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Remodeling 1960 ranch home would these cabinets look good?

5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

We bought an original 1960 ranch home that needs a total remodel. We don’t have the plans back from the architect yet but have an idea of what we want to do. My niece runs a company that does remodeling. She has a set of kitchen cabinets brand new from a previous remodel job that the owners changed their mind. She’s willing to sell to us all the cabinets at 1/2 price. Theres more cabinets than what I have in my pics. We can still order more to fit our kitchen plan. I like these cabinets but not my first choice. I like a white kitchen which I’ve had in my current home for 19 years. My husband likes/wants darker cabinets for the new house. Would these mocha glazed maple cabinets look good? Are they outdated? We are traditional ppl.







Comments (34)

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    No those are raised panel cabinets and are typically found in traditional-style homes.

    You're looking for something far more simple in details like you see below.






    Becky H thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 5 years ago

    Ask yourself if you would choose them without the discount. There's no wrong answer. They are very traditional, but they look like good quality, and could look nice with white countertops. Would they fit into your whole house plan? If you're planning on medium colored hardwood floors, I would stick with white cabinets. If you're using tile or natural colored wood floors, these could work. Keep in mind you will be paying full price for the other pieces to fit in with these, and there could be variations in the stain since they would be ordered separately. Another issue I see in the first photo is that these are lower cabinets with cupboards. Drawers are much easier to use and provide better space. Don't buy them planning to paint them. Painting them correctly is very expensive and you won't get a finish that is as durable as a factory finished one.

    Becky H thanked calidesign
  • 5 years ago

    Pass, they're not your first choice and IMO are dated looking.

  • 5 years ago

    Ooh. I really want to love them. Nothing pleases me more than a bargain. But those lean orange, and even too traditional for me. IMHO, the mocha glaze dates them. And I would never try to paint them. It won’t last. Like you, I prefer a white kitchen, especially in a ranch. I would pass.

  • 5 years ago

    What design style are you choosing for the rest of your house? if you choose traditional in the kitchen will you also choose traditional in the bathrooms? We also are remodeling a 1960 ranch (almost done!) and chose shaker style cabinets natural wood finish in the kitchen and painted in the bathrooms. We are trying to keep at least some continuity of styles.

  • 5 years ago

    What did you plan for the floors? The color of the cabs may limit your choices...not just about the flooring but also the style of your decor, countertops, trim, and more.

  • 5 years ago

    You want Base Drawers. Do not take these. Get an up to date kitchen ......IKEA if you need economy.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Those are traditional style cabinets, they don’t go with a mid century ranch.

  • 5 years ago

    I would not want to go to the expense of a remodel and get make do cabinets just for the discount. Start with what you want.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Those are way too fussy. You want simple slab doors in a wood or white.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Keeping all those nooks and crannies clean would be a nightmare.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    NO is the answer I wouldn’t care if they were free they in no way suit the house and IMO Ikea is awesome for MCM design and affordable too.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    If you use a dark glaze on the cabinetry some of the detailing should disappear but they will continue to look pretty traditional. If traditional is your style that might now be a bad thing. Can you buy one cabinet and try it? There's nothing quite like looking in the final product in place (leaned up against the existing cabinets).

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    I would turn those down, despite the bargain. As has been said, the raised-panel style is too traditional, and the finish, even if they weren't raised-panel cabinets, is squarely set in 1998-2008. That may be why the original buyers turned them down. I want to echo Herbflavor and say you want base drawers, not base cabinets. I also want to add - how do you know those cabinets will fit your kitchen? You might have to have a lot of filler and MacGyvering to fit someone else's kitchen cabinets into your kitchen and with your appliances. The half-off discount will not make up for that.

    I am surprised at Norwood Architects' advice. We don't see glaze recommendations on here at all, not for many years.

    I would start thinking about your appliances and sink now. You want to order cabinets that have the sizes of your appliances (e.g. range vs cooktop and wall ovens, width of exhaust hood, a 36" fridge or something wider) and your sink (a base cabinet of 36" for your sink would give you the most flexibility) taken into account.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    The biggest question is do you and your husband like them. Seeing as you are leaning towards white and he wants dark cabinets this could be a good compromise for both of you. I think they are looking orange because of the direct sunlight. You said your house was a 60's ranch. I didn't hear MCM mentioned. If the rest of the house is more traditional (and you mentioned that you are more traditional in your tastes) then I think they would work.

    This is our kitchen, which received rave reviews on Houzz when I originally posted it. The cabinets: Maple, chestnut stain w/chocolate glaze.

    Kitchen from Hell transforming into Kitchen from Heaven · More Info



    Kitchen from Hell transforming into Kitchen from Heaven · More Info


    BTW, our house is a ranch, built in 1964.

  • 5 years ago

    I’d gracefully turn them down. They won’t go with your house and a bargain is t a bargain when it’s not right for you.

  • 5 years ago

    Our cabinets are plain and simple. We finally came to an agreement. A happy medium. functionality is #1. If these repurposed ones don't do that for you; don't go with them. Personally I don't know how I lived without my bottom drawers, tray cabinet, pullout spice drawer, and recycle bin pullout. Good luck. pic 1 is ours, pic 2 is the same cabinets on houzz. The natural wood gets richer in color over time. I like that too.

    territheresa · More Info

    San Jose Dynasty Maple Kitchen by Signature Kitchen & Bath Design · More Info

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    How many times will you remodel this kitchen? I hear your voice, and it says “not really me.” Listen to it, and discount the discount

  • 5 years ago

    I agree with the others that say take a pass on those for the reasons already stated. I also wonder how high is your kitchen's ceiling in your 1960s house. Would those uppers even fit?


