apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

this example is a bit different, but there is a big industrial type stove juxtaposed with a minimal modern kitchen
http://materialicio.us/2008/01/29/an-elegant-minimalist-kitchen-daskal-laperre-interior-architects/

Here is a photo of our stove, original to our Lortondale home. I will take some photos of the kitchen, but the cabinets are very simple (also original) with sliding doors. I wish the mahogany cabinets had not been painted over the years, but, alas, since they have, we decided to keep them white. I like that doing this lets the stove/hood take center stage. My other appliances are white to "disappear" into the cabinets. Love your stove!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mel_bean/2596285782/

I think getting white appliances would look better if you are wanting to keep the classic look. Maybe white appliances with some touches of stainless steel for handles or something. The hardwood floors would look great, too.

I've got the look that you're describing:

http://flickr.com/photos/pookndamon/2545812728/in/set-72157605398639763/
http://flickr.com/photos/pookndamon/2545812278/in/set-72157605398639763/
http://flickr.com/photos/pookndamon/2544988879/in/set-72157605398639763/

The oven doesn't have a pre-heat feature so I just wait until I think it's hot and the burners are very touchy. People are really impressed that the stove still has that shelf but it blocks two of the burners and it's pretty useless! I do like the look but it can be trying.

Cynthia--I have your kitchen color and a similar stove--all the rest I dream about installing! Questions: is that a vent for your stove? I don't have one and I'm not sure how to do it. Also, are those wood countertops and if so, do you find them easy to maintain?

We just bought our place this spring and the kitchen was already done. I really like the look and it drew us to the place (there is a lot of bad granite out there!) but the countertops do take some work. I left a glass out for a couple of days and it made a ring. Apparently, the wood can be sanded and refinished so my husband and I have decided not to stress about any damage and just fix it some day. I do dry the counters off and I'm careful about the dishdrainer.

I'm not sure about the vent situation. I know my husband is dreaming of a new stove with an integrated vent. He's the chef in our household and if it means he'll make me more yummy food, I'm all for it. In the meantime, the O'Keefe and Merritt looks good and is fun.

I'd get white appliances. Contemporary stainless steel is going to be jarring next to the great vintage stove.

Maybe you can find stainless appliances that have the rounded edges consistent with the stove: unify through shape.

White appliances with glass fronts (like the Jennair french door fridge and dishwasher) would tie in nice with the mid century design of the home and coexist nicely with your beautiful Wedgewood stove.

The answer (as design.is.good pointed out above) is to go with white appliances vs. stainless. I really don't understand the obsession with stainless anyway. They get fingerprints and other marks that are hard or impossible to remove, and they are so totally overplayed that they are the least interesting choice now.

I say -- if you love the stove, keep it! Keep the rest of your choices simple and don't worry about the stove being noticed for being different.

It's cool and different so being noticed is good, right?

Keeping the rest of the appliances in a simple white would be my vote. I'm another not-fan of stainless appliances. Hard to keep clean. Plus, too cold looking.

get a white retro refrigerator. Big Chill or Smeg.

Love, love love your stove!! (it looks like an O'Keefe & Merritt, to me -- http://antiquegasstoves.com/pages/okmD.html ).

I think it would not be hard to make an amazing kitchen!

However, there are a couple of things I would do differently -- I think the stove should contrast with the colours of the rest of the kitchen -- if you keep the range white, then make the cabinets another colour. Or, what I would do, is have it restored and re-enameled in another colour. Red would be so hot:

http://antiquegasstoves.com/pages/36red.html

But even cream, or deep blue would be gorgeous!

That way, it would be the heart of your kitchen. The other appliances would blend-out -- more so if you got appliances that can be concealed with cover panels.

As for wood floors, new wood floors will never match the old wood floors that you have in the house. We've done wood in one of kitchens (we installed old reclaimed wood planks on the entire main floor), and while it's nice, there are problems with it -- for example, when boards shrink during winter. I'd go with real linoleum (e.g. marmoleum) or cool rubber flooring (dalsouple, in the plain rubber -- perhaps in white).

Good luck!

I agree with greenlight about the white retro fridge! Another option is Northstar by Elmira Stove Works--and all three brands have retro dishwashers or panels, too. I also like your white cabinets idea.

here's stainless and white with a classic stove
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abchao/2424133994/
I know she did a house tour, but damned if i can find it, anyone? She does have an AT set on flickr.

I'm crazy for this Danish site, great mixes of old and modern
here's stainless, white & wood w/ old style fridge
http://www.detmondaeneskur.dk/sites/gallery.asp?sitemod=view&id=22&page=4
and
http://www.detmondaeneskur.dk/sites/gallery.asp?sitemod=view&id=9

I start here, each line is a different kitchen gallerier ;)
http://www.detmondaeneskur.dk/sites/gallery.asp

Dear Joni,
I have the exact stove! It is a Merritt O'Keefe. 1953 I believe.
Our home is mid-century modern with teak with an open floor plan and the stove is the centerpiece of the kitchen. You will never want to cook on another stove!! I would suggest an overhead hood but otherwise just enjoy. I can't tell how excited I was to see your stove. The top piece varies quite abit and I had never actually seen another like mine.
Good Luck,Missy

I would do white appliances and painted cabinets. Not necessary to go with retro appliances if you can't afford them...They are quite expensive.

I have done quite a few posts on my blog - Kitchen Exchange - http://kitchen-exchange.blogspot.com/ - on retro kitchens. There are some good links and leads in the posts.

Search under "Retro Design"

I also have some posts on my blog Appliance Notes - http://appliancenotes.blogspot.com - on Antique Appliances and Retro Design

There I also mention a great appliance repair shop in the East Bay that will refurbish and renew old ranges at a price.

It is actually illegal to use a range with a pilot light in a permitted remodel in San Francisco. All ranges need electronic ignition nowadays. That standing pilot eats gas; so it'll pay for itself to get electronic ignition added, in the long run.

Peggy

love your stove AS IS.....please do not reenamel or change the color. any age or dings are part of it's charm. i also don't see any conflict with stainless and even ultramodern as some of the links above show.

i think the secret it to treat your stove as a sculpture. don't build cabinets near it or above it. consider tiling the entire wall behind it to match whatever you choose for the backsplash to really draw attention to it. i'd go with subway tiles (cheap and always stylish).

agree that simple white cabinets will look great (i love white kitchens). and the wood floor idea should work fine (we had no problem matching and repairing our old maple flooring in montreal other than finding the right contractor).

if you want more drama consider the glass front frig idea (if you're neat and organized) or choose a wood cabinet in the same tones as the floors for the lower cabinets. but agree with keeping it simple for the stove's sake.

white/wood/stainless/the antique stove and any color you like or not. i'm seeing heaven. please post the finished product.

Have you seen these? http://bigchillfridge.com/site/ I also have a vintage stove and do wonder if the shiny new "vintage-like" fridge would be overly shiny, but I thought they were worth looking at nonetheless.

We have just your stove, and got white appliances and built IKEA Varde cabinets and counters around it, hardwood floors as well. It's the center of the kitchen and looks absolutely modern and homey! Love it; everyone comments on it.