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Things You’d See in a 1970s Kitchen
UltimateClassicRock ^ | May 18, 2024 | Stephen Lenz

Posted on 05/19/2024 9:00:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway

We've said it before: the '70s was a vibe—a very amber-ish brown, dark orange, and avocado green vibe. We even recently took a fun trip down memory lane with our list of some of the most iconic objects from the '70s.

It's funny, we often think of the '70s as a light-filled, super hippy, peace-love-and-understanding time in history. But at home, when it came to color, things were pretty clunky, dark, and, well, dull.

Nothing had more of a '70s vibe than the heart of the home: the kitchen. Technology and gadgets really came in hot during this decade, with innovations to make coffee faster (and in copious amounts), slice your meat with ease, and keep your Kool-Aid fresher longer.

Kitchens Became Family-Friendly in the '70s

As families began spending more time in the kitchen, doing more than just cooking and eating, kitchen peninsulas with cabinets above, covered in Formica, started to appear. These spaces became perfect for kids to do their homework and for mom and dad to set out cold cuts when entertaining.

In fact, the '70s marked a time when kitchens started to get bigger in order to accommodate more activities. Home design website Apartment Therapy notes that this was the era when the kitchen started to become more of a part of the home, rather than a separate space:

The move from a small kitchen, closed off from the rest of the home (with perhaps a small table and chairs for casual dining) to a large kitchen, open to the dining area and the living room, reflected a change in the role of the kitchen, and a change in American life.

And the style—oh, the style. From dark wood accents to faux brick, rattan, and lots and lots of cookie jars, the '70s truly was a vibe.

Our '70s home tour starts now—first stop, the kitchen.

From mushroom decor to that iconic jug (you know the one), let's take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to the quintessential '70s kitchen.

The Original Crockpot

Nobody had time to make dinner, so you threw the chicken casserole in the slow cooker while making toast in the morning. When you got home before Mom and Dad, the house smelled amazing. And it still does!

Wall-Mounted Rotary Phone

The kitchen was the heart and communications hub of the home, where you could make a jug of Tang while talking to Stacey. Wrapping the phone cord around yourself while sitting on a swivel stool was mandatory.

The Jug That Everyone Had

Either you had the jug, your grandma did, or you both did. There's a good chance your mom bought it at the neighbor's Tupperware party, and you still don't know what that darn button did, but you pushed it anyway.

Electric Skillet

I read somewhere that there's a rumor these things produced their own grease. Whatever was made in them was guaranteed to be delicious.

Those Clunky Oak (?) Table and Chairs

You may still have these because, not unlike appliances from that period, they were made to last. The chairs had somewhat of a " pirate ship's steering wheel" aesthetic and there always seemed to be only one chair with arms, which we called the "Captain's chair" in my house. Yeah, I know.

Ugly Cookbooks

You were always sure to find a few ugly cookbooks on a shelf in the '70s kitchen. Food photography was kinda terrible back then but that was probably because the food was pretty bad too.

Collectible Spoons

You may recall us mentioning how collectible spoons were a key decorating theme at Grandma's house. Since these were at your house and not Grandma's, you may have used one to eat your Jell-O very, very slowly and Mom was not happy about it at all.

TV Dinners

While TV dinners pre-date the '70s, they were still a key part of kitchens at that time. With more kids taking charge of their own dinners while parents were out or not home from work yet, these convenient marvels were the ultimate go-to.

Electric Knife

"Plug this in and you will cut your arm off..." they all said. Well, I don't recall anyone ever using this odd invention and yet there was one in the cupboard for as long as I remember.

Avocado Green Appliances

Along with butter yellow, these dull green appliances were about the most colorful thing in a '70s kitchen.

Electric Can Opener

Open cans, sharpen knives and scissors, make the most unholy god-awful grinding sound when you use it—was there anything this couldn't do?

Giant Coffee Maker

The best part of waking up... Why did this thing brew enough coffee to wake up an entire battalion? It was another one of those appliances built to outlast generations.

Pyrex Bowls

Is there anything more iconically '70s than these indestructible bowls?

Fondue Sets

Used once, then sentenced to a life of sitting "on display" on the counter or tucked away in a cupboard, always tumbling to the floor when you dared to reach for the electric popcorn popper.

Electric Popcorn Popper

Speaking of the electric popcorn popper, this hefty version of the electric skillet must've weighed about 250 pounds and was a certified fire hazard, but man, did it churn out better popcorn than the later air popper (come at me if you want). And don't forget that little vent at the top where you'd plop the butter, ensuring it was perpetually greasy and stinky. Smell the nostalgia!

Mushroom Motif Decor

You know that Portlandia sketch called "Put a Bird on It!"? Watch it here - it's hilarious. Well, in the '70s, it would have been "Put a Mushroom on It!" Mushroom cookie jars! Mushroom lamps! Mushroom everything! Was it a psychedelic thing? The start of the Smurfs? Mushrooms were everywhere!

Owl Motif Decor

Like what we just said about mushrooms, but make it about owls. Literally putting a bird on it!

Macrame Planters and Spider Plants

Don't think a house plant can capture an era? Think again. If you didn't have a spider plant dangling in a massive macrame plant hanger in front of your kitchen window, can you really claim to have actually experienced the '70s?

Formica Table Top Coming Apart

The only thing more '70s than a Formica countertop was slowly peeling it off the surface until your parents had no choice but to replace it.