  • 5 years ago

    A definite NO! Drawers in the base cabinets are the only way to go and a much simpler style.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    I wish people would read more thoroughly. Not once does Becky say she has a MCM ranch. Just because it was built in the 50's - 60's doesn't mean that it's MCM. I know because we live in a 1964 ranch home that is very traditional, and by the way live wire oak, I dare you to call my kitchen "kitschy".

    I also find it completely amazing that someone can look at a picture and immediately determine that the cabinets are "Import Awful". Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. I'm pretty sure that Becky is going to give them the once over to see what the quality is. Also, without seeing her house some are saying that they won't go with the style of house.

    We have a mix of doors and drawers on our lowers. I wouldn't want just one style as our needs required both. Becky's needs may be different than ours so she may want/need all doors or drawers, but she also stated that they could order additional cabinets if needed so she could meet her needs that way.

    If the quality is there, and if she and her husband decide that they will look good in her house and they feel that it more fiscally responsible to use them, I say do it. If the quality is not there and she REALLY wants a white kitchen (as opposed to her husbands desire for a dark stain, which as the husband we really know that his desires are immaterial LOL!) then pass and buy white cabinets.

    If I saw a picture of the house and it was MCM and the rest of the house inside was MCM then I might tell her they are a hard pass. Otherwise I think they can and would look good.

  • 5 years ago

    You mention your taste is traditional, these definitely fit the bill. What is the cost to repaint these? Are you looking to remodel your 1960s ranch with more traditional finishes or will you lean MCM? If these are not your first choice, no bargain is worth it.... but these are only questions you can answer yourself.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Agreed, These are entry level, imported cabinetry, J&K Cabinetry to be exact. They are fine if you love them. But glazed maple cabinets have been out of style for awhile. Again, if you love it....that's all that matters. The imports are not the great bargain they once were, so if you need a lot of extras....then it won't be a very good bargain. consider another cabinet line (Medallion Silverline or equivalent). Or if you want the bargain...offer to pay "COST" on the ones left over and pay normal prices for the new ones. If they want to unload them, they'll accept.

  • 5 years ago

    Most of my points have been made already, but to put them all together:


    1) Not all mid-century homes were MCM. I grew up in a mid-century ranch that embraced the Colonial Revival trend of the period that influenced its lighting and hardware. So mid-century ranch doesn't mean the OP has to go MCM, especially if her taste runs traditional. Though I will note that even traditional mid-century homes reflected what was being sold at the time: The house I grew up in still had slab doors on the cabinets.


    2) Whether the cabinets will work depends on what you do with the rest of the house. If all your decor is traditional, they will fit in. If you embrace modern farmhouse, they will not.


    3) These aren't the color you want, but it sounds like your husband would prefer them to your top choice, white. Are these his perfect color, or are they just better than white? And if they aren't his perfect color, is there a dark color that both you and he would like better than these?


    4) People are right about the preference for drawer bases. Don't let the tail wag the dog by letting these cabinets drive your design/layout. That road leads to regrets.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you all for your response! I don't think this house is MCM? to me it’s more traditional. It’s on an acres lot in Texas with lots of trees! 21 trees just in the front yard! I do like bottom base to be drawers was going to order the ones I wanted. We’ve been waiting on the architect to finish the floor plans but we have a design in mind that can be changed. We are going to pursue getting quotes on cabinets we want and compare price, color and style with the discounted cabinets. The inside needs to be gutted so not many pics but there’s a huge brick fireplace we are keeping. We will be creating an open concept too. The kitchen has a drop down ceiling we will be knocking that down. Can you believe the gas cook top is original from late 1950’s and it still works! I’ll post a few more pics.

  • 5 years ago

    We’ve done major clean up on the outside. View of front of house, front yard, back yard and tree lined driveway. Most of the trees have been trimmed or lifted.






  • 5 years ago

    I did take one of the cabinet doors to the house took pic with the fireplace and current kitchen cabinets. The kitchen will be gutted and maybe the existing bookshelves or just paint them. Ignor the creepy doll on the mantel.




  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Your niece isn't doing you much of a favor at half price, Get what you want and cabinets designed for your space.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    So I missed the traditional staement but I still don’t like the cabinets and IMO a ll drawers for base are the way to go so that alone would be a no.

  • 5 years ago

    Decide on your flooring before you choose white or stained cabinets.

  • PRO
    5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Those are pretty poor quality. There also overblown and too complex. The house needs simple, and plain. It’s not a SoCal Faux Tuscan.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Start by looking for inspiration images - how do you want your space to look? Just because your house was built in the '60s doesn't mean you have to buy period appropriate cabinets, but I'm not a fan of the option shown, and I love the MCM look. This is what I like - the question is, what do you like?


    Regarding the bookshelves - what you may want to so is clean them, and remove the paneling from the adjacent walls to allow you to get some paint in there to lighten things up a bit.

  • 5 years ago

    Cali is right - pick your floor (ideally one that flows through all the public spaces) first. Cabinets after that.