Vintage Kitchen Style: Early 20th Century

How to make a historic kitchen look period correct. This is how I made my early twentieth century kitchen rehab look authentic! Old kitchen characteristics and design.

You can support me by visiting my ETSY shop for my merchandise!

Make Your Fridge Look Like an Ice Box:

More Links to Items in my Kitchen!
(As an Amazon Associate I Earn From Qualifying Purchases)

The Drawer Microwave I Installed:

Brass Light Switch Face Plates:

Black Receptacle Outlets:

Black Toggle Light Switches:

Antique Brass Twist-Latches:

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[app]

I live in an apartment building that was built in 1932. I have the only apartment in the building that has most of the original kitchen (and bathroom) intact, and in excellent condition.

- Almond colored ceramic tile walls with black trim
- linoleum flooring that looks like mosaic tiles in various shades of brown
- a cast iron sink with a chocolate brown porcelain enamel finish.
- what looks like a brown marble window sill. (I have one in my bathroom, too.)
- Beneath the window is an old black cast iron radiator.
- My walnut cabinets DO have toe kicks, and ENORMOUS 22" wide doors and drawers
- the counter tops and lower cabinets are incredibly deep.
- the counter tops and back splashes are all done with almond colored Formica and steel edge trim
- I have 5 drawers that would qualify, in a modern kitchen, as extra wide silverware drawers.
- There is a built-in cutting board that slides out from under the counter.
- The upper cabinets do not go all the way to the ceiling, though.
- All the upper cabinets on one side of my kitchen have the glass front doors, but the rest of my cabinets don't. I use one side of the glass front cabinets for dishes and the other for a fancy canister set on the top shelf and the bottom shelf for all my cookbooks.
- I have a chandelier in the center of the room.

Two features that I have, that seems to have all but disappeared from modern kitchens:

- two large tin drawers designed for holding 10 LBS of potatoes and 10 LBS of onions (all my friends are jealous).
- a recessed single outlet (holds only ONE plug), with a built-in hook, on the wall above my cabinets that sit over my sink, meant specifically for powering and hanging up an electric clock.

I'd still have a vintage refrigerator, were it not for the landlord insisting it was too small for a family, replacing it right before I moved in. He was kind enough not to mess up the color scheme, by buying an almond colored one.


I do have a vintage almond colored gas stove, the non-electric kind with pilot lights, although I do not know how old it is. It is old enough that the manufacturer (Premier) doesn't make knobs to fit it any more, and it has been hell to get a replacement oven knob that fits it correctly. (old knob has no numbers on it any more)

[deborahburgart]

GREAT tips and info!!! I'm a trim carpenter and one thing you definitely should have done is 'coped' your cabinet shoe moulding into your higher transition piece. That would be the proper way. Never make a straight cut on the shoe here.

[lindacgrace]

Hmm. I presume you're talking "early 20th century" before 1925. I lived and worked in an unmodified kitchen from 1929. There were toe-kicks, sink cabinet cut-outs (a horizontal slits pattern), and fully flush inset drawers. There were no sconces, and I have checked historical houses - nobody ever put a sconce over a doorway until the late 30s, when they were popular in mudrooms, back porches, laundry rooms, pantries, and other utilitarian spaces. My small kitchen had two 'school house' style fixtures with that iconic shape (centre of room and over the sink). So I think that more than one light fixture happened at least some of the time. I have also seen many task lights in the shape of large radio vacuum tubes with black or white shades near the stove or sink, but no sconces. Also, the stove was considered to be dangerous and nobody built cabinets up to them. Rolling enamelled tea tray style carts were used to provide off-loading and storage space. Since the only wall space left was the other side of the stove, the refrigerator was shoved up against the stove (I still see this arrangement in older unremodeled kitchens throughout the 50s). Hey, even though you made both appliances work harder, the fridge was metal and wouldn't catch fire. Is my information wrong? Is this a regional thing (the features I describe were in a California Craftsman Bungalow in Redondo Beach)? What books/historic houses with unmodified kitchens are you getting your information from? I would love to check them out.

