How to Design Vintage Kitchens

Take inspiration from old magazines and television shows.

Kitchens often represent the cornerstone of a home, as a fair amount of time is spent in them. Because of the importance of the kitchen, having a good design rates highly for many homeowners and prospective homeowners. While modern style kitchens have their charm, the appeal of a retro kitchen is too much for others to resist. Designing a retro kitchen, however, may seem a bit daunting at first. Taking it slow and planning the details ensures that your kitchen design reflects your vintage ideals well.

Things You'll Need

• Design books
• Vintage furniture

Instructions

1. Choose your vintage time frame. A 1950s vintage kitchen design will have a different aesthetic than a 1970s vintage kitchen design. Your choice should reflect your personal preference and also incorporate the look of the rest of your home. This way, the kitchen will look less out of place if the rest of your home lacks the same vintage feel.

2. Research homes from that time period. Searching online comes in handy when attempting a vintage design, since numerous old archives can be searched. Vintage throwback websites also often showcase home setups or kitchen appliances popular within a given time period.

3. Select color schemes that best represent your preferred time period. For instance, homes of the 1950s had softer, more monochromatic color schemes. Moving later in history, the 1960s began a more colorful venture in the kitchen. Some periods were more known for themes, like roosters and apples, while others made use of geometric patterns more prominently within the design.

4. Visit antique and thrift stores for vintage kitchen accessories. These types of stores, as well as online merchants, often have vintage kitchenware and appliances, which can be restored and worked into your vintage design. One downside to vintage appliances, such as stoves or refrigerators, is that they may not be as safe or as functional. Consider incorporating non-working small appliances into the design just to match your visual (such as toasters or coffeepots), but using modern appliances for cooking.

5. Purchase vintage reproductions if you can't find any authentic vintage accessories. The demand for vintage-style flatware, dishes and appliances has boomed and many merchants have responded accordingly.

6. Give your cabinets a facelift. In addition to changing the appliances, dishes and pots and pans, changing little things like cabinet and drawer handles instantly recreates a vintage look and feel within your kitchen. Often times, old cabinet handles can be found within thrift stores or antique stores. These pieces are easy to replace and usually cheaper than replacing the cabinets altogether.

7. Redo your lighting and flooring. Look for period-specific lamps or lanterns to hang. Flooring changes can include installing linoleum or hardwood depending upon your vintage period of choice.

References

• This Old House: A Sense of History -- Kitchens