What the article is about:
- Styles
- Set
- Facades
- Tabletop
1950s style kitchen
Characteristic features of the style
Retro from the Latin retro - retrospective, that is, a style facing the past. In terms of interior design, this trend covers the first half of the 20th century. But the classic idea is limited to interiors from the 50s to the 70s.
The photo shows an example of decorating a dining room with a retro look
Since retro styles are a concept that directly reflects history, their types are divided by time:
- Fifties. In the post-war years, the soul demanded bright colors, and the boom in the passenger car industry that occurred during this period only added dynamics to the style. Retro kitchens are characterized by bold color schemes: combinations of rich yellow, red, green, blue, and orange look lively and energetic. Another feature is chrome. Chair legs, furniture handles, appliance parts should literally shine.
- Sixties. The atmosphere of these years was influenced by hippies: hence the floral and geometric patterns, which were used both separately and in combination with each other. The furniture used in the 60s was designer and has interesting shapes.
- Seventies. Disco is in fashion! During this period, bar counters appeared in kitchens, and coffee tables appeared in living rooms. The shades become more muted, the decor becomes more complex.
The photo shows a bright tabletop in combination with wooden facades
When embodying retro style in the kitchen interior, you should understand: unlike vintage, where all things must be from the era to which the interior is adjusted, retro can and should be stylized! That is, you don’t have to look for a kitchen set from the 50s; you can order a new one, but made in a suitable design.
Although some old elements will still add charm to the interior: for example, restored chairs, a table or a small bar cabinet.
20s
First of all, it’s worth remembering the traditional English style of the Edwardian era.
It is characterized by spacious kitchens, furnished with solid wooden furniture with copper or cast iron handles, a large multifunctional stove and an impressively sized table in the middle.
In modern interiors, brass, which has returned to fashion, is often used.
Tip: If you like certain elements of each era and can't decide on the best decade, it doesn't matter. Try to combine all this harmoniously, because the point is not one hundred percent compliance, but your maximum comfort.
Color spectrum
Colors for the kitchen are selected in accordance with the era: the 50s are characterized by acidic tones, the 70s, on the contrary, are muted.
The most recognizable combination is orange with blue or blue. But there are other, no less expressive duets:
- muted yellow with light green;
- turquoise with red or pink;
- red with olive;
- lemon with blue.
The photo shows a combination of muted shades
If you don’t want your kitchen to look too bright, use a light (white, beige) base and small color accents typical of retro.
Which headset should I use?
Vintage kitchen cabinets are recognizable: bright, with unusual fittings. In general, the kitchen units were not high, they were not built to fit the ceiling, and the upper cabinets were quite compact.
Features of retro headsets:
- sliding doors - especially common on upper modules;
- non-standard fittings: from wooden handles across the entire width or height of the facade, to chrome-plated large buttons or even sawn holes in the doors themselves;
- narrow upper cabinets - instead of one, 60 cm high, it is better to put 2 rows of 30 each;
- paneled, carved facades;
- inserts made of embossed glass or plastic.
The photo shows sliding kitchen facades
Most often, kitchen sets were colored: blue, yellow, green, or consisting of several shades at once.
But ordinary wooden ones are also suitable, which are complemented by a stylish colored (scarlet, dark blue) or stone countertop.
Tabletop restoration
If there are chips, scratches and other damage on the countertop, then restoration of this part cannot be avoided. The methods and options for carrying out manipulations directly depend on what material it is made of.
The question of how to update a kitchen countertop is one that comes up most often, since the surface is systematically subject to mechanical damage and quickly becomes unusable.
Old stains on artificial stone countertops can be removed with special chemical mixtures; they are sold at any household chemical store. Small scratches are sanded using a special sandpaper, after which the surface should be polished and it will look like new.
Polishing a tabletop is an important stage in its restoration.
Materials such as chipboard and MDF are low in cost and are often susceptible to the influence of external factors, but repair work on them is much easier to carry out. Chipping of small areas is restored by gluing the part using a special glue. If the chipped part cannot be restored, then you can make a special mixture, apply it and wait until it dries completely.
The final touch is sanding the coating.
Natural wood can also be restored quite easily; scratches and chips can be sanded, and chipped areas can be glued on.
Which finish should I choose?
Creating a retro kitchen starts with the finishes, and the finishes start with the ceiling.
Ceiling
Classic - white matte ceiling obtained by conventional painting. If renovations are being done in a house with high ceilings, beams can be placed on the ceiling - parallel to each other or across, creating squares.
Walls
There are several options for wall decoration:
- monochromatic painting in a light or bright shade (typical of earlier interiors);
- wallpaper and tiles with geometric or floral patterns;
- lining from below to the middle of the wall.
The photo shows bright plain walls in the kitchen interior
The photo shows tiles on the working wall with a geometric pattern and white walls to be painted in the style of the 60s
Apron
An appropriate material in the work area is tiles. The standard choice is tiles of a geometric shape or with a pattern in the form of lines, triangles, rhombuses, or hexagons. The color is selected depending on the surrounding environment: an apron can be an accent in a retro kitchen, or it can be a calm addition.