[gingermonette]

"Modify the new to fit the old." Very creative threshold to not cut the door facing! Love the dishwasher option and that cabinet!

[JeanneOlson-vvtl]

Great job! I have lived in and been the sole owner since 1982, a 1034 craftsman cottage style, so to speak. I love it. I have what I believe to be the original kitchen cabinets. I’m redoing what I can on a bare bones budget. So Formica counters paint and lace curtains. I’m easily able to get a used-ish sink in what would be the style of 1934, the year my home was finished. I even, In a small hometown way, was able to meet one of the previous families that lived here. He agreed that this home was filled with love. Blessings to all.

[terricakleinknecht]

Wow, I just found your channel when researching how to install a recessed medicine cabinet in my plaster wall. This is gonna be a great resource for me as my home is from a similar era (early 20s). I love your bathroom and kitchen walkthrough videos - I’ve already found so much useful information in them that has answered a lot of questions I’ve had about my space. Thank you!

[FranLu-qsxv]

You did such a great job! That Butler's Pantry! AHHH!!! I'm in a 1929 house, but I live like it's the 1940s so I've done things as best I can with my budget, but the man who redid the house took away the Butler's Pantry and it is so needed BUT I have a Hoosier cabinet in there and that helps a lot! Thanks for the upload. What a great place to make food, can goods, hang out, clean and that sink is to die for!!! BEAUTIFUL! (Forgot to mention it took 8 1/2 years, but I finally found a 1940s lighting fixture I love and I actually do the soft bulb thing you mentioned :)

[Ang.]

So glad I found this channel. I love your style of videos. they’re cool and educational.

[CrankyGrandma]

My grandmas kitchen was built in 1920. I remember it as it was unchanged (cabinet wise and layout wise) in the 1960s. The twist lock cabinets! I remember. And the drawer pulls. Yep. When they got a fridge to replace the icebox it was in the pantry, not the main kitchen. The sink…yes. They had one center fluorescent circular fixture which I assume was added later. Her cabinets were all white and there was a kitchen table used for cooking prep (not a lot of counter space). Her stove wasn’t at all like the modern one you have there, though. I don’t remember any vent at all.

[quiltchick]

Thank you for sharing your talent with the world! Your kitchen is absolutely beautiful! I would love to see a video from you regarding your pantry and its history!

[georgeb.]

Two nit-picky thoughts come to mind: 1. Where are the trash/waste receptacles? 2. I like to open/close my windows and the location of your sink makes that kitchen window an issue, not to mention that it won't take much time at all before dust, debris, and dead insects/spiders begin to accumulate behind the sink and in front of the window. In such an otherwise perfect and creative restoration/renovation, that sink placement is the one thing I'd never get accustomed to.
The locations of the microwave and dishwasher(s), are wonderful, and I'm particularly impressed with how you mimicked the support brackets on the butler's pantry cupboard. There's a lot to like about that clever idea.

[stephenburns]

Like your approach on alter the new not the old.
Thank you

[whitneylong]

Was butcher block around in the 1920's? Me and my husband are updating our kitchen in our 1930's house and your info has been very helpful!

[RaChaelHoller]

I love this video, but I was wondering what kind of tile would they have used?

[renegarlinghouse]

Absolutely love the kitchen! It definitely inspires me to built antique-looking cabinets for my own kitchen.
May I ask what floating floor did you use and what color?

[cassiebushnell]

Hi! Just found your channel and subscribed. Beautiful job! Love the color choices! I would love to know the color of the doors/trim, and the color above the beadboard if you're able to share!

[TheStoneWhisperer]

Super sweet! I just closed on a 1920 Cape Cod Gable in Ohio, it's going to be super fun to get it all looking beautiful again! Glad I found your channel! What part of the U.S. is this home located in? Cold weather State? Can't wait to see more!

[Kcolor]

I’d would love to know the name of the purple paint color! It’s perfect!

[maryr]

Love the whole sink set up! What are the dimensions of the sink, and did you get a reproduction double drainboard sink, or did you use a vintage one?

[susancarroll]

Would you add purchase information on your flooring and countertops please