Kitchen vintage

Kitchens painted in perky shades such as lemon yellow, turquoise, and cotton-candy pink were wildly popular in mid-century homes. Make a modern nod to this mood-boosting approach by painting a kitchen accent wall in a gorgeous, unexpected hue. Interior designers of the s often used streamlined wood cabinetry to add texture and warmth to modern rooms. This trick works wonderfully in contemporary kitchens as well—especially when combining lighter woods with bright accents and plenty of natural light.

Obviously, not everything in the space can be truly vintage, in the sense of being antique or heirloom. Those kinds of items can be incredibly pricy and difficult to find, plus their functionality may not be able to keep up with modern cooking requirements. But mimicking the vintage or retro look, possibly with a few truly vintage pieces sprinkled around as decoration, is totally possible—it just takes some careful design choices in everything from the kitchen backsplash to cabinet paint colors. A total overhaul will take much more work, but incorporating some smaller vintage elements into a preexisting kitchen can do a lot to create that retro look and feel. Of course, if you want to go full-kitsch, give it a try—your kitchen, your rules.

Our first kitchen features a small but efficient island that holds refrigerator drawers and a bookcase for cookbooks. Painted deep gray to contrast with the lighter color of the cabinets and topped with marble, it feels vintage and perhaps even original to the house. This small, s kitchen returns to its retro roots without sacrificing modern space and functionality. The center island replaces enough counter space to fit a clothes washer and dryer in the room.

By Melanie Griffiths TZ. Want to design a kitchen that's eclectic and love-worn, or retro with a dash of playfulness? There are, however, a few simple guidelines that will help you to evoke the right atmosphere, which we're covering below. And if you want all the practical advice you'll need to get your transformation going, there isn't a question we can't answer over on our ultimate guide to planning and designing a kitchen.