Floor
Tile was also most often used as a floor covering: a checkerboard pattern of black and white parts was often used.
Another classic solution is wood. In modern realities, waterproof laminate, linoleum, and PVC tiles are suitable.
Doors and windows
Deliberately modern models will be discordant with the surrounding objects, so look for antique variations. The door can be a classic paneled one - white or wooden. Windows - preferably with wide frames and dedicated vents.
Period 50-60s
It is also called the decade of housewives. This time is characterized by rich colors, bold patterns and bright elements, for example, tiled floors with patterns, snakes or large checks. In this case, the checkerboard floor can alternate with plain tiles, for example, under the dining table or along the perimeter of the room.
Bright monochrome floor colors were also not uncommon. The color of the ceiling or walls matches the kitchen furniture or only its facades. For wall cladding they used white, checkerboard or bright plain tiles or ordinary whitewash, which today can be replaced with more practical washable wallpaper.
The ceiling is decorated with a fan, a wide and flat chandelier or several round or cone-shaped pendant lamps. Another attribute of this era are round wall clocks, matched in color to the interior.
Also, the kitchen space should be moderately saturated with a variety of chrome inserts and details. The furniture of this time had clear shapes with an abundance of glossy surfaces.
The most popular colors were pink, red, blue, pale or bright yellow, light green or pale purple, which were often combined with white. The inside of the shelves was covered with bright, long mini-tablecloths, contrasting with the main color of the furniture, on which dishes were beautifully arranged.
What furniture is suitable?
The emphasis in the kitchen is easiest to place on the dining group: a table and chairs appropriate for the retro style will help achieve the desired effect.
- Tables: on thin legs, folding, rectangular or round. Round ones can be on one leg, like in a retro cafe.
- Chairs: wooden Viennese, bright plastic or on a chrome-plated metal base.
In the photo there are chairs with chrome legs
In addition to the eating area, you can emphasize the desired image with the help of additional furniture:
- sofa “lips” or leather kitchen sofa;
- unusually shaped bar;
- aged wooden or metal shelves;
- separate island tables;
- shelves for dishes with holders.
Nuances of choosing household appliances and sinks
State-of-the-art touch-controlled appliances will kill the charm of a retro kitchen, so appliances must also match the era. Fortunately, modern manufacturers have refrigerators, stoves and hoods styled after the mid-20th century.
SMEG has a wide range, but suitable models are also found in the assortment of Polaris, Bosch, KitchenAid, Gorenje.
Unfortunately, stylized large appliances are not cheap, so you can go another, more economical route: choose a classic stove, hide the refrigerator in a pencil case, and add coziness with various small things. For example, a coffee machine, toaster, kettle, mixer, blender - all family members will like them.
Pictured is a SMEG coffee machine
To decorate the dishwashing area, you can choose a sink made of any material: from enamel to aluminum, built into the countertop itself. It is more important to pay attention to the mixer: in the middle of the last century there were no single-valve taps yet, so a gander with two lambs would look more plausible.
The photo shows a two-lever faucet with a gold sink
What textiles and lighting to use?
Bright curtains, tablecloths or runners, decorative pillows, towels and even carpets in the kitchen in the style of the last century are welcome, especially if the decoration is quite minimalistic.
The photo shows retro textile options
Carpets are usually laid in the dining area; high-pile models best convey the mood, but aged oriental motifs are also suitable.
As for light, the emphasis is always on it! Lamps, especially above the table, should attract attention with their shape or color. Designer chandeliers are an integral part of retro.
DIY ways to style an antique wooden kitchen
Well-chosen furniture alone is not enough to achieve the full effect of an antique-style kitchen. It is necessary to complement the interior with various details that enhance the overall impression.
Kitchenware
The most interesting are ceramic and wooden items, especially those with paintings reminiscent of handicraft. They are matched with pots, braziers, frying pans and other utensils made of copper and cast iron. Antique scales with weights, as well as storage containers made of wood or ceramics, will organically complement the picture.
A samovar and painted wooden dishes are suitable for a rustic-style interior.
Wooden dishes are a good choice
Decor with an aged effect
All kinds of objects that look as if they are hundreds of years old can bring a special charm to the interior. In the kitchen they can be vases, figurines, braided glass or ceramic bottles, mirrors, shelves, and you can give the decor the desired look with your own hands.
Anything can be a decoration
Textile
He has a very important role - to complete the cozy image. This includes curtains, tablecloths, chair cushions, towels, napkins, and potholders. The color scheme of textiles should not stand out from the general palette, and it is advisable to use natural fabrics: cotton, linen, wool.
Textiles are irreplaceable
Features of choosing decor and kitchen accessories
Retro kitchen decor is primarily functional. In a small kitchen, just beautiful dishes peeking out from the sideboard or sitting on the countertop may be enough.
Original decor is placed on the walls: a great example in the photo below is a clock in the shape of an eye.
Don’t forget about retro motifs: posters from the 50-70s are always in trend. In combination with retro decoration, a rotary telephone or a tube TV are also appropriate.
Retro is not just a way of interior design. This style is a time machine that allows you to immerse yourself in a wonderful, memorable era.
