Home design in the 1940s, especially in the kitchen, represented a rapid shift. Older styles and materials were quickly replaced. New ideas took hold, and the kitchen was transformed.
Probably more than any other era in the 1940s we have a big divide between the illustrated ideal kitchens and what people really had. For the first five years of the decade the Second World War meant that not only were new kitchens unlikely – there wasn’t even much of an opportunity to fantasize. However, once the war ended there was plenty of good advice out there for anyone planning a new home – or just hoping they might get one.
The rush to build decent homes lead to lots of experimentation in pre-fabricated materials for building houses – which extended into the prefabrication of kitchen units as part of the build of the house – particularly seen in the classic post-war prefab. For the majority of people the 1940s kitchen would have been identical to what they had in the 1930s – at best. As with so much at this time design ideals were moving on, but people would have to wait until the 1950s to start seeing the new styles and designs in their homes.
1940 Armstrong Polka Dot Kitchen – Glass block appeared during the 1930s and combined with the clean streamlined design of the late Deco period, this kitchen achieves a bit of modernity. The polka dots, ruffles, and ubiquitous geraniums keep it casual and appealing without becoming too designery.
1940 Armstrong Kitchen in Brown and Blue – Most kitchen designs were lighter and brighter than this dark chocolate brown kitchen. Blue accents and white appliances provide some relief in this “gardener’s kitchen” as it was referred to in the ad which ran in American Home.
1940 Nairn Linoleum Ad – Very Pink Kitchen – This Nairn ad ran in the American Home magazine and it’s really pink. The combination of pink and navy blue isn’t uncommon but the amount of pink is. Even the ceiling is a lighter shade. It really makes those white appliances and red accessories pop.
1941 Nairn Linoleum Kitchen – Shown in an American Home magazine, this classic red, light tan, and green scheme has lots of clean modern elements. As an ad for Nairn, one of the oldest flooring companies in the US, the linoleum was the featured element, but the tan walls and red linoleum counters make a nice counter point to the green-topped Aalto stools. Also seen regularly were the window walls under the cabinets. We should be so lucky to have more of those today!
1942 Armstrong Family Kitchen – Armstrong ran full color ads throughout the Depression and WWII advertising their various flooring, wall, and insulation products. Unlike many companies they had a dedicated staff responsible for coming up with new room ideas constantly. Though “high designers” like Raymond Lowey and Russell Wright influenced the direction of interior design, it was companies like Armstrong that appealed most directly to the primary decision maker … the American housewife.
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