Thinking of selling your home? You might want to try incorporating well-placed throwbacks from decades such as the 1930s into your kitchen’s cooking and dining spaces, as well as rethinking your culinary center’s size and color palette. According to Realtor.com, these are the types of vintage style trends that today’s homebuyers are seeking.
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Pastel hues
Today’s younger generation is pairing the popular rosy shade with gentle hues like robin’s-egg blue and mint. To make these shades sing, choose a modern countertop, such as a butcher block, but consider skipping dated wood cabinetry.
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Petite kitchens
For millennials to afford housing, smaller kitchens are becoming more popular. Instead of having eating, cooking and entertaining in one large room, consider seeking out separate—and, subsequently, smaller—spaces. To make your limited square footage feel grand, look beyond white walls: bold colors and bright metals add vintage glamour and turn the cozy space comfortable.
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Retro furniture design
A smaller kitchen lends itself nicely to retro furniture. Vintage designs—such as Eero Saarinen’s tulip chairs—are designed to squeeze into tight spaces without looking bulky or oversized. Remember, though, it’s easy to go overboard with retro looks. Balance these styles with modern elements—such as stainless-steel appliances or waterfall islands—to keep your home stylish.
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Dining nooks
An open kitchen layout is the perfect place to rock the latest retro trend: dining nooks. Built-in benches add character while also providing an easier alternative to cluttering an open space with a lot of chairs.
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Decorative flooring
Hardwood flooring (laminate or otherwise) might be standard issue in builder-grade housing, but many buyers are seeking decorative flooring styles often seen in their parent’s and grandparent’s homes. Whether it’s vintage black-and-white or funky-patterned tiling, today’s kitchens are all about making a statement. Not quite ready to go so bold? Add a subtle nod to retro chic by upgrading to white and light-gray checkerboard tiling makes.
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Vintage appliances
Retro refrigerator maker Smeg had its moment in the kitchen spotlight with its candy-colored appliances, and now other manufacturers are following suit with a variety of vintage-inspired appliances. Not only are they ideally suited for Mid-century Modern–style homes, they work equally well in a beach cottage or cabin—or any kitchen setting in need of a sense of fun and personality. You don’t have to go pastel to integrate vintage appliances into your own kitchen. Many manufacturers, like Northstar, offer retro lines in white, and Elmira makes the look modern with stainless steel.
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Bold pops of color
Pastels aren’t the only option when adding vintage color. Bold shades are perfectly retro—and makers of small appliances offer unlimited options. Pick a vivid, colorful coffee maker or a mixer that is modern, while still having a vintage look. Or choose eclectic accessories and artwork to bring cheer and drama to your space. Just don’t go overboard: You want your kitchen to be bold, not loud. Limit the use of bright colors to appliances and a few accent pieces to make the design easier to live with for an extended period.