I don't know about you, but I'm crazy about two things: the color pink and antiques. So when I saw this stunning, all-original, 1950s kitschy kitchen, I immediately fell in love! According to the homeowner, furniture maker Nathan Chandler, the house was built in 1956 — but was never lived in until he came along in 2010!
When he moved in, the twinkly appliances — state-of-the-art during their time — had never been used, and their original manuals were still taped to their sides! Why was the house never occupied? That's still a complete mystery!
Today, the powder pink counters and appliances might turn many off — but did you know that the color pink played an important role in the 1950s?
What do you think? Do you like the bubbly pink, or is it a little too much?
Please SHARE if you got a kick out of this retro kitchen!
A pink kitchen might seem out of place nowadays, but they were once popular. The color pink actually had a deeper meaning for people living in the 1950s. It oozes femininity by today's standards, but also conjures up thoughts of joy and growth.
Inspired by the favorite color of first lady Mamie Eisenhower, pink was an exceptionally popular color for kitchens and bathrooms in the 1950s. Mamie loved the color so much, she would get everything she could in pink. Even her cotton balls were pink!
Dubbed "Mamie pink," the color soon became a national symbol for the joy felt at the end of WWII. As families worked at the remaking of the American household, pink was incorporated in many homes. It was particularly common in kitchens and bathrooms.
Mamie, so refined in her lovely shades of pink, became the model for an American housewife. “Ike runs the country. I turn the pork chops," she once famously said. She had no problem with her status as the ultimate housewife.
Mamie was ladylike and down-to-earth. She loved Lawrence Welk. She loved wearing noisy charm bracelets. She played Scrabble and watched soap operas and served TV dinners!
Because of Mamie, the perception of pink totally changed. The color was no longer one that just happened to look good on the first lady. Pink was suddenly a symbol of class, refinement, and patriotism.
Contrary to our modern perspective, pink was not seen as a "girly" or "feminine" color. Housewives dreamed of homes slathered in pink. Mamie apparently kept a swatch of her favorite pink with her so whenever she and Ike moved, she could decorate in her chosen shade.
It's estimated that anywhere between 5 and 10 million households featured a pink kitchen or bathroom. Many homes had pink fixtures in both of those rooms. Those homes truly speak to the era they became popular in.
Oh, about those swatches. Mamie didn't just have pink. She also had green and cream. Throughout all of her military moves, even into the White House, Mamie used these swatches to make her house a home. She got to painting and decorating right away.
The presidential headquarters was so pink. Mamie worked hard to find accessories for each room in the color. The unusual choice in decor color led to the White House being dubbed the "Pink Palace."
It's hard to imagine so many homes with pink bathrooms, kitchens, appliances, and more. Still, all things pink rose into such high demand. People were really capitalizing on the joy this color brought people.
Because of the high demand, it would take some people years to transform a room in their home to their own little pink palace. This home in particular is like a time capsule of the 1950s. The appliances still had the original manuals when the home was purchased in 2010.
Though the appliances might seem a little dated, they were still fully functional at the time of the purchase. Updating such a space could prove challenging. One change would throw off the whole matching vibe.
There are so many features that you'd never find in a modern kitchen. For example, there's the top-loading dishwasher, complete with the original detergent sample. It's enough to make a person feel like he or she has stepped back into another time.
That's why this kitchen is so special! It's a little piece of American history that we can enjoy for a long time. Would you ever live in a 1950s house?
Let us know in the comments, and please SHARE with anyone who loves vintage kitchens!
