Photo: Smeg

If you want to create a retro look in your kitchen, you can do it without compromising on all of the modern convenience that comes with the latest in appliances. Retro decorating is easy, and appliances like Smeg fridges are available to recreate an old-fashioned style while providing quality that’s decidedly new. Get some inspiration here, then read on to find out how to create forties and fifties charm in today’s home.

Creative colours

It’s generally a good idea to stick to neutral colours in your kitchen when it comes to the fittings that aren’t going to be replaced for a while: white or black sinks, countertops, and flooring are your safest bet. When it comes to appliances, you have a little more freedom to incorporate retro pastels along with the distinctive black and white look, while utensils and kitchen decorations can be as unusual as you like: you can replace them easily if you do get tired of them.

The shape of things to come

Photo: Smeg

Shape is important in retro design: curves are everywhere, and design doesn’t shy away from bulky looks. You don’t have to go for the entirely ‘futuristic’ look popular in the fifties and sixties, but there are useful and attractive changes you can make. Curvy kitchen seating and countertops are worth a second look – they’re certainly safer for a family with children – while appliances like toasters and Smeg fridges add plenty of curviness to the kitchen.

Creating convenience

Retro kitchens aren’t just about looking cute – they were designed with maximum household efficiency in mind, and you can take advantage of this when you add serving hatches, pull-out counter space, and breakfast nooks to a kitchen that’s undergoing renovations. With your kitchen fun and good-looking, you’ll soon find yourself wanting to spend as much time in there as if it was fifty years ago!

Tags: retro kitchen appliances