Outfitting a kitchen to reflect a fun, funky, and modern design sensibility doesn’t have to mean ripping up the floors, countertop, and backsplash to begin from scratch. Decorating in a modern vintage style is all about the details, and there are plenty of ways to make this happen in a kitchen.
Modern Vintage Cabinets
There are several ways to use kitchen cabinetry to give the room a modern vintage vibe.
- Use vintage or antique cabinets. Look at local salvage or junk yards for kitchen storage that suits the modern vintage design aesthetic. Some items to look for include metal or hardwood cabinetry. Cabinets that are unpainted or that don’t match can easily be sanded and repainted to suit a kitchen’s color scheme. Online resources like Old House Web or Old House Parts make it easy for users to find salvaged kitchen furniture.
- Remove cabinet doors entirely. This option necessitates keeping cabinet shelves relatively tidy since dishware will be on display, but removing kitchen cabinet doors is a no-cost retro update.
- Accessorize with vintage or vintage-inspired drawer or cabinet knobs. Another quick design fix that is low-cost is to replace knobs on kitchen cabinets and drawers. Try glass, stainless steel, or pewter cabinet pulls for a look that is vintage yet simple.
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Modern Vintage Appliances and Kitchenware
When designing a modern vintage kitchen, details become very important. These items will help maintain the kitchen’s design. When deciding which accessories and kitchenware to use in a modern vintage space, look for materials that have clean, sleek lines to prevent the space from looking cluttered or overdone. Choosing an accent color for accessories, like the silver of stainless steel or a crisp white, will keep the space neat and contemporary.
- Vintage teapots or kettles. Look for items of copper, silver, stainless steel, or porcelain. Avoid kitschy floral patterns. Use an antique teapot to hold houseplants on a kitchen window sill.
- Coffee makers, toasters, cooktop, cookware and other appliances. A search through antique shops and online stores may not yield actual vintage versions of small appliances like coffee makers, electric kettles, and toasters. When outfitting a modern vintage kitchen, rely on design trends to choose these pieces. Some companies will offer “retro” lines of kitchen appliances, in colors like red or green, and stainless steel can blend with virtually any color scheme.
- Assorted vintage or used dishes, glassware, and silverware. Mismatched dishes and silverware serve some purposes: buying used dishes is much less expensive than buying a new set, it’s an eco-friendly option, and a dish collection of different shapes and sizes provides yet another dimension to a modern vintage room design. To keep the look streamlined, aim for dishes that are in the same color family or approximately the same size. Be aware that some antique dishes may contain lead in their materials. A lead test kit from a hardware store can evaluate pieces for any potential issues.
- Canisters and other storage items. Adding some storage to a kitchen is both practical and suits a modern vintage design. Dry goods canisters can be found in a variety of styles and prices; when looking to save on these items, choose canisters that are glass, metal, or white porcelain for maximum versatility.
The addition of a few small details can change the look in a kitchen from outdated to funky and modern. The key is to be intentional when choosing accessories and appliances so that the overall look of the room is both streamlined and visually interesting.