1945 kitchen

Readers and Their Kitchens Archives -

The 1930s and 1940s introduced an innovative design era. Bring vintage style to your kitchen by mixing in these key design elements from kitchens of the 1930s-1940s.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so decorating it has always been a high priority....

In September of last year, Rhiannon and her family moved from Oakland, California to a 1938 Portland home set into the green streets of the Laurelhurst neighborhood. The first order of business? Restore the kitchen, bringing back some of the space’s inherent charm and color, but adding a few modern appliances to make cooking for a family easy. Join Rhiannon for a cup of tea in this adorable kitchen, rich with a lifetime’s collection of jadeite.

Congoleum gave Armstrong a run for their money consistently for decades as they both competed for the same flooring market. This kitchen features space to store the "family wagon" used for grocery shopping and hauling tired toddlers. It appears to be a patterned lino rug over linoleum flooring. The ad appeared in Ladies Home Journal.

"Bring the beauty of the past into your kitchen with Vintage-Inspired Decor! 🍳🕰️ Perfect for creating a space that feels rich with history and style. 🌟✨ #VintageKitchensInspiration #HomeStyling #RetroCharm"

white kitchen

In the mid-40s, Armstrong's lead designer, Hazel Dell Brown, seems to have favored these organized pantry corners. When closed, this one had a bird's eye view painting of a village done in a quasi-Asian style with a black background.

"Valspar Enamel comes in twelve beautiful colors; Red—light and deep; Blue—light, medium, and deep; Green—medium and deep; Ivory, Vermilion, Bright Yellow, Gray and Brown. Also in Black, White, Bronze, Aluminum and Flat Black. By mixing two or more of these colors, you can secure and shade you want." Originally made by Valentine & Company of New York. Source: House & Garden From the Antique Home & Style collection.