Vintage Vibes Reign Supreme in This Middletown Home

Who knew that a set of dishes could transform a kitchen? That was the case for Gail Greenwood and Chil Mott when lifelong friends, brothers Daryl and Bryan Duarte, presented the couple with 140 pieces of vintage diner-grade Fire King stock for their Middletown home. For those not in the know, the green milk-glass tableware is coveted by collectors; the Duartes built the set over time, meticulously picking from flea markets and church sales. To showcase the prized minty wares, Mott built glass-front cabinets from reclaimed glass, and in keeping with period details, used matchbox door latches and hinges; lighting was also installed to illuminate the collection.

Appreciating antiques was already in the DNA of the couple, who revere the quality and work of bygone eras. With only two previous homeowners before them, their 1938 Cape Cod-style house still boasts many original fixtures. “We were very thankful that no trendy updating had been done to any of the rooms. No granite counters, center islands, or composite materials for cabinets.” What may have started as practical – accepting cast-offs from family and friends, even a piece of taxidermy – developed into a penchant for heirloom quality and period design with an execution so precise it caught the eye of location scouts for Wes Anderson’s film Moonrise Kingdom.

When it comes to furniture and appliances, the pair often seeks old before buying new. The kitchen’s 1940s Universal stove hails from Earthen Vessel, a store in Providence specializing in pre-owned appliances. “Who needs a bigger stove anyway?” says Greenwood, who notes that their 1941 GE refrigerator was rescued from a neighbor on trash night. “People think old fridges waste electricity, but actually they use next to nothing because they don’t have features like auto-defrost and ice makers that run constantly.”

Tying all of the elements together is the 1930s wallpaper, purchased at Secondhand Rose in New York City. Says Greenwood, “I saved it for ten years before committing it to the walls.” Due to the paper’s fragility, she hired local expert Doug Leonardo to do the hanging. Solid blocks of color and surrounding natural wood on structural details and floors gives the eye places to rest, keeping the pattern from becoming busy. In 2018, the retro-fabulous cherry-red kitchen appeared in The New York Times. Not in the Home & Garden section but Music, as Greenwood is bassist for the alternative rock band Belly.