A video capturing a “time capsule kitchen” inside a 1950s home in Stockton, Illinois, has gone viral on TikTok, sparking admiration for its preserved mid‑century design.
The video was shared by Max (@homes_with_max), a 29‑year‑old Chicago‑based designer and content creator “with a passion/obsession for old homes,” he told Newsweek. The clip has amassed more than 797,000 views since it was posted on January 30.
“In case you needed further evidence that kitchen design peaked in the ’50s, I want to walk you through this amazing time capsule kitchen I just toured in Stockton, Illinois,” Max, who did not share his last name, says in the video. He calls it “genuinely one of the best I’ve ever covered,” explaining that while the vintage appliances, matching blue counters, and pastel pink sink are striking, “it’s all the hidden features that really excite me.”
In an interview with Newsweek, Max shared more context about the home and how the current owners came to find it. “It’s actually a funny story,” he said. “I made a video about the home about a year ago, when it hit the market. It’s a complete time capsule, all original everything—kitchen, bathrooms, light fixtures etc.” He explained that the current owners “apparently found the house through that video” and that they “love the house and plan to keep it just the way it is.”
Despite its age, the kitchen remains largely functional. “All the appliances work, minus one of the ovens, which they’ve actually already ordered an identical replacement for,” he said.
‘Thoughtfully Planned Out’
As he moves through the space in the viral video, Max highlights the kitchen’s extensive built‑in functionality. “In this bank of cabinets alone, we have an accordion door, which can be used to close off the kitchen and stow away back inside this tall cabinet,” he says.
He also points out “a pop‑up appliance shelf, originally made for a mixer but cleverly repurposed by the new owners as a Keurig station—I very much approve,” along with “not one but two of these little pull‑out racks for rags and dish towels on either side of the sink.”
He goes on to describe “multiple built‑in cutting boards slash bread boards—a feature I think needs to make an urgent comeback,” before showing what he calls “this crazy Robin’s Egg blue dishwasher, which I’ve actually never seen anything quite like before.” Unlike modern designs, he explains, “it pulls out instead of folding open and has this cavernous interior.”
Elsewhere in the kitchen, Max highlights even more unexpected details. “On the other end of the room, we have a dumbwaiter—something I can honestly say I’ve never seen inside a mid‑century before,” he says, noting that “even the inside of the dumbwaiters is painted in the home’s color scheme.” He also points out “this gorgeous old radio, and the absolute dreamiest spice cabinet, which is large enough to have a section dedicated to actual usable spices, and more aesthetically pleasing vintage ones.”
Beyond the design and appliances, Max said some of the most meaningful discoveries were tucked away inside the cabinets. “Beyond appliances, and all those amazing built‑ins, one of the best parts of the kitchen is all the handwritten notes and clippings left behind by the original owners inside the cabinets,” he told Newsweek. He described finding “mostly recipes, and cooking tips, plus a few old photos which genuinely got me a bit misty.”
One cabinet particularly stood out to Max. “The one that really got me was the ‘memory wall’ I found inside a cabinet,” he said. The poster described it as “essentially a woman’s—Margaret Alzeno, the original owner’s—life crammed onto the back of a kitchen cabinet, with important dates, a rough time‑line of her life, and even a section dedicated to ‘personal mottos.’” He added, “It’s a very unique way of getting to know somebody.”
Reflecting on what modern kitchens could learn from the space, Max emphasized both aesthetics and efficiency. As for features he’d like to see in newer kitchens, “for one, color—everything’s so gray and boring nowadays,” he told Newsweek. He also stressed practicality, adding, “And functionality—not an inch of space in that kitchen is wasted. Everything is so thoughtfully planned out.”
‘Dream Home’
The caption accompanying the viral video reinforces his enthusiasm for the 1950s kitchen design. “In case you needed even more proof that kitchen design peaked in the 1950s, check out this detailed walk‑through of what might be the coolest kitchen I’ve ever toured,” Max wrote.
He noted that the kitchen has “survived pretty much untouched since the home was built in 1958,” with “original, Robbin’s‑egg blue vintage appliances, matching counters, a pastel‑pink sink,” and features that “honestly feel futuristic to this day.” He concluded: “A modern kitchen could never.”
Viewers quickly echoed that sentiment in the comments. Carrie said: “Please bring these colors back into homes.”
TikTok user @kazoo1980 called it “my dream home.”
User @TJ92471 wrote, “WHAT A GEM!” while @nycspr, commented, “How beautiful.”
Do you have a home design-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
