Image source Kate Bavis
Looking to the past for some decorating inspiration, we’ve been exploring retro kitchen ideas that work well in modern homes.
Kitchen designs are always in danger of becoming very samey, even more so with the rise in popularity of neutral greys and utilitarian design. Retro kitchen design is the antithesis of this, fusing fresh colours, period designs and quirky accessories to create a truly unique look. The 1950s marked the move from kitchens being purely functional spaces to somewhere or entertaining and socialising. Kitchen designers focussed on ergonomics and efficiency, and the progress of technology meant that all manner of gadgetry began to appear on our kitchen counters to make the life of a housewife a wee bit easier.
We love playing with colour and design to create retro kitchen decor, and we can help you incorporate vintage details into your modern kitchen design.
Exploring a retro colour palette
Image source Pinterest
There are plenty of vintage colour options that look surprisingly at home in a modern property. You might decide that you want to be inspired by 1950s Americana and choose ice cream coloured pastels. We love combining them with checkerboard tiles for a real American diner look.
If you’re not ready to take the plunge with a complete themed kitchen, you might instead opt to add colourful highlights to your kitchen. This can be done with artwork, appliances and textiles.
Adding retro artwork
Image source Zazzle
There are some pieces of retro artwork that crop up regularly in kitchens – vintage tin Coca Cola adverts and Casablanca movie posters spring to mind. Vintage art embraces all sorts of iconography from products, animals, characters, cities and abstract art. It is up to you whether you match your art to your décor, or vice-versa where your art inspires your colour palette.
Vintage food advertisements from childhood are very popular, whether you opt for originals or replicas.
Old vs new?
If you’re using vintage aesthetics as your inspiration, you’ll need to decide whether you want original or retro inspired pieces in your kitchen. Delving into the world of vintage kitchen units unearths some remarkably well preserved examples. Original units will need to be cleaned thoroughly to remove grease and grime, then gently rubbed down before a re-spray. The units can then be spray painted or powder coated, either at home or you can opt for a professional painting company. Original units have a certain charm that simply cannot be reproduced.
On the flip side, technology and manufacturing have come a long way in recent years. Modern kitchen units are usually more durable and easier to keep clean. They are also likely to work out cheaper than a vintage model in nearly new condition!