1950s Homes

A look back at kitchens of the '50s

          In the Fifties, kitchens were considered the heart of the home. Pastel colors such as turquoise, aqua, and pink gave the space a carefree and warm touch. These rooms were so frequently used, it became normal for a family to eat in the kitchen even if they had a formal dining room. Both formica and chrome dinette sets were a popular choice for kitchens.

          Common in the 1950s was the effort to evoke a kind of jet-age, modern look with sleek lines. Paradoxically, this would also be countered by the frequent use of rustic, country styles. Built-ins were big in the 50s, reducing the haphazard jumble of appliances that was standard in kitchens of years past. Dishwasher snuggled in under the counter and a refrigerator and stove continued the countertop line.

          Kitchens during this era sucked up electricity, because of the great expansion in the power grid.

          Another overlooked innovation of the 1950s is the open layout that allowed for a large table in the kitchen for dining. In the 1940s, dining was typically done in a dining room, with the kitchen reserved exclusively for cooking--or at most featuring a small breakfast table.  A typical 1950s kitchen was a center for dining as well as cooking.