Vintage kitchen renovation

[travis]

After living here for two years, I am finally ready to remodel my vintage kitchen into a vintage kitchen.

The house was built in 1931. The original tile is still in the kitchen. It had been painted. I have stripped most of the paint. I need to replace some tile, mainly in a built in area, that likely had an ironing board. It was gone when I got here. I am not putting it back, since the room is tight, even for a non-cook like me.

When it's all finished, the Magic Chef 1000, a 1929 double door monitor top, a Maytag chest Freezer and an Amana RR2. I am still debating on the dishwasher. The KD21 that's in there is fine. I do have a KD10 that could be restored.

The first issue I am having is how to remove mortar set tile from metal lath. The damaged areas are on the edges, like around the wall-mount faucet. I am having replacement tile made. Hopefully, it's close enough in appearance.

 

[davey7]

That's nice tile. And quite a bit bigger than my tiny kitchen.

In my building, some of the tile was originally lacquered rather than glazed to create borders, you seem to have been lucky to have gotten glazed tile.

 

[tolivac]

That malt blender sure does go well with that place!!!Try to keep the tile!

 

[gansky1]

That is beautiful tile, you're very lucky it's still there and hopefully you can work around replacements where needed.  There are some very talented tile pros around that can work miracles with old and broken tiles.  Good luck!

 

[swestoyz]

Travis - what a cute kitchen!  The tile work is stunning.  I can't believe anyone would paint over it, but then again, people do stuff like that all the time.

 

Ben

 

[travis]

Thanks for the compliments!

I am trying to keep the tile and repair it. It's set in mortar and on metal lath. A vendors want a sample of it to match. So far, I haven't figured out how to remove it. One man mentioned a saw with a diamond blade! Yay, that sounds like a big mess.

 

[travis]

The tile is going...

The company that I had hoped could make matching tile can't. 

 

I have spent a couple days looking for similar new tile.  Now that I am freed from green, I wonder is I should go with yellow.

 

I see my options as, light green with black trim, light yellow with black trim, or light yellow with green trim. 

 

Does anyone have an opinion.  I am looking for a 1930's-40's feel, not 1950's as much.  The cabinets will be painted a warm white.  The stove and refrigerator 1930, white porcelain.

 

 

 

[ken]

Hey Travis

Check out this site showing 30s kitchens. Maybe it can give you some ideas. Man I wish linoleum like whats pictured was still available today. [this post was last edited: 7/30/2014-20:50]

http://antiquehomestyle.com/inside/kitchen/1930s/gallery/index.htm

 

[ken]

Heres some 40s kitchen designs.

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www.midcenturyhomestyle.com

 

[davey7]

Just for asking's sake, why weren't they able to match the tile?

 

[bluejay]

Did you try B&W tile out of California?  They still make tile in vintage colors.  We were able to get surf green tile for our downstairs half bath to match the fixtures we purchased.

 

The link below is to an image gallery of the colors available. 

http://www.johnpwilson.net/b&W.html

 

[circlew]

Many of those 30's & '40's rooms still look very up-to-date.

Some of those linoleum floor patters can be recreated by using insets of various colors. This is done quite often in commercial settings. I plan on a double inset border for my kitchen floor, but it's going to be somewhat expensive.

Hope you can find tile to suit you.

 

[travis]

I gave up trying to match the tile after sending samples of the original to three different places.  One company has 4 tiles that are close, but I need 52.  There are too many variables in matching tile, color, size and finish. I reached the point where I wondered why I was going through all this work to save the tile.

 

Jason,

 

Are those the colors from B&W tile.  I spoke with them yesterday.  Samples are on the way!  I am planning to go with a light yellow and black combination.  I plan to use the green and black in a bathroom. 

 

[davey7]

Thanks for the link to the tile place. It may come in useful.

 

[bluejay]

Those are the B&W colors; they aren't listed on their actual web page.  They will send samples; we requested all of their greens a while ago and they sent a sample board with greens and a few greys mixed in.  Additionally, they will ship tile; we found it easier to go directly through them, although I believe you can go through a tile store as well.

 

Here is the official link to the B&W tile website that has the types of tiles available (but not the colors).

Tile Manufacturer for North Hollywood & Los Angeles | B&W Tile

Our tile manufacturer specializes in historical, vintage and bisque styles of tile and tile trims. For the mid-century styles you crave for your home, call us today.

www.bwtile.com

 

[travis]

I am in love with B&W tile.  They're sending samples.  I also found American Restoration Tile in Arkansas.  They seem to also make vintage tile.  I love their floor tile.  I think I will use their basketweave flooring.  I am coming to terms with the $37.50/sq ft.  I am thrilled to have smaller rooms!

 

[davey7]

American Restoration Tile

I'd forgotten about them - I am eventually going to get the ACT ripped out of one of my bathrooms (no lurking vintage tile on the bathroom floors in my building - they were all originally cork, believe it or not, I still have cork floors in my other bathroom) and have the unglazed basketweave put in, I think it'll go well with the seafoam green tile I've got. Yeah, small rooms are great.

 

[travis]

Cabinets

I have picked out the tile.  It's coming from B&W tile.  The field color is a light yellow.  The base and cap will be black.  The boarder that is in the existing tile, will be the yellow and a green.

 

I am planning to use a white hex tile on the floor with some black tiles for accent

 

I continue to struggle with the cabinet door style.  In a perfect world, I would choose the first door style with a lipped edge.  I was wanting exposed hinges (the last picture).  I later compromised by allowing an inset door with the other hinge shown.  I have a pile of these chrome handles and intended to use them.  They're more 40's/50's than 30's, but I haven't found anything I like better.

 

The other three door styles could be done cheaper.  They're stock from the company that's making the cabinets.  The plus in using this cabinet company is that they're making the heights to fit my room.  The upper cabinets will have another small door below ceiling for additional storage.  I wanted to avoid a shelf or any soffit.  They're also professionally painting these white.

 

I have spoken to a cabinet maker, but they don't paint.  I am reluctant to create another level of work in having the cabinets painted.

 

My last concern is if I use the first door style, can I get away with using the fluted glass in a couple doors? 

 

It's not that important that this kitchen matches 1931.  I just want it to look more 1930's/40's.

 

[cornutt]

I think the fluted glass would like quite striking with the first door style. And, this is just me, but I don't paint good wood. I stain it. Admittedly, stained cabinets are not that authentic to the 1930s, but with the right door style, I think it could work.