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Kitchen With a Flair

Kitchen With a Flair

1960s Kitchen features we should bring back

May 16, 2024

Hi friends 👋

Welcome to this week’s installment of The Midmod Corner.

This week's topic won the popular vote in the Instagram poll I ran earlier. Moving forward, I'm thinking of letting you pick the topics you're most interested in every week. So, keep an eye out for future polls!

Alrighty, let's jump right in and explore this week's story.

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🗞️ The Story

The 1960s marked a transformative era when kitchens evolved from mere food preparation areas to vibrant hubs of family gatherings and social interaction. In this dynamic shift, the kitchen emerged as the heart of the home, surpassing the living room as the central space for entertaining in modern American life.

This shift sparked a wave of creative energy among architects of the time, transforming the kitchen into a canvas for both functionality and distinctive aesthetics.

While we often assume that our present era is inherently more sophisticated than the past, a glimpse into 1950s kitchens might change that perception. You might find yourself wanting to raid your grandmother's kitchen for some timeless inspiration.

Kitchen pass-through window

Prior to the 1950s, kitchens were typically enclosed spaces, often hidden from view during social gatherings. The transition towards the open-plan concept, which we now commonly associate with modern kitchens, began gradually alongside a growing preference for more integrated living spaces.

This shift led to the introduction of the pass-through window, a design innovation that reshaped home layouts and symbolized a shift towards inclusivity and social interaction. These openings facilitated easier food service and fostered conversations between the kitchen and adjoining dining or living areas, effectively bridging the divide between separate rooms.

Wall-mounted refrigerator

Introduced in 1955 by General Electric, the GE wall-mounted refrigerator may appear unconventional by today's standards, yet its design concept was undeniably ingenious.

By replacing a portion of upper cabinets with the refrigerator, all food items are conveniently placed at eye level. This eliminates the need for bending or reaching, as everything is visible at a glance.

Moreover, since this innovative appliance took up no floor space, it freed up room for additional base cabinets. The pink unit above, known as the 'GE Refrigeration Center,' integrated a wall-mounted fridge with pull-out refrigerator or freezer drawers that harmonized with the overall cabinetry design.

Revolving shelves fridge

Continuing with the theme of groundbreaking refrigerators, it was this particular video that captured my fascination with vintage kitchen appliances and inspired me to share this post. This refrigerator epitomizes the innovative ethos that defined the mid-century era: blending design with functionality to enhance people's lives.

@dustyoldstuff
Won't find these in stores. #vintage #1960s #antique

Unfortunately, there isn’t much information about this specific fridge other than it was manufactured by General Electric. However, its unique features and design ingenuity certainly earn it a well-deserved spot on this list of iconic vintage appliances.

Built-in countertop mixer

In 1956, the Nutone in-built Food Center made its debut as a versatile kitchen assistant, seamlessly integrated into the countertop. Equipped with an array of accessories including a meat grinder, mixer, blender, sharpener, and juicer—all conveniently built-in—it became akin to the modern-day KitchenAid.

In the years following its release, this innovative accessory gained considerable popularity, finding its way into many kitchens of Eichler houses and becoming a symbol of mid-century functionality and design ingenuity.

Frigidaire Flair Stovetop

This revolutionary kitchen appliance truly redefined cooking when it hit the market in 1962. Designed by Jayne Van Alstyne, who joined General Motors in 1955 as a “Damsel of Design,” part of a select group of women hired to make GM’s products more “female-friendly,” the Flair boasted innovative features that set it apart from traditional ranges of its time.

One of its standout features was the electric burners, which smoothly rolled in and out of the appliance like a drawer. When not in use, the burners simply slid out of view, maintaining the Flair's sleek appearance. Additionally, the Flair featured double ovens positioned at counter height for easy access. Unlike traditional oven doors that swung outward, the Flair’s oven doors lifted up, providing a unique and ergonomic cooking experience.