House Beautiful - Circa 1979

Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support :

Cuisinart

I've owned Cuisinart FP's since the mid 80's. They are absolutely superb. I even have the DLC-X that holds a gallon in the work bowl. For vegans into salads, etc., it's worth the nearly $1K that it costs. But--I use my little DLC-10 size a lot more. Oh, Vitamix likes to push that their blender is an FP but it ain't. I've owned VM's since the 80's back when they were reversible saw motors, and love them though I do, they're a souped-up blender.

As with all new appliance fads out there, the mistake with Cuisinart when it first got really popular over here was that people were trying to figure out excuses for using them, for tasks unnecessarily. And there were people using one just to slice a tomato or two.

I own around 25 vintage blenders and also all the vintage blender books that were popular in the forties, fifties and sixties when they were in their heyday. The same silliness was done with blenders, including chopping veggies and making incredibly gooey, sticky dips. Not to mention various batters and doughs which were easier and cleaner by hand.

And who of us doesn't remember the microwave craze, when people were even trying to bake a decent cake in their microwave? Or in the seventies, when people were trying to do everything in the new Crock Pots?
 
Interestingly, a bit of timeless fashion has come from the 70s too. Whenever I'm with my mother she's always pointing out younger people (around my age) that could have fit right into the 70s, or look like what she knew as the 70s. If I look at my aunt from the 70s she wore some of those hideous trends that people now wonder what they were thinking back then. 

 

The same happens in every decade really. I can't stand everything being all these shades of gray nowadays. 
 
the twenties

I couldn't agree more--you'd think we were back at war again with all the drab clothing. And in our cars: mostly today either mouse-fur gray, mouse-fur brown, or black. You'd think we were back in the forties.

The one style of women's fashion that I still can't buy in to is the twenties, with those flat chests and straight up-and-down dresses. They just didn't flatter anyone. I always found cloche hats cute, but once women got hairspray, that was the end of that!

When I was growing up in the late 50's and 60's, the shirtwaist dress was the thing. I never saw my mother, except on vacations, in anything at home but these. Virtually all of my schoolteachers were in shirtwaist dresses with a slip underneath and hose, of course. I can only imagine how that could've been uncomfortable down here in TX with no a/c in schools. But of course, this was back when almost all women had a waist.... My sister is a special ed teacher and I'm floored at what they're allowed to wear in her district now.
 
Does Anyone Still Wear, A Hat?

That inside joke is totally lost upon those not around during 1970's, and certainly females.

By the 1960's female hair styles had started to grow large. Then there were the masses of hair piled on created by adding wigs, falls, pieces, etc... All of which began to spell the demise of hats which women had worn when going outdoors for ages.

Final nail in that coffin came with the bouffant (aka "Big Hair") of the 1960's made popular by Jackie Kennedy. So while many women still clung to wearing gloves when going out, the hat was becoming passé.

By the 1970's with the whole "ease of movement/freedom" in women's fashions, gloves got the heave ho as well for most women, and then came the ultimate horror far as some are concerned; slacks.

You watch vintage 1970's television shows or films and it as if there was suddenly a shortage of material to make skirts. Every female young and whatever is wearing slacks. Or worse, those double knit pant suits.
 
I have a few models of the VM blenders that used the reversing motors-the current VM machines don't have the reversing motors.Did like the reversing,though.It was just fun-and did do a good job.The FP and blender are both different kitchen tools-one really can't do the job of both-you need BOTH!and add a stand mixer to the group.If you had a reversing VM blender you had to hold onto it if you reversed it at high speed-it would jump!The reversing shortened brush life,too-those reversible machines used 3/4 hp-1 Hp Black&Decker router motors.BD motors weren't originally designed for the reversing.
 
Vita-Mix vs Blender

In the 80's I owned the VM 3600+. I kept seeing those ads touting that they could make bread and do just about everything but mow the yard. Of course, we didn't have all the YouTube and internet and all that; I just ordered it out of the back of Vegetarian Times. Well, it was a joke--and an expensive one at that. The s.s. carafe had that spigot on the side, and there was no way that spinning hot soapy water to clean the carafe would clean out flour, etc., from that spigot. I didn't like soups the consistency of snot, so never used it for 'cooking'. That motor was so loud that today's models don't come close. As you stated, when you reversed the blades it would jump visibly; if you remember, VM also warned to expect sparks part of the time! I went back to using the excellent and powerful blender on my Bosch Universal. Gave that VitaMix in the 90's to an employee who was opening a juice bar. I have the CIA edition now and enjoy it. Though I own a Nutrimill and two Messerschmidt grain mills for the Bosch mixers, I actually use the 'dry' carafe most because it's close to hand, for small amounts. I really like grinding my own coarse corn meal from field corn for cornbread. It's so sweet, nothing like the rancid crap sold in grocery stores.

My DLC-X Cuisinart, the biggest one, can knead 3 loaves' worth of dough at a time. However, particularly for whole grain doughs, the breads do better with a slow, steady action. For that, I use either one of the Bosch Universals or the Electrolux Assistent. Bosch now sells a small nylon dough hook that fits in their large food processor attachment. It's perfect for 1-loaf recipes or for pasta doughs.
 
Those 70s Colors

My local grocery store has coffee mugs in Avocado Green, Harvest Gold, Poppy Red, and Colonial Blue. I got one of each yesterday. Only thing missing was Burnt Orange.
 
The apartment building I live in was built in 1978. Cupboards and woodwork are dark. Oak,is it?

Friends of the family had one of these oven/cooktop/dishwashers. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen (non washing machine division).

