A retro look is one that pays homage to days of old, often from the 30’s, 60’s and 70s, with an added dose of modernity. Retro looks most commonly feature the shapes and bold colors of the sixties and seventies, utilizing circles, squares, bold colors and patterns. For a look to be deemed retro, not only does it have to remind you of “I love Lucy”, but it has to all carry modern shades of color. Today we are going to go through some retro kitchen ideas to help you to complete the look.
Sweets and Candy Style Themes
One way to keep yourself on the right design track with a good retro kitchen design is to mimic a sweet of your choice. Seaside candy cane, humbugs, space hoppers all come with colors, shapes and shades that would be perfect in a retro kitchen. The walls, floors and large items such as seating, cookers, fridges, tables and window dressings normally make up two of three of the kitchen’s primary colors, with smaller aspects such as pots, pans, tablecloths, mugs, cups and other crockery being more patterned like sweet packaging.
Shapes and Blocks
Another way to add a dash of retro to your kitchen is to choose two main shapes that you want your kitchen to have, and choose your furniture and wall coverings based on these shapes. Circles in particular are a retro favorite, and so any stools should have circular shapes, fridges and toasters with rounded corners, and even blinds that have circular trim. The same goes for squares with chessboard floors in particular being a common favorite in retro kitchens.
Retro appliances
Many appliance manufacturers have caught on to the popularity of retro, with companies like SMEG creating a full range of retro fridges, microwaves and toasters which are noticeable from their bright and unusual colors such as lime green and sky blue, and come with bright silver retro handles.
Patterns
Another great retro design style is in patterns and print. Any items that are covered in small colorful images, whether those images be flowers, faces, or shapes which can go on everything from the crockery to the walls. Retro patterns will usually have one main color with a secondary color making up the pattern. If you are using patterns in your retro kitchen, be sparing to avoid overload: so if you are using patterns on the walls, avoid them on worktops and chairs.
Modern retro
If you like the retro look, but want to avoid your kitchen looking too dated and away from the pattern style retro, then you can still pay homage to retro design. Mixing a modern kitchen with retro appliances is an excellent way to have a retro kitchen. This is achieved by choosing two main colors, and making one color your modern color and one your retro, so having a black granite kitchen for example, with bright blue or green retro fridge, microwave, toaster and crockery.
Ben writes about home renovation and loves to make us of Guernsey insurance brokers to protect him from damages.
