A Typical Kitchen of the 1930's

We live in an age with lots of conveniences all through our homes.  A typical kitchen in 2012 has a dishwasher, microwave, electric or gas stove and may include at least one oven and maybe two.  We may have a trash compactor, side by side refrigerator/freezer with ice maker, and a dozen small appliances like coffee makers, mixers, blenders, food processors, and the list goes on and on.

In the 1930's, our country was at a low point financially and there wasn't a lot of money for extras, but still, many homes had electric percolators for making coffee, an electric vacuum cleaner, and a toaster.

A typical kitchen of the day looked very much like this one at the Henry Ford Museum.  Counter space was nearly non-existant, so much of the work was done at the kitchen table.  The cabinet against the wall is a pie safe.  The cone on the left side is for dispensing flour.  Walls in a kitchen were typically white or cream, but shades of green were also used prevalently in this decade.

Notice the fold out ironing board and electric iron.  The stove is on the right side of the pie safe, and the refrigerator is on the left.

 

This kitchen has a black and white tile floor.  Notice that the  motor for the refrigerator sits on top.  The sink is free standing, but there is enough space on either side for a dish draining rack.  The space is spare, but equipped with what a cook in the 1930's needed to whip up an apple pie or cook a roast or pan of fried chicken.

 

 

Here's another example of a kitchen during the 1930's.  This one looks more haphazard in design.  I don't know what the blue box next to the stove is used for.  The white box on the green bricks appears to be a sink.  There is a pantry lined with shelves for canned goods and a kitchen table: the work space in the room.  A food grinder is clamped onto the table.  This was used like we use a food processor. 

This kitchen photo from the Library of Congress shows another typical kitchen.  The walls and ceiling appear to be a pale shade of some color, while the trim and built in cabinet are white.  The sink is free standing.  You can see why the habit of enclosing the sink with a curtain came into being.  It was a great place to store things and keep the kitchen looking neater.  A built in cabinet to store dishes was a huge addition to a minimalist kitchen such as this.  This stove has 4 handles on the front.  I am guessing here, but that may have been an oven (largest door), broiler, and two warming drawers.  Remember, they couldn't reheat things in the microwave in those days.

Flooring of the day was generally tile or linoleum with geometric shapes and colors.  Linoleum was the most cost effective flooring at the time and solid sheets made it easier to clean up spills and keep clean.


I would miss the modern conveniences we have today if I had to work in a kitchen like this, but I love the simplicity.  The soothing colors make them a calm space.  Women obviously spent a lot of time in the kitchen, judging from the fold down ironing board.

You can incorporate these ideas into your own kitchen and have the best of both worlds - soothing colors, a window with simple curtains, and a geometric floor in black and white or colored designs.  A table and chairs in the kitchen makes it feel like home and creates a place for the kids to do homework and interact with you while you cook, and a place for the family to eat together.