As always, thanks for a fantastic thread, Launderess!

frigilux-2017110119142708174_1.jpg
 
Yup a Modern Maid combo... not wildly popular but not uncommon in the 70's.  Most of those I saw were in new subdivisions where the builder must have gotten a good deal to fit or offer them to first time home buyers etc. 
 
Would take Spanish Provincial

Over the French version any day of the week.

Truth to tell IMHO both styles work best when done in restraint.

Cannot abide Victorian or Edwardian period decorating carried to extreme. All that clutter and so forth to the point getting across room is like running an obstacle course.

Like Hyacinth Bucket, English Cottage interiors are right up my street. Again done with taste and restraint you can't go wrong, can you?
 
A few minor comments:

Giuliano Bugialli is still around and quite a famous Italian chef/cook book writer.

https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Italian-Cooking-Giuliano-Bugialli/dp/081291838X

http://www.dreaminginitalian.com/2010/07/29/giuliano-bugialli/

In the 1970's and well into recent times North Carolina was *the* spot for fine furniture manufactures and other decorating. Henredon, Baker, along with many others were down there; and those "in the know" would go down (or send their decorators) to get things at discount prices. IIRC however much production today has moved to Asia (where else?), but the showrooms remain.

Appliances:

Never saw a Modern Maid range, nor that Jenn-Air "grill range" either. When did Corning stop making that 3 in 1 range? Did it sell well?
 
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What they showed of Elizabeth's house

besides the piano room.
Did she ever entertain? They showed more of Onslow and Rose's. Early and post WW2 council housing like in Becontree in east London near Daggenham. Working class enclave for war Blitzed and run down Bethnal Green. Way better housing than tower blocks.
 
That's it

I never saw more of Elizabeth's house than the parlor but I sure liked it better than Hyacinth's. I like the outside of her home better, also. As for Onslow and Daisy and Rose? Well, I still remember the episode where Hyacinth and Daisy were in Daisy's kitchen and she was doing dishes...

I do adore that series, first saw it in the 90's on PBS, have owned the boxed set for a long time. I have to be in the right mood for it, like "Vicar of Dibley", "Dad's Army", "Waiting For God", "To The Manor Born", etc. I do so love Penelope Keith, I first saw her in "The Norman Chronicles" way back when, when we were both younger, and was captivated by her.

To me the ultimate in an 'uncomfortable' home is still the one that Howard Roark designed and built in "The Fountainhead"--at least, as was shown in the Cooper/Massey/Neal movie. I never thought of Gary Cooper as Howard Roark, he seemed to old and just didn't fit my mental vision. Didn't really think of Raymond Massey as Gail Wynand either; but then, Ms. Rosenbaum herself picked them...
 
About the only thing I miss from the 70's

is my 30 inch waist and 42 inch chest!!! Fashion, home decor, cars and appliances were just plain ugly or werid. I still cring when I see anything Harvest Gold, Avocado Green, Almond or god forbid Coppertone. May my sweet momma rip and god love her she tried to decorate. We had earth tones from floor to ceiling, and the fake "greenery" was everywhere...even as a teenager I would think "geez..we live in the south...why are there fake ferns beside the potty". Our house always reeked of Winstons from my chain smoking father; I'm sure I went to school everyday smelling like an ash tray. For me...I loved all the periods prior to the 70's...it seemed as though things had intrest. I hate to dish on the 70's..but lets not forget the 80's weren't much better. To this day I'm not sure what color Mauve (sp?) and Teal are, and floral crap everywhere. But on the otherhand..beauty is in the eye of the beholder; and everyone should surround themselves with beauty
 
I have always wanted the Cusinart DLX-C food processor-but never have bought one.Use their other models instead-the Cusinart food processors now are a JOKE-CHEAP geared universal motor instead of the ruff-tuff induction one that stopped when you let go of the pulse button.If you have an older Cusinart food processor-CHERISH it!!!You won't be able to get another.
I still have my VM reversing blenders-use them on occasion-Agree the claims on these machines are overblown-Blendtec does the same.Face it folks,----ITS A BLENDER!!!!!!NOT a food processor,lawn mower,ice cream maker,Dough kneader,and so on!Dough kneading in any of these is a GOOD way of burning out the motor!These blenders can grind grain OK so you can use it in a bread machine or regular mixer or food processor.Again none of these machines will replace the others-you need the BIG THREE-Mixer,food processor,blender in order to do your KP duties with ease.
 
What one has never understood about British homes

Is the thing about corridors, walls and doors.

Take the Bucket's house; here on this side of pond that first floor would have likely been opened up (no wall creating a corridor) leaving the living and dining room areas open.

Even on that standard of lower to middle class homes "two up and two down" you still have entryway into a narrow corridor with front parlor and dining/backroom walled off. Seems rather claustrophobic to one.

What one liked about the house in "As Time Goes By" is at least they opened things up a bit for the main rooms. Though that back kitchen seems rather cramped. Have had debates with others and think that at one time the kitchen was below stairs, but was moved to first floor and carved out of space.

Lionel and Jean home was in Holland Park (or Shepard's Bush depending upon how you want to look at things), and was likely built as a home for middle to upper class. Either way in it's day there would have been servants something that began to wane post WWI and certainly WWII. So in order to get hot meals on table and save going up and down all those stairs many older homes moved kitchens upstairs.

Now we do have the other famous example of a Holland Park home; Eddie Monsoon's place in Ab Fab. Despite being ever so glam and fab Eds left her kitchen in the basement where it was when house was built. Hence nearly *all* the action in Ab Fab takes place in Eddie's kitchen, which in real life would have been very inconvenient.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top