Salvaging a 1950s kitchen

[Quint]

My wife has been taken by the "retro kitchen" fad, and has been wanting a 50s look. A freind is a contractor and has a dream set of 50s plywood cabinets with beautiful rounded corners and nice built in shelving. Original pulls etc- I believe in the happy wife/happy life philosophy, so I want to get her this kitchen. My buddy says I can have it, but that he has never seen anyone sucessfully remove one, as they are built in. Anyone have any pointers? I have two saturdays to have at it before the kitchen gets scrapped.
And I realize that you can remove the drawers and doors and re-create the look, but it will never be quite the same if you know what I mean.

[Renee]

Is the layout exactly the same? Because they aren't units, like modern cabinets. They're just boards nailed to the walls in cabinet shapes (the 1950's kitchen we tore out was, anyway). I don't think this is really a feasible project, honestly. You'd be much better off using new materials for the structure of the cabs in your house and re-using the doors/drawer fronts if you want the look.

[Sparky812]

I just tore out my 1950's kitchen (which matched your description) and I can tell you there's little chance of saving the actual cupboards. They were built in place and almost impossible to pull apart without damaging them.
I had intended to salvage parts of them or at least some of the wood but, in the end, most was reduced to scraps and splinters. I have the doors and drawer fronts but they are so thick with paint that I'm not sure it's worth refinishing them. The hinges and pulls would also be alot of work and I noticed I can buy almost identical new hardware at Home Depot.
I ended up designing a new kitchen, ordered the cabinets to fit in the best configuation possible, then I built and installed them myself. My wife is extremely happy and by extension so am I.

P.S. The reason we had to replace the cabinets was that their contruction allowed mice, insects, etc. to travel in and around the cabinets. New solid modular cabinets do not have this problem.

[don't ask]

The original kitchen in my previous house was as described - attached to the walls and just a frame to hang the doors and drawers. We had a new kitchen built by a cabinetmaker with recycled wood doors, drawers and pan drawers with marine ply internals and modern fittings inside. The kitchen looked 100 years old but functioned like a modern one.

All you need is someone to make the externals and a site like this (http://www.historichouseparts.com/vintage_Deco_hardware.htm) will look after your hardware needs.

[Maastricht]

Dreaming of refurbishing an "original" kitchen is a very common phase when a woman goes throught the stages of kitchen planning. I know, I'v been there two years ago. :)
But once your wife realises the added costs of skilled labour to make everything to size, not to mention the impracticality of such kitchens.....If I were her, I would advice a basic white Ikea kitchen to her liking (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/tools/kitchen_style_selector), and then to go nuts with fifties accessories like a black and white tiled floor, light fixtures, chrome accessories, a fifties style modern fridge, fifties fabric (http://images.google.com/images?client=opera&rls=nl&q=fifties+fabric&sourceid=opera&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=XrtZS9SAOpKw4Qa5nvGCBQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCkQsAQwAw)in curtains, blinds, towels, ice salon colors paint on the walls and a few framed posters from the era like these. (http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?startat=%2Fgallery.asp&CID=ACF45727A91F4CBBA351B109B5A58327&txtSearch=fifties&imageField2.x=0&imageField2.y=0) All of that has the added advantage that she can change the style back if she ever grows tired of it.

[Quint]

Gah! Not very encouraging. First Saturday is tomorrow- I'll keep you posted on the disaster as it unfolds.

[Quint]

Is the layout exactly the same? Because they aren't units, like modern cabinets. They're just boards nailed to the walls in cabinet shapes (the 1950's kitchen we tore out was, anyway). I don't think this is really a feasible project, honestly. You'd be much better off using new materials for the structure of the cabs in your house and re-using the doors/drawer fronts if you want the look.

Well, that's the killer. The layout of the two cabinets with rounded edges and rounded built in shelving that go on either side of the window are the exact dimensions, including turning the corner and heading down the other wall on the right side (L-shaped). I need to find out if I can knock out the lath and plaster that acts as the back of the cabinets to see if I can then have a better idea of how the hell they are secured to the wall. Looks to be a 1x2 nailing strip that is holding them in, but I am sure there are far more nails than that hidden in the damn things. Bastards built things to last back in the day, not designed to be replaced by the next big thing.

[freckafree]

Please give us an update, Quint!

[usedtobe]

How will the kitchen be "scrapped"?

If this is going to tear out walls, you can simply take the whole wall with the cabinetry in place - put it in your garage (or whatever) and dis-assemble it:
FROM THE BACK!!!
Those old boys knew some tricks which will cause you to reduce the framing to splinters - take it slow.
If you must leave the walls, get a recip saw ("sawzall") and get at least the face frames - the more trim you cab salvage, the less you'll have to go to the millwork shop and have replaced/reproduced

[In Winnipeg]

From what I remember, a lot of these cabinets were built in place with no back on them; the back was the wall they were on, and this lack of support is what leads to them collapsing when you try to get them off.

I'd like to see pictures of exactly what you're dealing with here before I would hazard a suggestion.

