Essential elements of vintage kitchen design

If you’ve made the decision to transform your kitchen into a vintage-inspired room, congrats! Soon you’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the Old World charms of your space, just like numerous homeowners who have chosen to complete a vintage remodeling project. There are many features that make up this style preference. Here are the essential elements of vintage kitchen design:

It’s easy to spot a vintage bathroom. They often have clawfoot tubs and pedestal sinks. But what makes up a retro kitchen? In order to remodel this room in a vintage aesthetic, you will have to concentrate on the details, which is where most of the emphasis is placed.

Appliances
Start with the largest items in the room (e.g., appliances, cabinets, etc.). Depending on how much you want to invest, you may either repurpose appliances or buy new ones. For the former, consider adding a coating of paint to your fridge and stove. Many appliances featured muted colors in the past, and that trend is making a comeback. Instead of painting each fixture, you could also cover up your appliances. This is a mix of modern and vintage aesthetics because it’s popular in both design styles. Just have a carpenter use the same wood, finish and paint (if any) to build a cover to house your fridge and stove.

If you are purchasing new appliances, look for something with a vintage feel. Move away from stainless steel. Instead, search for painted stoves in green, yellow or white. If you like the look of chrome, choose appliances with metal handles.

Fixtures
Faucets are another important part of your kitchen. These vintage faucets will be a bit more ornate, with knob handles and tall spouts. Pair the faucet will a farmhouse sink to complete the look.

Hutch
A hutch is perfect if you have limited cabinet space, and it also evokes the vintage aesthetic. Choose one with a painted wood finish. The styles that are built right into other furniture celebrate this style even more. Use this storage space to house your nicer pieces of glassware and silverware.

Cabinetry
Continue along with the same trend and paint your cabinets a cheery color. Opt for pastels or hues with a white undertone so light can reflect off the surface. Vintage cabinet hardware is simple and streamlined. All you need is a horizontal bar in polished metal or a painted finish.

When some people refer to vintage design they are talking about a distressed look. You can incorporate this finish into your kitchen cabinets. Just take a gritty sandpaper and run it along the surface of each cabinet in vertical swipes. Keep the direction in which you rub off the paint the same throughout the process to ensure consistency. You can also add this treatment to your painted fridge, stove, hutch or any wood surface.

Other types of vintage decor
To make your home truly personal, bring in family antiques. They will look great in your new vintage kitchen. Consider picking up frames, lamps and other Old World pieces.