If you are trying to recreate a kitchen from the past, you are probably picturing checkerboard floor tiles, red ice cream parlor stools and tables with chrome trim. Or perhaps you are envisioning powder blue appliances, retro kitchenware and decor or perhaps something else. However, no matter which decade you are trying to recreate for your retro kitchen, you are going to need to begin with a little planning first.
Which decade do you want to model your kitchen after?
Before you can begin planning the design and look of your vintage kitchen, you will need to decide which decade you want to model the look after. Do you want a 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s or 1980’s kitchen, or something else? Once you have decided on a decade, you will then have to decide on whether you want to completely remodel your kitchen to go all-out retro, or if you just want to use vintage decor and accessories to create a look that will give your existing kitchen the ambiance of your chosen decade. Now that the decision-making stage is complete, you can begin putting everything together.
What’s next?
If you are going to completely remodel your kitchen, you could talk to your contractor about what he recommends for your retro design. However, if you want to have complete control over what you end up with, we suggest  you do a little research then put together a vision board. If you are doing a complete remodel, this will assist your contractor in seeing your exact vision so he will know what look you are trying to achieve and exactly what style, design, appliances, cabinets and flooring, etc. to put together for you. If you are just creating a retro look for your existing kitchen, you can still use a vision board to plan it all out and help keep everything on track. Another great way to plan, design and roll out your retro kitchen project is to use a scrapbook. Using a scrapbook is just like using a vision board except with a scrapbook you can layout your remodel in steps, one step on each page or one step for each section. If you prefer a more modern way to plan out your kitchen remodel, then you can search the Google Play Store or Apple iTunes for some appropriate designing tools. There are several available, just type “designing apps” into the search bar, then all you have to do is pick one.
Where can you find retro kitchen designs?
Finding retro kitchen designs is not only fun, but it’s very easy. You can start by buying as many vintage magazines as you can find. You can also find vintage designs by searching the internet, watching old movies and probably our favorite place to find retro kitchen designs is on Pinterest.com. Once you get to the Pinterest website, just type retro kitchen designs in the search bar and it will bring you back thousands of groovy ideas. Be forewarned though, you will probably find yourself spending hours there just trying to take it all in, it’s that good. In fact, you might not even need to look anywhere else, because Pinterest is such a great resource for what you are trying to do.
What items do you need to look for when designing a retro kitchen?
Before you can determine how to go about designing your kitchen remodel, you will need to know exactly what types of items you should be looking for, if you want to properly recreate your retro kitchen look. Here are some ideas to help get you started.
- What types of colors represent your chosen decade?
- Do you want to include glass-front cabinets?
- Don’t forget to use the appropriate fabrics for your decade, such as:Â tablecloths, kitchen towels and curtains
- Search for period appliances to complete your look.
- Vintage hardware for your cabinets and drawer pulls is a must.
- Each decade has its own style of countertops, so make sure you select period appropriate materials such as laminate and don’t forget to choose the right laminate design for your decade as well.
- Other nice touches are:Â pendant lighting, chrome-and-vinyl seating and chrome tables, checkerboard floor tiles, a farmhouse kitchen drain board and even period appropriate wallpaper.
What types of retro decor should you include with your new look?
After you have chosen the major pieces for your retro kitchen, you are now ready to complete your look with some vintage decor to help tie everything together. Buying and implementing your chosen retro decor is probably the most fun you will have throughout this entire project.
Some great ideas to complete your retro look could include: retro dinnerware, placemats, retro canisters and cookie jars, small countertop appliances, vintage mixing bowls, decanters, period wall art, vintage utensils, an old butter dish, old style milk jugs, period vases, a tea kettle, bread box, etc. There are endless possibilities here. As we mentioned above Pinterest is a great place to get inspiration and  there are thousands of pictures showing completed designs and retro looks, which make it extremely easy for you to duplicate. You can even search for vintage recipes there as well if you like.
Where can you purchase retro decor?
If you perform a quick internet search, it will bring up literally thousands of places where you can browse and buy retro kitchen decor. But here are some ideas to help get you started: eBay.com, Etsy.com and Wayfair.com, just to name a few. Another great place to find vintage decor is to go exploring at your local flea market, thrift shops, garage sales and estate sales. This is not only fun, but could also develop into a new hobby.
The Bottom Line
Designing and decorating a retro kitchen is something you will love doing and something that will reward your efforts for years to come. Don’t be afraid to add a touch of personal style to make it your own. Ultimately, you will probably find you are never done, because once you start, you might not be able to stop!
