Retro Kitchens

purchase new appliances that are Energy Star-qualified and look at reproduction appliances instead than restored appliances,” he says. “The new appliances may be slightly more expensive, but homeowners save on energy and they are much better for the environment in the long run.” He adds that purchasing a quality, high-end appliance and applying custom panels to the front is another option. Kezia Jauron's stove dates from the 1930s, and she says it was originally custom-made. She bought it completely intact down to the shakers for salt, pepper, flour and sugar. Photo credit: Kezia Jauron To add even more to the available possibilities, you can buy an old-fashioned farmhouse cook stove that is brand-new and operates on either gas or electric, but you can also purchase a brand-new cook stove that looks like it’s from the 1920s but uses wood. Heartland Appliances offers two models of new wood cook stoves for those who really want to go retro. Cabinetry Options After the appliances, the next way to give a kitchen a retro look is through the cabinets. Durbin, who is also a cabinetmaker, again prefers starting with the new and making it look old or “distressed” through a variety of architectural millwork techniques that range from wire brushing, fractured and glazed top coats—even adding a few wormholes and dents. When Shannon and Keith Filippelli of Belchertown, Mass., decided to build a new house in the 1920s Craftsman style, they wanted to include a built-in bench and table in the kitchen, common for the era. Early on, they discovered it wasn’t easy to find builders and suppliers nearby who understood their vision. “The McMansion mentality still seems to prevail, so it’s been somewhat difficult to get them to understand exactly what it is we’re looking for,” Shannon Filippelli explained. “This has been particularly true for the finish carpentry portion of the work.” She was also unprepared for the additional costs that authenticity generates, not only because in some cases the carpenters were starting from scratch but also because the materials are harder to find and can take more time. “The older that new things look, the more expensive they generally are,” she said. Yet, she maintains that it’s worth it. “Getting the right combination together to suit the era you are trying to evoke can take a little homework, but getting them wrong can create an off-note in the period story you hope to tell.” The sage and chocolate kitchen from St. Charles combines sleek retro styling with pure functionality. St. Charles Cabinetry, a division of Viking Stove Company, offers a line of kitchen cabinets with a retro look straight out of the 50s but with a thoroughly 21st century sensibility. The brushed stainless-steel finish cabinetry contains 70 percent recyclable content and is 98 percent recyclable. Other Options Though appliances and cabinets provide for the most radical changes when overhauling a kitchen towards the retro look, more meticulous homeowners want to make sure that everything in the room is true to the era, down to the dividers in the silverware drawers. Thrift shops, flea markets and eBay are great resources for genuine vintage housewares like toasters, mixing bowls and furniture. For items like period curtains and flooring, there are numerous companies offering their products in retro designs. American Retro Furniture sells tables and chairs that are straight out of the 50s, and the company’s links page provides a wealth of information on companies to help outfit any retro kitchen from floor to ceiling. The Maintenance Factor Even once the renovation is complete, a retro kitchen may require more attention than a new one. Here are some additional resources to help create your ideal retro kitchen. New appliances that look old: Aga Stoves Elmira Stove Works Northstar Line Heartland Appliances Bertazzoni La Cornue Old appliances that have been refurbished: Antique Appliances Good Time Stove Savon Appliance “I’m supposed to dust the grille under the fridge to keep it energy-efficient, and the pilot light on the stove goes out occasionally, but it takes less than two seconds to relight it and the gas company doubts we’ll be poisoned from an unlit pilot,” reports Jauron. But she and others who have opted for a particular retro look—whether new old or old old—have been satisfied with the results. “Period kitchen makeovers tend to blend a mixture of history and fantasy,” says Sullivan. “The result is a wonderfully evocative and old-fashioned looking kitchen that often has only the barest true relationship to an original kitchen from when the house was built.” And the best of both worlds.

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