How to Restore a Mid-Century Kitchen
Many kitchens in the 1950s had creamy pastels on walls, cabinets and counters. Most refrigerators and stoves were still white but colored major appliances were beginning to appear. When restoring a mid-century kitchen, you can try to keep things original by restoring existing appliances and searching for authentic 1950s materials for those that need replacing. An easier option though would be to use new products that purposely look old in order to create a 1950s decor. An added benefit of using modern appliances rather than restoring old ones is that new ones are more energy-efficient. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Restoration books and magazines for ideas
- Paint and/or wallpaper
- Plain kitchen hardware
- Stainless steel appliances (optional)
- Tile flooring
- Linoleum counter tops
Instructions
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Flip through magazines, look online or visit a library or bookstore to gather as much information as you can about the kind of look you want to recreate with your restoration.
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Paint walls according to your taste. Plain, light walls were common during the mid-century as well as bright colors such as yellow or watery colors like blue, aqua and green. Use a color that works well with the other colors through your home. If wallpaper is your thing, most paint and wallpaper stores can provide you with wallpaper books containing plenty of retro wallpaper to choose from.
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Replace, refinish or reface existing kitchen cabinets, particularly if the ones you presently own have raised doors. Most cabinets during the 1950s had flat panels and less expensive kitchens often contained open shelving. White or pastels were popular colors for cabinetry, but some were finished in light wood tones, rather than paint.
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Select and purchase knobs and pulls for your kitchen cabinets. Pass on ornate knobs and instead choose sleek, simple hardware in brushed or polished steel.
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Shop for major appliances. To maintain a true 1950's feel, special order new energy-efficient appliances created specifically to look old, with deeply rounded corners and shiny metal latches. Alternatively, go for stainless steel modern appliances. Stainless steel was big in the 1950s and as long as you select stainless appliances with simple lines, you can still achieve the look you are trying to replicate while benefiting from modern manufacturing.
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Head to a home improvement center or carpet and tile store to consult a specialist about the kind of floor to install. Though vinyl tile and linoleum were popular in the 1950s, you may want to install a modern floor with a retro feel. It's easy to use plain modern tile to recreate a mid-century look.
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Decide on new countertops. Laminate counters were popular in the fifties and will be one of the easier materials for you to find today as it's still a popular choice for counters. Increase the authenticity of your kitchen by choosing patterned or plain counters and adding a chrome edge.
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Tips & Warnings
Paint before restoring cabinets and installing countertops. However, if you are going to decorate using wallpaper, wait until cabinets and counters are finished before applying.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
