1930’s kitchen help

ahlvers1971

2 years ago

We are doing a complete remodel on a kitchen in one of our rental properties. It’s a high end duplex in a historic area. I would like to keep it with the style at that time yet give it an updated feel. I was thinking chrome faucets, white cabinets and maybe brass type handles/pulls?? I don’t have any inside photos but has 9’ ceilings, hardwood floors and leaded glass windows. Any ideas for tiles, lights, fixtures??

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Comments (6)

cawaps
2 years ago
In the 1930s cabinets fully pivoted away from Shaker to slab doors. Sometimes these were inset doors but I found at least one example of what look like full overlay doors. Pastels were on the rise (lots of green, yellow, and pink). Tile counters were still the most common, but laminate counters were the hot new technology. 4x4 tiles were king (3x6 subways were so 1910s, and 6x6 didn't start rising in popularity until after WWII).

I'm not suggesting you do a fully historically accurate kitchen. White cabinets would be more broadly acceptable than pastels. I would probably choose slab over Shaker for historical accuracy. I like 4x4 tiles and put them in my kitchen (1910 house); I'm not sure how the masses regard them (they were pretty unpopular when everything was "subway, subway, subway"). I don't think brass was very popular in the 30s, so maybe chrome hardware? Or polished nickel? Black shows up in historic photos, too. You might want to look at Streamline Moderne style; it's a subcategory of Art Deco that was popular in the 30s. Or Art Deco more broadly. I love Art Deco hardware.

Laminate and tile counters are both probably a non-starter for a high-end rental, but granite and the currently-popular marble-look quartzes are not going to serve a historically accurate "feel." You could do a solid-ish quartz or solid surface. Soapstone would look fine, but I don't think I would put it in a rental unit.

https://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/brass-drawer-handles-streamline-deco-4?quantity=1&finish=10

https://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/sydney-flair-cabinet-pull-5-inch-center-to-center?quantity=1&finish=8 (this is what I used in my kitchen).

Here's a site with photos of 1930s kitchens (a lot of these are from advertisers that showcase their products, like linoleum flooring, so some elements of the pics may be less typical than others).

https://www.antiquehomestyle.com/inside/kitchen/1930s/gallery/index.htm
cawaps
2 years ago
Some Art Deco style lighting fixtures. Same shade shapes could be used on flushmount, semi flushmount, or pendants.

These are vintage but reproductions are available with a similar shape

https://www.thepreservationstation.com/product/archived-items/art-deco-pendant-lights-antique-lighting/

https://www.shadesoflight.com/products/art-deco-white-glass-ceiling-light

https://www.shadesoflight.com/products/tux-deco-ceiling-light
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The Kitchen Place
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My 1925 kitchen. More of an English Country vibe. Kinda formal...kinda utilitarian.
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The Kitchen Place
2 years ago
Ps. If you do a slab door, make sure it's a LIPPED door aka 3/8 inset. Shiloh is the only semi-custom brand I know that does this style. Full high end custom lines will do it too. I love lipped cabinets. Maybe I'll do lipped in my next house!
ahlvers1971
Original Author
2 years ago
Wow great ideas and comments! I was thinking about hiring a designer but gonna pass on that. Thanks everyone!
Jeff Meeks
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Avoiding long runs of wall cabinets will give a period feel. My house was built in 1920 and has lots of wood work and leaded glass, more arts and crafts than deco so I went with oak cabinets with inset doors, an apron sink and soapstone counters and only put a couple of cabinets on the wall. I purposely did not try to maximize the number of cabinets or the amount of counter space. This also let me keep the breakfast area which I love. I also used similar fir flooring to the rest of the house. I think some period pendant lights would be an improvement over the regular ceiling pot lights I have now. Anyway maybe there are some ideas here for you.
ahlvers1971 thanked Jeff Meeks

1930’s kitchen help

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cawaps

cawaps

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1930’s kitchen help

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cawaps

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