Styles of the past or adaptations of them can bring a special flare and charm into your kitchen. By mixing antique furniture with modern furnishings you can give your kitchen a makeover in style…and it’s also an affordable way to do it too!

If you like the retro vintage style…

Kitchens in this old-fashioned style are certainly warm, cosy and stylish spaces. Choose shabby chic pieces of furniture and shaker style wall hanging shelves with moulding details, rustic painted or distressed. Restore antique furniture and use it to equip your kitchen. An Aga stove is a star feature in any retro vintage style kitchen but you can choose from a wide range of cookers that adapt to this style. White,cream and green pastels are characteristic colours of this style. Accessories are essential to bring that vintage feel into your kitchen. Get old product boxes or vintage signs from flea markets and antique stores.

Retro style with a touch of sophistication

For those more inclined towards the lines of minimal and sleek design, a modern retro style will give your kitchen a classical elegant feel. Get inspiration from the Art Deco style of the 1920′s and 1930′s which blended elements of traditional architecture with the modern and sleek curvature of decorative elements. Incorporate granite worktops, black and white geometric patterned floor and tiled backsplash, glossy white cabinets with no decoration, metallic chairs and lighting. This is a plain style, so good quality appliances with stainless steel finish will be all the decoration you need. Get white ceramic plates, bowls and cups to complement this style.

Choose cream, black and white schemes and bring life and contrast by using a retro red accent wall. Because of  its simplicity it is a great way to create an elegant space without spending too much.

Bold retro styles for the nostalgic types

For a glamorous retro look, the 1950′s is the style to follow with its bubbly forms, oversized light fixtures and pastel colours. Choose Formica for tables, worktops and chairs and vinyl for covers and tablecloths. If you have space, include a breakfast bar with stools reminiscent of the American milk bar and Rock n’ roll era. You can easily find retro kitchen appliances such as kettles, toasters, stand food mixers and scales to equip your kitchen in the 1950′s style since it has become a very popular trend in recent years.

If you would like to transform your kitchen into a fun place then the 1960′s and 1970′s will be a great source of inspiration. Use a retro colour scheme of a few bold colours from the sixties such as dark orange, green and brown and choose your wall and base units in one of these colours or solid white. Wooden furniture in walnut was also very popular. You can make your kitchen more lively by using big flower patterned wallpaper, curtains and cushions.

For a funky retro look, go back to the seventies! Use psychedelic or striped patterns for your furnishings or a feature wall. Incorporate pieces of plastic and metal furniture with modern lines and dark stained cabinets lifted off the ground with Danish modern-style legs. Choose avocado green, burnt orange, and harvest gold for the décor and kitchen appliances.

If you prefer a more subtle version of these styles, use smaller prints and geometric patterns, pastel and mutted variations of the bold colours with neutrals for the floor and walls. Combine retro furniture of curve lines with modern furnishings. And look out for old furniture and reupholster it with modern fabrics for a more authentic look – and make your redecoration project more economical!