So, do you want a vintage kitchen and bath?Click here to learn how to start hunting

Caitlin Sullivan is obsessed with vintage sinks. She loves the slatted sink in the kitchen.

“I have four at a time in my garage. I stock up and store them as I find them. The last three I received are from a motel I'm renovating in Ocean Shores. I found them on Facebook Marketplace and… I used Roadie, a UPS shipping company, to drive me from Ocean Shores to Kenmore.

Sullivan is an artist and a real estate broker at Compass. The Kenmore resident operates a mid-century rental/Airbnb in Fremont, a 1911 Airbnb in Port Angels, and a 1920s independent attached dwelling unit (DADU) rental in Ballard. doing. The Fremont property features a pink vintage kitchen with a salvaged Olympia cabinet set from the 1940s.

“The cabinet set was so huge that we had to split it up,” she says. “This cabinet is currently in three separate kitchens.”

A vintage style enthusiast, Sullivan shares tips on finding the right pieces and making them work in your space. We combine her experience with interior designers and advice from her Seattle-area thrift shops to guide you on the path to creating your own vintage (or just vintage-inspired) bath or kitchen. Illuminated it.

thrill of the hunt

Aaron Blanchard, director of operations for Earthwise Architectural Salvage in Seattle, Tacoma, Aberdeen and Kenmore, lives in a 1905 home in Tacoma filled with salvaged materials.

“For me (and most of my customers), salvage and reuse is more than just a hobby, it's a lifestyle, and I wouldn't have it any other way,” he says.

The Seattle area is a haven for vintage lovers, especially lovers of mid-century and art deco styles. Blanchard says Earthwise “can't hold on to things like Jetson stoves or colored bath sets. We've also recently seen butcher block counters flying off the shelves.”

Vintage items aren't difficult to find. Earthwise, Second Use Building Materials and Salvage in Seattle and Tacoma, and Ballard Reuse have sinks, tubs, windows, tiles, hardware, and a searchable online inventory. Ballard Reuse also has a personal shopper.

“It's really great when it works and we find exactly what they're looking for,” says Pat Finn Coven, co-owner of Ballard Reuse.

Vintage or vintage-inspired?

Rebecca West, CEO of interior design firm Seriously Happy Homes, says the first step is to decide whether you want a vintage-inspired kitchen or bath or whether you want to source authentic vintage materials.

“Knowing what path you're on will prevent you from wasting time and energy shopping in the wrong places,” she says.

West recommends researching vintage spaces online and collecting your favorites so you can communicate what you want while shopping.

“It's much easier to show someone a photo at a tile store and say, 'I'm looking for this tile,' than it is to explain it,” West says.

Finn Coven said he would come with measurements ready.

“And if you're trying to match something (like door hardware or a faucet handle), it's best to bring it from home so you can compare.”

start with architecture

Keri Petersen, lead designer and owner of KP Spaces in Ballard, recommends starting with your home's architecture to see what will fit.

“What you don't want to do is have elaborate crown molding or cabinetry that doesn't fit with the rest of the house and look out of place,” says Petersen. “The whole house tells a story. Your room is a chapter. Make sure the story makes sense.”

Start with the era.

“If you live in a 1930s Tudor style, you can always find wallpaper, tiles, and color schemes that fit that era,” she says. However, don't get too attached to it. Feel free to mix it up. You don't have to try so hard to recreate everything perfectly, she says.

mix

Now, let's mix vintage and modern. That's what Sullivan did. Her vintage cabinets and sink in Fremont sit next to a retro-style modern refrigerator from SMEG and Galanz and contemporary light fixtures that only look vintage. She recommends her Barn Light Electric Company, which pairs well with mid-century style. The fireplace, made by Travis Industries in Mukilteo, has that look, but it's only 20 years old.

Vintage reproductions are available, albeit at a higher price. Home Depot carries retro style (and color) Unique Appliances single-oven gas ranges, refrigerators, and freezers, and even his nostalgic 1950s range hood.

Blanchard says that you don't have to worry about having the most “authentic” or “current” design; instead, “just include features that you like and want to see every day.”

safety first

“If you are actually trying to do Restore For vintage kitchens and baths, be sure to work with a contractor who knows how to carefully demonstrate and preserve fixtures you want to reuse, says West.

The same rules apply when installing salvaged vintage appliances.

“You have to work with experts to make sure they work properly and are not dangerous,” Petersen says. “There are so many ways to incorporate vintage that have nothing to do with fire.”

Sullivan suggests finding a vendor who understands your aesthetic and is willing to take your time, as vintage items are often heavy or ill-fitting.

“You need creative problem solvers, because almost everything you have becomes a creative problem,” she says.

Ask your thrift store for recommendations from experienced contractors.

Get a little extra

Blanchard advises buying a little more in some cases.

“When working with vintage or refurbished items, take a little more than you need to account for any problems or new ideas that may arise while working,” says Blanchard. “Perhaps the butcher's block counter would actually look even nicer if it had a 'cascade' over the side of the peninsula.” So it's good to have an extra 3 feet to work with. In some cases, the exact reuse of the material may not be clear until you start using it. ”

stay curious

“The key to making vintage is to think outside the box and be curious about what is possible,” says Petersen. “Use vintage items in unexpected ways”

For example, Petersen used 1950s high school bleachers to create wooden shiplap for the restroom ceiling.

“The tree included student carvings depicting so-and-so’s love,” she says. “It's a little piece of the past that's used in a completely different way in your home.”

West recognizes that nothing is perfect, but that's half the charm.

“Each element has a history!” Nishi says.

resource guide

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Ballad Reuse (Seattle)
Secondary building materials and salvage (Seattle and Tacoma)
Earthwise Architectural Salvage (Seattle, Tacoma, Aberdeen, Kenmore)