Man Buys House with Unused and Perfectly Preserved 1950s Kitchen

Talk about a blast from the past! In 2010, furniture designer Nathan Chandler purchased an American home built in the mid 1950s. It was never occupied and the kitchen appliances were kept in mint condition. In fact, they were never used – the original manuals were still taped to them. This unique situation provided Chandler a time capsule to a well-loved design era, and he photographed some of the magnificent details.

The charming kitchen might not be for everyone thanks to its pink decor. Appliances and the countertop are all outfitted in this soft color and accented by sparkling chrome finishes and light-wood cabinets. In addition, there's fantastic, now-retro lettering on the faceplates of the stove and oven. Chandler's trove of antiques are sought-after pieces today, and he put parts of it (like the washboard sink) for sale back when he bought the place.

Nathan Chandler: Flickr
h/t: [LiftBump]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits