The Old-House Kitchen Magazine Scenes
Scenes from magazines~~ Scenes from real life
Gleaned from ads from 1930s and '40s magazines, these illustrations show kitchens as they were supposed to be in new houses from the era.
As you browse the pictures, note of the cabinetry: In many scenes from modern kitchens of the day, cabinets are white -- and they are metal.
And note the colors that were used to play off against that white cabinetry: Strong reds, greens and yellows.
My own, late 1940s kitchen features a mid 1940s Roper gas range similar to the one in this sketch. After a half century, the burners all work and the thermostat is true. What more could you ask?
The same kitchen (mine) still has a full set of white metal cabinets by Youngstown Kitchens. After 50+ years, none of the cabinets is dented -- and the drawers still work.
On the other hand, my own kitchen's original refrigerator is long gone. But having once lived in a rural Maine with a 1947, 10.1 cubic foot refrigerator, I (for one) would say purism has its limits . . .
Funny, but I don't remember my own mother donning high-heels and a big smile to do dishes when I was a kid. Butthen again, we didn't have a dishwasher.
Finally, I've included these last two pictures because of the clever built-in dining niches they portray.