[Quint]

Well, this mission was a partial success. The sink unit with side drawers came out nearly unscathed, as did the corner shelves. However, the lower corner units were built in such a way that they needed to be pretty much scrapped in order to liberate the cerntral sink/drawers unit. Once that was out, the upper cabinets came out quite nicely, having prying access to the bottom, back (through the doors) and sides. It remains to be sen if any of this stuff will be meaningfully used in our kitchen, as my wife is now on about Metal cabinets. Despite her fickle nature, the project was fun, and seeing how these things were put in via the process of taking them out was educational. My help for the day (a freind who owes me for helping him put in 5/8 drywall on a vaulted ceiling) kept saying "this stuff is just crap made from plywood, why are you bothering?!?" This from a guy who is planning to strip the paint off his soffits so they can be stained!! A chaq'un son gout, or whatever the French say. I'll be back with more of the wife's new kitchen trends as completion of out massive renovation gets closer.

[Quint]

From what I remember, a lot of these cabinets were built in place with no back on them; the back was the wall they were on, and this lack of support is what leads to them collapsing when you try to get them off.

I'd like to see pictures of exactly what you're dealing with here before I would hazard a suggestion.

this was exactly what we were up against. After getting any piece free we quickly learned to nail some 1x4 or similar to the back to give them some rigidity and keep them from cracking into smithereens. Would that I had had In Winnipeg's advice before the mission started!!

By the way, what's the supply of metal kitchen cabinetry like in Winnipeg these days??

[Mr. Moto]

The cabinetry isn't that hard - lots of cabinets these days go after the vintage look. The other details aren't hard either - if you know where to go.

"Boomerang" pattern Formica was reintroduced some time ago. (http://www.formica.com/publish/site/na/us/en/index/laminate/series/patterns.pos.36.html)

You can buy an antique stove - fully restored and up to code. (http://www.antiquegasstoves.com/pages/pictures40.html)

[Quint]

The cabinetry isn't that hard - lots of cabinets these days go after the vintage look. The other details aren't hard either - if you know where to go.

"Boomerang" pattern Formica was reintroduced some time ago. (http://www.formica.com/publish/site/na/us/en/index/laminate/series/patterns.pos.36.html)

You can buy an antique stove - fully restored and up to code. (http://www.antiquegasstoves.com/pages/pictures40.html)

If my wife ever sees those stoves, it had better not be your doing Moto! What are you trying to do, kill me??

[Mr. Moto]

If my wife ever sees those stoves, it had better not be your doing Moto! What are you trying to do, kill me??

You won't be dead, just poor.

;)

[Renee]

I just came across this great video (http://www.archive.org/details/StepSavi1949) of an efficient 1950's kitchen and was reminded of this thread. I bet your wife would enjoy it, Quint.

[Quint]

I just came across this great video (http://www.archive.org/details/StepSavi1949) of an efficient 1950's kitchen and was reminded of this thread. I bet your wife would enjoy it, Quint.
Love the video, now I want the US government to make me a kitchen!!
As an update, and for the sadists out there- my wife just found a double sink in a metal cabinet- Youngstown (not Jonestown) her new dream. So the main sucess from the plywood debacle is now useless!!! Gah! The upper cabinetry and open shelves may still be used (I hope!) What further pain awaits Quint in his efforts at renovation? Stay tuned...

[Maastricht]

Your wife makes me furious. I had to DRAG my husband to Ikea to make him do as much as approve of my choice of kitchen cabinets. And that's about all he did. And your wife has an husband who will DIY all the way to hell and back to satisfy her every whim !

[Renee]

We have one of these units (http://www.historichouseparts.com/images/0208-04a.jpg) that we pulled out of a house we renovated. Ours has a white sink, though, instead of yellow. I have no idea what we're going to do with it...I was going to put it in our laundry room when we built, but that might be a few years.

[aruvqan]

I just came across this great video (http://www.archive.org/details/StepSavi1949) of an efficient 1950's kitchen and was reminded of this thread. I bet your wife would enjoy it, Quint.

I love the blurb at the end of the film about getting the plans from your local ag extension ... I wonder what they would do if you requested a set of them today =)

Actually I sort of like the kitchen :)

[chela]

We have one of these units (http://www.historichouseparts.com/images/0208-04a.jpg) that we pulled out of a house we renovated. Ours has a white sink, though, instead of yellow. I have no idea what we're going to do with it...I was going to put it in our laundry room when we built, but that might be a few years.

I would have saved it too! I love stuff like that, for a laundry sink in a new house, perfect.

[Quint]

Your wife makes me furious. I had to DRAG my husband to Ikea to make him do as much as approve of my choice of kitchen cabinets. And that's about all he did. And your wife has an husband who will DIY all the way to hell and back to satisfy her every whim !
I keep thinking about this comment, and while it does make me feel good, careful what you wish for. If I had the cash to pay someone to get it done so I could spend more time with my family and less time in reno hell I think everyone in my world would be a lot happier.

[freddymac85]

Those are pretty impressive shots. I really can't imagine taking on a project like this. My wife is constantly looking for projects. I will have to show her this. What are some other projects that you guys have done?