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What The American Kitchen Looked Like the Year You Were Born

Our love affair with stainless steel goes back further than you think.

Kitchen Collage

More so than any other room in the house, kitchens respond to changing tastes, trends, and technology a bit faster. We're taking a look back at some of the most ground-breaking moments in kitchen design, trendy features that came and went, and iconic kitchens from beloved TV shows through the years.

1

1920s: A Little Bit of Color

Room, Interior design, Furniture, Table, Flooring, Drawer, Paint, Cabinetry, Countertop, Interior design,
GraphicaArtis

Though color didn't totally dominate until the '50s, some designers encouraged a little playfulness with decor as early as 1920. Note the compact icebox and the very roomy double-sink.

2

1920: All Hail the Cooking Stove

Room, Machine, Still life photography, Classic, Gas, Antique, Cabinetry, Still life,
Charles Le Grice/Hulton Archive

It's big, it's bulky, but it's useful. Multiple burners let you multi-task. In the 1920s, enamel finishes became trendy, which added more style options but also ease when wiping them down.

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3

1923: Built-Ins Reorganize Our Spaces

Room, Furniture, Cabinetry, Cupboard, Table, Home appliance, Kitchen, Kitchen appliance, Countertop, Photography,

By the early '20s, the piecemeal kitchen, with its freestanding Hoosier cabinet, stove, and work table, was being replaced with all-in-one configurations.

4

1926: Labor Savers Came Along

Cable, Apron, Wire, Electrical wiring, Electrical supply, Cooking, Service, Cook, Machine, Countertop,

Waffle irons, toasters, and percolators were such marvels in the '20s that we suggested placing them — all of them — right on the dining table.

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5

1934: Keeping It Compact

Room, White, Countertop, Kitchen, Serveware, Interior design, Cooking, Cabinetry, Curtain, Drink,

A more streamlined gas stove and over-the-sink dish storage maximized space in smaller rooms.

6

1935: Art Deco Accents Arrive

Room, Property, Architecture, Glass, Plumbing fixture, White, Kitchen sink, Interior design, Kitchen, Tap,
Douglas Miller/Topical Press Agency

The sleek, glamorous lines of the Art Deco period made its way into the kitchen. There's an emphasis on light (a triple window), sleek lines, and a geometric motif make a definitive statement.

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7

1939: The "Self Cleaning" Kitchen

Room, Yellow, Drawer, Green, Floor, White, Interior design, Cabinetry, Line, Plumbing fixture,

Saving time was a consistent theme in the '30s, when House Beautiful teamed up with Procter & Gamble to create the Ivory Washable House. The design emphasized materials that were easy to clean and maintain, like metal cabinets, stainless steel counters, and linoleum floors.

8

1949: Eat-In Kitchen

Room, Interior design, Floor, Furniture, Interior design, Ceiling, Home, Light fixture, Fixture, Dining room,

Built-in dining nooks first hit our pages in 1920, but they weren't exactly comfy — think church pew – style benches. Fast-forward to 1949, and the nook had morphed into a comfortable banquette, ideal for casual family meals.

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9

1950: Inside the Modern Fridge

Major appliance, Kitchen appliance, Home appliance, Room, Small appliance, Freezer, Kitchen, Oven, Refrigerator, Kitchen appliance accessory,

Easy-to-clean glass shelves, in-door compartments, and crisper drawers were a novel design in the '50s, and would become standard.

10

1950: The Electric Range

Room, Interior design, Interior design, Cook, Countertop, Flowerpot, Kitchen, Wallpaper, Houseplant, Cabinetry,

We've cooked with wood, coal and gas, but by now, an electric range, however small, was the hallmark of the high-tech kitchen of the period.

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11

1950s: The Kitchen as Status Symbol

Shelf, Dishware, Cuisine, Furniture, Shelving, Table, Cupboard, Recipe, Dish, Teal,
William Howland

New advances in food tech and labor-saving devices theoretically saved time in meal prep, making it possible to devote more space in your kitchen to decor (rather than to a pantry).

12

1951: I Love Lucy

I Love Lucy

Lucy and Ricky Ricardo ate breakfast together at their kitchen countertop every morning rather than a typical dining table—a space-saving trick that apartment dwellers employ to this day.

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13

1951: Open Kitchens Take Hold

Room, Interior design, Green, Floor, White, Furniture, Table, Home, Kitchen, Cabinetry,

Though we think of open floor plans as very "today," the modern homes of the midcentury often boasted the boundary-less designs that combined many functions into one space. Here, pastel cabinets separate the social area from the cooking space in the kitchen.

14

1953: Hidden Helpers

Room, Kitchen, Cabinetry, Countertop, Shelf, Drawer, Major appliance, Home appliance, Cook, Shelving,

While we can't speak to the safety of pull-out steps that function as an eating surface (let alone speak to the hygienic impact), but the '50s were all about innovations ... quite often for the sake of innovations.

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15

1955: The "Fitted" Kitchen

Room, Furniture, Cupboard, White, Interior design, Countertop, Cabinetry, Kitchen, Black-and-white, Monochrome photography,
Housewife

Custom cabinetry was a popular option in the affluent '50s. White enamel and stainless steel reflect a more practical consideration.

16

1955: The New "Living Room"

Room, Interior design, Floor, Furniture, Table, Ceiling, Interior design, Chair, Black-and-white, Countertop,
FPG/Hulton Archive

By the mid-century, the kitchen had become a stylish gathering space. In 1953, House Beautiful wrote about this new era: "The best measure of the revolution in the food world is that the kitchen has become a presentable living room. The kitchen has changed because the work done there is different, and because modern materials can look beautiful — yet still be practical." This combo kitchen and dining area elegantly proves the point.

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17

1957: Getting Gourmet

Room, Interior design, Cabinetry, Ceiling, Drawer, Cupboard, Kitchen appliance,
Maynard Parker

As food prep becomes simpler, cooking takes on a more "hobby" status. Budding gourmets flock to the teachings of Julia Child, while more adventurous types take advantage of new tech (like the indoor barbecue and range hood in this kitchen). Decor-wise, color is king, but also lighting — high-end kitchens rely on recessed or hidden sources of illumination.

18

1959: Leave It To Beaver

Leave It To Beaver

June Cleaver's spotless kitchen on the beloved sitcom was a central gathering place for her wholesome family. The picture-perfect mother and wife regularly washed dishes wearing heels and pearls.

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19

1960s: Going for Gold

Room, Property, Interior design, Major appliance, Kitchen, Home, Home appliance, Plumbing fixture, Cabinetry, House,
Archive

The emergence of earth tones in the mid-to-late '60s brings shades like "harvest gold" and "avocado green" into kitchens across the country. Though some may go even bolder with color, these hues remained popular even though the '80s.

20

1960s: The U-Shaped Kitchen

Wood, Room, Gas stove, White, Kitchen appliance, Major appliance, Kitchen stove, Cooktop, Cupboard, Kitchen,
Tom Kelley Archive

The U-shaped kitchen gives a space the feeling of intimacy without being enclosed by walls. This design also provides a little extra space for cooking and storage, while still allowing natural light to come in.

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