If you’re a fan of vintage, you’ve come to the right place. Do you enjoy pictures of colorful kitchens, housewives, and 1950s decor? Stop reading and start scrolling. I have compiled 32 images of kitchens found in ads or articles from my collection of mid-century women’s magazines. I’ll show you 15 pictures of mid-century kitchens today, and 17 more tomorrow. We start at 1949 and go all the way to 1964.
My favorite is #13. It is from 1953 article showcasing a mid-century modern home. I have included the full article for download at the bottom of this post.
Which one is your favorite?
From 1949, this ad for Youngstown Kitchens was found in the July edition of McCalls magazine. They advertised their line of kitchen sinks and cabinets often throughout the decade.
Here they are advertising their line of white enameled-steel cabinets, twin sinks, and porcelain enamel counter tops. The ad talks of garbage disposals, but nothing about dishwashers. That was the job of the bobbie-socks-wearing daughter.
The off-white and blue kitchen you see comes from a 1951 article titled “Ideal Couple”. The couple they are referencing is an electric range and refrigerator.
This electric couple, range and refrigerator, is fine for big or little kitchens. the range, only 30 inches wide, has a giant oven that can bake this big meal or up to 6 pies at once.
This modern 1951 kitchen came from an article titled “This Kitchen Really Works”. Here, the range, refrigerator, and oven are gas. Besides the kitchen, the article shows a large adjoining laundry room for ultimate efficiency. The following photos show other efficiencies including a very early dishwasher (next to the sink behind a wood panel), ventilated potatoes and onion bins, a lazy susan, and a cabinet designed for an ironing board.
This 1951 ad from Youngstown Kitchen is similar to #1 above. We see an apron-wearing woman and a young child helping in the kitchen. The illustration shows a top-loading dishwasher which was not advertised in the 1949 ad. Youngstown’s cabinets were white-enameled steel. The countertops were offered in a variety of colors and patterns.
Here is one more Youngstown Kitchen ad from 1951. This one was published a few months after the one above. This illustration tells a charming story showing grandpa picking up garden vegetables behind his sweet granddaughter. The yellow countertop offers a bright bold look.
The March 1951 edition of McCalls offered readers a chance to win a free remodeled kitchen. Participants were asked to submit a drawing of her ideal kitchen. This illustration was used in the article as an idea for a kitchen that would give access to a home freezer (pictured behind the wall of the kitchen).
McCalls’ kitchen remodel contest also showed this interesting picture. They called it a “kitchen in a closet”.
Perhaps you want a kitchen in a closet. It’s amazing how efficient an arm’s length kitchen can be. There is inspiration to be had in a cook’s galley with a tidy arrangement of everything you need to prepare delicious meals. A Cheerful kitchen makes work easier, so brighten it with color.
If you dream of a classic pink vintage kitchen, this picture will make your heart go pitter-patter. Want pink gingham walls and ceiling? How about pink cabinets with chrome edges? You got it! This image was part of McCalls’ “design a kitchen” contest described above. It was published in the April 1951 edition of McCalls magazine, a month after the one above.
Would you like an old-fashioned living kitchen, a kitchen-laundry? Gleaming new cabinets, the latest range and refrigerator, fresh walls, good light? You plan it, McCall’s builds it.
Here is another pink kitchen from McCalls March 1951. It comes from an ad for the American Gas Association. They are promoting gas appliances. The ad shows a gas washer, dryer, water heater, refrigerator, and range.
Here is another 1951 kitchen. This one comes from an ad for GE electric appliances and steel cabinets. The ad targeted new home owners who were designing new kitchens. It promoted all-electric refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, and garbage disposals. The ad shows blue gingham wallpaper with white cabinets also by GE.
The illustration you see of a boy holding a pie comes from an ad for American Kitchen. It references their line of “Mrs America” budget cabinets. According to the ad, homeowners would pay $369.95 for the sink, cabinets, and vinyl countertop.
The colorful kitchen with yellow walls, green trim, and red countertops are a bit different from the kitchens shown above. Note that the sink is not stainless steel and the countertop edges are only trimmed in chrome. The edges in the other kitchens from the same year were fully metal.
Here is another brightly-colored vintage kitchen from 1951. This one is for Westinghouse’s line of roll-out dishwashers. Dishwasher technology was developing at the time. It would not be until later in the 1950s when dishwashers looked like the dishwashers of today.
This brick/stainless steel kitchen is my favorite. The kitchen/family room combo was a new idea according to the article titled, “Live your own life” from the September 1952 edition of McCalls magazine. The article includes images of other parts of the mid-century modern home. I have included the full 6 page article as a bonus. It is available for download below.
TV was still new in 1952. I love that it was designed with a place for a TV. There are other examples of kitchens designed for TV watching later in the decade. You’ll see them tomorrow.
Here is another illustration from American Kitchens. The white cabinets match those shown in # 11 above. By 1953, their product line included a front-loading dishwasher and a wheeled cart.
To close it out, here is an example of a very small kitchen. It comes from a 1953 article from Living magazine about remodeling apartments.
Remodeling an apartment kitchen calls for a concentration of small appliances with maximum counter and storage space.
Bonus
Here is the full article from #13 above. It is available for download.
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