchen and dining area to open things up. Definitely continue the same oak floor throughout the house, though leave the original flagstone entry. No white countertops. I would probably paint the brick side of the fireplace a similar color to the walls, or look to replace the bricks with stone to match the other side. I'm actually not a fan of the entryway wall and I would tear out. Beautiful house!!!

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Metal work: I like it but would probably repurpose it in some way like wall art or finding it a new owner.

  • 8 years ago

    I love the metal work (had to show it to my spouse and he thinks it is absolutely great too).

    We have always been MCM fans and there was a time in life I had to explain the concept to people and they looked at me like I was crazy for liking such an outdated style, but thanks to Mad Men it came back full force. I struggle with its rise in popularity again as I felt a bit happy keeping the secret to myself! But thank goodness people have stopped tearing out the wonderful touches from that era. I wonder what the original kitchen of this home looked like?

    This is just the type of home I wanted but could not find -- five years ago we moved back to Michigan and had to find a home very, very quickly so all the good homes like this were snatched up or simply too expensive.

    Back to the metal work, I do think that the oak trim around it is mucking it up a bit and taking away from the clean lines of the foyer. I think it remaining in the foyer is the best place for it.

    I really think the flagstone is also pretty but agree with others that too many flooring types might be bad. Have you considered running a slate-like tile or a gray throughout the kitchen and foyer for consistency rather than adding hardwoods? We just had our foyer entry and back entrance tiled in a slate-like tile from Daltile in a dark charcoal color in a hopscotch pattern. It is a nod to MCM.

  • 8 years ago

    @Mobuddy28 - I should really start watching Mad Men! So many people have referenced it to me now after seeing the house. I love houses with flavor and a soul, it was a bonus that this 1962 gem was just so beautiful also.

    From entry to kitchen, I originally wanted concrete slab (Like this: https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-houzz-torriero-home-contemporary-kitchen-phvw-vp~11779026) with radiant heating, but it won't work with the foundation. Then though about a concrete-looking tile, but got nervous because of how hard and cold it is, especially because I'm on my feet cooking all the time. Does the coldness/hardness bother you??

    Then thought a concrete-looking marmoleum, as these could be beautiful too (And perfect for the kitchen), but wouldn't want to put that in the entry.

    So many options.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I didn't put the tile in my kitchen and everyone warned me about
    doing so (I am actually without a kitchen floor right now, but hope to install hardwoods in the future). If I had a larger kitchen space that could tolerate such a dark floor and a lot of grout lines, I would have
    thought about the tile and then used Gel pads for comfort near the sink and cooktop or kitchen clogs like Mario Batali wears. I am a messy cook and want more pets so having tile would have been my preference.


    I agree that doing the marmoleum in the foyer would not work.

    There are some new luxury vinyl tiles that have a more modern look with a linen texture that could work here and are supposed to be very comfortable to work on. I once found a good inspiration pic here on Houzz of modern LVT in a MCM style kitchen and will look for it again. LVT may not be authentic but I think at some point chasing after a strict adherence to authenticity can be depressing and exhausting.

    Do you feel like you need to have the floors done before you move in? I know that is always easiest but if you can do it later then you will have more time to find the right product for you.

  • 8 years ago

    I would think carefully about doing something too millennial-slick contemporary like concrete floors. This isn't really the house for it unless you are going to completely redo the interiors in current contemporary. Your house has a number of transitional contemporary details that were seen even in more traditional or modest 1950s houses so some contemporary elements could be a bit too slick.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    What a gem, congrats! It looks like it is in good shape. I agree with others, I would match the hardwoods if you can. I don't see concrete or tile floors in here with all the warm elements. I would remove the brass fireplace insert and would also replace that light fixture over the dining table with a Sputnik chandelier.

  • 8 years ago

    Ditra heat under tiles...awesome!!!

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Terazzo Tiles. It let's you use more wood in the house, like the ceilings and cabinets, without getting the tree overload syndrome. Or, match the entry stone. Rift sawn oak for the cabinets. It's subtly textural, and can be stained to match one of the existing wood finishes so you don't have too many shades of wood going on. Slab oak was often a choice in late 60's to mid 70's, so that echoes that, without being too literal of an interpretation.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Great home! I live in an mcm home also and love it.

    Before you do anything, I'd live in the house for a little while to see what ideas you might have while actually using the space. For instance, do you want to keep the fireplace brick on the brick side? Or do painted drywall? Or paint the brick? Do you want to keep the hearth in front? SHould you get rid of the upper cabinets by the table and make an island or peninsula out of it? I had to wrestle with similar changes for my home also.

    I like Sophie's idea of terrazzo with walnut or rift sawn oak cabinets (these are popular in my area). I also wouldnt want to get too many floor types going either. Anyway, very cool home. Congrats!

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