Are you looking to refresh a worn space or add a touch of vintage flair to your existing kitchen? Read on to learn easy ways to transform your kitchen with vintage decor, from copper pans to hooked rugs.
Kitchens: The Heart of the Home
The kitchen is the heart of a home, often a refuge, where all the chopping, grating, and mincing involved in everyday cooking provides a haven of activity and a sanctuary where feeding loved ones can also feed the soul. As a reseller, it is part of my job to stay on top of every type of interior decorating trend, with kitchens at the top of the list given all the “stuff” that comes in and out of that space, as cooking and eating trends come and go. Yes, everyone has to prepare food and eat, so until we finally have one of these Foodarackacycles like the Jetsons, we’ll always need our kitchen, and our kitchen will always need a minor update.
Top Ten Vintage Finds for the Kitchen
What are vintage fans loving today to spruce up their kitchens? Here are my Top Ten Vintage Finds to Refresh your Kitchen:
1. Canisters and caddies. A vintage set of canisters or caddies is appealing to the eye and practical for any kitchen space. If you find a set that fits the “vibe” of your kitchen, whether it’s rustic, modern, or just plain eclectic, you can pop this set on a countertop for a fun display. Traditional canister sets have a container and matching lid for flour, sugar, coffee, and tea, but there are undoubtedly many variations. Do you not bake a lot but eat cereal every day? Consider using vintage canisters or caddies to hold your oatmeal and cornflakes instead of old flour and sugar classics you might not need daily.
2. Spice racks. Like canisters and caddies, if you find a fabulous old spice rack at an estate sale or antique mall, you can easily make it the centerpiece of your kitchen refresh. These old racks can be both hard to find and very personal choices, as some cooks like to have their spices in a very particular spot, like above the stove, on the counter, in a cabinet, etc. You can find options to suit every taste, but be aware of the different price points. Some items are highly sought after by both chefs and collectors, such as the 1990s Lenox Spice Village collection, which can sell for thousands of dollars online.
3. Measuring cups and spoons. Some folks like me don’t use many measuring tools in the kitchen, preferring instead to “eyeball” measurements or use the proverbial “dash” of ingredients. While most of the time, this works out great, sometimes it is better to be a bit more precise with quantities, especially when starting out and acquiring kitchen skills. As a result, I cannot keep enough measuring cups, beakers, spoons, and similar tools in stock for all those twenty and thirty-somethings learning how to cook. A vintage set of any of these tools both refreshes the kitchen space and provides some practical additions to today’s kitchen science.
4. Brass. Some of the most contemporary kitchens have brass or gold-tone finishes, like drawer handles, so it is no surprise that homeowners want a few brass-colored accent pieces. Candlesticks, urns, and plates are all the rage, with folks looking for that warmer brass touch in the kitchen.
5. Copper. Julia Child loved her copper cookware, and any cook worth their mettle (Ha!) knows you can’t go wrong with cooking in copper if you use, season, and clean it properly. Like brass, copper cookware and bakeware add a warm touch of color to the kitchen space, so if you have particularly attractive copper items, you can easily display them on a wall.
6. Plates. As a reseller, I am at all times drowning in stacks of plates to sort, price, and sell; however, I encourage anyone who’s looking for a quick kitchen transformation to look no further than displaying either a single plate on a wall or a create a whole “plate wall” to enjoy. I know many a collector and/or hoarder of everything from Fiesta to Jadeite who designates a cabinet or showcase for their collection. If you have a smaller space, it is easy to designate one little nook in your kitchen to display a vintage plate of your choosing that you can rotate however you see fit.
7. Wood bowls. I have mixed feelings about vintage wooden wares in the kitchen, as I personally wouldn’t use old wood in everyday cooking activities. If you want to use a wooden cutting board, seek out one made by a local artisan at a craft fair or shop where you know the details of how it was made. Living in New England, my favorite spot for wood cutting boards and bowls is the Maine State Prison Showroom in Thomaston, Maine. If you do have vintage wooden items in your kitchen, consider using them more just for display, like wooden bowls. They can add a rustic touch to your home space while keeping food safety in mind.
8. Hooked rug. The right hooked rug can not just transform your kitchen space but also provide a cushioned landing space for tired feet in a high-traffic area, like in front of the kitchen sink. While collectors of true antique hooked rugs devour books like The Hooker’s Art and may be more apt to hang their rugs on wall spaces, more everyday vintage rugs can be used more casually in the kitchen. If made well, it can also be thrown into the washing machine as needed.
9. Animals. Animals in all furry or scaly shapes and sizes continue to be hot sellers. From cats and dogs to rabbits to bats to axolotls, it seems like everyone has a “favorite animal” these days, maybe because of the unconditional companionship that animals provide when friends and family are being cantankerous. For the kitchen space, it is easy to add some favorite animal salt and pepper shakers, a small framed print for the wall, or even just a vintage cat dishtowel to hang on the stove handle.
10. Geese. Lastly, I have not seen it yet, but I have heard that those blue ribbon “country geese” are hot in some parts of the country. You know the ones I’m talking about, with the blue ribbon around their necks that were plastered on everything from tin trays to wall hangings to salt and pepper shakers from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. Personally, yuck! This is one case where what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander. Happy decorating!
Amy Moyer is the proprietor of Antmuffin: Art, Antiques & Collectibles. She holds a B.A. in Visual Art from Brown University and lives in Boston.
WorthPoint—Discover. Value. Preserve.
Credit: Source link
