The 1950s created a societal view of the kitchen as the heart of the home, a hub for gathering, cooking, eating, and socializing. So it makes perfect sense that his same decade could have inspired today's high-end kitchens.
“The intentional playfulness and genius of the designers of this era allowed midcentury style to remain a design classic and a design that still evokes joy.” New Jersey interior designer says James Yarosh, gallerist and gallerist.
Its playful style spotlights details such as colored cabinetry, checkerboard and mosaic tile patterns, vintage lighting, and SMEG appliances. All of this is a clear rejection of the sterile monochrome kitchens that have defined luxury home design for many years. SMEG is one of the most popular brands to incorporate into retro-style kitchens, and they're becoming more popular these days. But the question is how to incorporate colorful refrigerators and other elements from this nostalgic era without creating a kitschy room.
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“The key to a modern, fresh look in your kitchen is to borrow from, rather than imitate, classic 1950s looks,” says New York-based designer Andrew Suwarski. say. He often weaves retro style throughout the rooms he designs. He said using this era as inspiration will steer you away from imagining flashy spaces.
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“When you go for a retro look, there's a delicate balance between looking beautiful and looking kitschy,” adds Lisa Gilmore, a designer in Tampa, Florida. Gilmore suggested balancing contemporary pieces with vintage touches. This balance creates a design that is both functional and attractive, creating a homely feel yet easy to live in, and ultimately a room that everyone will want to live in.
color reigns supreme
Suvarski said one way to avoid a kitschy look is to mix woods and colors, such as lacquered base cabinets and walnut wall cabinets, like in his kitchen in Montclair, New Jersey. Ta.
“Mixing colors in the kitchen is most effective with color blocking. Use a single color throughout large areas of the space, in this case the cabinetry zone,” he explained. He tends toward “Easter egg colors” such as chick yellow and pale tangerine. These soft he pastels can suggest a starting point for your design while giving a retro feel. But other shades can evoke a vintage feel as well.
“Green and blue shades are timeless base foundations that lend themselves to a vintage 1950s look,” says designer Jennifer Verut of Bryce Interiors in San Diego. But wood isn't out of her options either. “To incorporate the character of a mid-century home, we love the Kodiak stain, which brings out the gorgeous walnut grain,” she said. “This mid-tone wood is perfect for contrasting other light finishes in your kitchen to create a midcentury modern feel.”
Color is subjective, so a kitchen lined with white cabinets can take on a retro aesthetic with upholstery and other materials, giving it a '50s feel.
“The fun of retro design is that you can incorporate color to create something that is unique to the home and its owners and reflects their taste and personality,” Yaosz says. He recommended wallpaper as an option to transform the kitchen, but suggested blending the pattern with the bones of the house. “Wallpaper can create a midcentury or retro look through color and hand-blocked craftsmanship,” he said. “Zuber's Mauny wallpaper is a particular favorite of mine.”
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Suvarski proposed Scalamandre wallpaper as a pattern for the 1950s and grasscloth, a textile commonly used during that decade. He also said he liked the House of Hackney brand. He said the brand “does a great job reinventing vintage prints in luscious colors.” “Many of their colorways reverse the typical light-dark relationship by placing darker jewel-toned botanical prints over brighter colors and more playful colors.”
Material is important
In addition to the wallpaper, the flooring, countertops, and backsplash all contribute to the 1950s theme. Manufactured laminate countertops, especially Formica, were all the rage during this decade. However, today's high-end kitchens demand more luxurious materials and finishes.
“This is a situation where it makes sense to go the quartz route,” Gilmore said. “If someone is doing colored cabinets, there's also simple quartz with the body color running through it. A simple white with no stripes goes a long way.” I also recommended the Pompeii Quartz Sunny Pearl.
But for those who prefer vibrant color schemes, countertops can make a bold statement in a vintage kitchen. Gilmore said solid surface materials of the time were often colored, and quartz can reproduce that appearance.
“Some brands use quartz in colors like red,” she said. However, you can get creative with your backsplash by keeping your countertop neutral. “Incorporate bold colors like terrazzo backsplashes and subway tile in beautiful shades of green and blush,” Gilmore said. “Make your backsplash a work of art.”
Suvarski also favors bright, bold designs such as checkerboard for backsplashes. However, depending on the design of your kitchen, double white herringbone can be quieter. [tile] pattern. “Both versions work, but the design should complement the other choices, whether bold or simple,” he explained.
Similarly, his flooring choices almost always attract attention. “My tendencies tend to be towards things that are very bold, like highly veined marble or patterns with very contrasting tones,” he said. Yarosh suggested slate and terrazzo as flooring materials. Because these materials make a great backdrop for layering.
Make a statement with vintage appliances
Just like the basics of your kitchen, appliances and decorations are also important. Stainless steel complements modern kitchens, but homeowners can work with companies like SMEG to push the boundaries of design when choosing retro-style kitchen appliances. Masu. Suvarski has not specified a SMEG refrigerator yet, but is looking forward to the project when it becomes available.
“I think the colors you choose work best when they're referenced in other parts of the kitchen, helping to integrate areas that might otherwise be 'look at me' into the broader design.” Helpful. ” he said. “They are like sculptures in themselves.”
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“For our midcentury-inspired project, we chose the Big Chill and GE Cafe series to bring a vintage look,” Verruto added. Like SMEG, Big Chill and GE offer a vintage feel with a wide range of colors and finishes, along with 21st century performance.
Don't have access to a full-sized appliance? Sometimes a splash is all you need. Gilmore tends to include colored kettles and toasters in retro kitchens, as her clients are likely to add some color with a countertop appliance or two. “Mint green accessories add pop. If they're gone in five years, it's not a commitment,” she said. “It's a great way to inject fun and color without taking too many risks.”
decorate the breakfast nook
The kitchen-dining area gives you the opportunity to incorporate retro lighting, furniture, and accessories to complete the look. Flea markets and antique markets are great places to find companions.
“Dome pendants and Sputnik chandeliers are iconic styles that easily complement a variety of other styles while infusing your kitchen with vintage charm,” said Werth.
You can't go wrong with hanging vintage light fixtures over a classic Saarinen table.
“The Saarinen Tulip Table is guaranteed to be a home run in almost any interior, especially in a 1950s-themed kitchen,” says Suwarski. “The simplicity of its shape, especially the white color, makes it almost impossible to collide.”
To really convey the feel of this era, Welt suggested local vintage stores and brands like Drexel Heritage and Lexington. Window decoration is also important. “Cafe curtains in a calico pattern would be a great finishing touch,” she said.
Meanwhile, Yarosh takes pleasure in selecting tabletop items, such as novel stemware and other decorative items that were popular in the 1950s. “A midcentury kitchen also needs a pedestal cake plate and perhaps a cloche to store the cake,” he mused. “I love the opportunity to cherry-pick these details, right down to the right fork and serving piece.”