Rattan Furniture

If you were fortunate enough to have a wall-mounted phone in your kitchen, odds are you had a rattan chair and matching stool parked right next to it. (That is, unless you pulled the swivel stool from the peninsula over so you could spin while chatting.)

Floral Wallpaper

The floral wallpaper screamed early '70s, but it was such a pain in the you-know-what to remove that it stubbornly clung to the walls through the '80s, despite nobody actually liking it.

Very, Very Colorful Linoleum Floors

Sending shivers down the spine of every house flipper, this universally loathed floor covering likely found its way onto floors in the '50s/'60s and proved too stubborn to remove, thus becoming a signature lewk of the '70s.

Read More: Things You'd See in a 1970s Kitchen | https://ultimateclassicrock.com/things-youd-see-in-a-1970s-kitchen/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; History; Hobbies
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To: nickcarraway

My Dad always used an electric knife to carve the Turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas.


21 posted on 05/19/2024 9:40:59 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: nickcarraway

Had that crockpot until this last winter when the stoneware pot broke and finally had to chuck it..


22 posted on 05/19/2024 9:42:07 PM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
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To: Georgia Girl 2

(I still have a fondue set)

You are a great person!! 🌝👍👍👍🙃


23 posted on 05/19/2024 9:47:23 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: nickcarraway

A family sitting around a table a stay at home mom made. Kid’s homework spread out on the table after. A packed black lunch pail and full Stanley thermos full of fresh coffee for dad to take to work.

We always had a massive hutch full of “fine China for special occasions) that we NEVER used.

My mom use to leave her sheet music on the table.

That’s a pitcher and not a jug.

Everything else is right on.


24 posted on 05/19/2024 9:59:30 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: nickcarraway

Those “Merry Mushroom” housewares from Sears are quite expensive and collectible these days. Some of the rarer pieces go for more than $200.


25 posted on 05/19/2024 9:59:34 PM PDT by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order.)
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To: SaveFerris

I remember helping Dad push the massive Lincoln we had while waiting in Carter lines to save gas waiting for our turn at the pump.


26 posted on 05/19/2024 10:01:35 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

The electric knife is great for cutting packing foam. I everytime I find one at a thrift store I pick it up.

I have never cut anything else with one....


27 posted on 05/19/2024 10:03:43 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes.)
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To: nickcarraway
"Don't think a house plant can capture an era? Think again. If you didn't have a spider plant dangling in a massive macrame plant hanger in front of your kitchen window, can you really claim to have experienced the 70's?"

True. 🤣

28 posted on 05/19/2024 10:04:51 PM PDT by Pajamajan (Pray for our nation. Never be a peaceful slave in a new Socialist America..)
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To: nickcarraway

Oh, let me guess... A wife?


29 posted on 05/19/2024 10:05:52 PM PDT by Bullish (...And just like that, I was dropped from the ping-list)
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To: Pajamajan

Does killing my roommates’s spider plant count?


30 posted on 05/19/2024 10:14:34 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Organic Panic

I was driving by a gas station - about 1976, can’t remember

The place was backed up, cars lined up one after another, out in the street, blocking the lane, for their turn at the pump. Gas was $1.99 there - big sign

I was like “Nah!”

Drove maybe 3-5 miles down the road - absolutely no line and they were charging $1.50/gal.

Since I was visiting the area, I wondered how the locals had no idea that the cheaper station wasn’t overrun.


31 posted on 05/19/2024 10:16:44 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: PGR88

We used to have milk deliveries up until about 1975.

I remember the milkman but we had a metal box outside and would leave a list. He brought milk, butter, ice cream and all that. I’d often check ice cream on the list after my parents put it out so they had to take it. lol

I also remember the postman would take our dogs in his truck around out block. They loved riding with him. It was truly a simpler world and different time.


32 posted on 05/19/2024 10:17:59 PM PDT by Zack Attack (✔)
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To: nickcarraway

Yeah it was groovy


33 posted on 05/19/2024 10:27:22 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: nickcarraway

My brother and I used to buy potassium and sulphur at the local TG&Y. Dad had charcoal at home. Boy those were good times


34 posted on 05/19/2024 10:31:11 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: ansel12

With genuine smiles. They still liked men and sex and babies.


35 posted on 05/19/2024 10:38:21 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: nickcarraway
The article mentions "the jug everyone had". No one called anything lass than a full gallon "a jug" in the 1970s Connecticut where I grew up. We had a very popular green pitcher, but it was Rubbermaid, NOT Tupperware. The pitcher looked like this:



I bought my wife a Rival brand Crock Pot in the late 2000s. So that one isn't stuck in the 70s. We DID have avocado appliances replacing our white 50s/60s appliances. (We missed the Harvest Gold period).

We also had that exact model of Hamilton Beach electric knife, and a similar electric can opener. Where's the Avocado Waring Blender?
36 posted on 05/19/2024 10:38:27 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana
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To: PGR88

We had a soda man, bringing us a case of Elm City soda every couple of weeks. My parents had a Charles Chips Potato Chip/Pretzel route.


37 posted on 05/19/2024 10:40:27 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana
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To: nickcarraway

I remember far too much of that.

What a trip down memory lane........


38 posted on 05/19/2024 10:43:15 PM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: Dr. Sivana

Charles Chips in the can. Yummy


39 posted on 05/19/2024 10:44:42 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
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To: Secret Agent Man

“””””With genuine smiles.”””””

So very true, females of all ages were happier and more natural and spontaneous than they are today.


40 posted on 05/19/2024 10:45:13 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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