Retro kitchens have many similarities to contemporary kitchens.
The 1950s, like many eras, went out of style and is now coming back into style. The colors, sleek design and stainless steel of classic 1950s kitchens are very compatible with contemporary tastes, and many people are rekindling an interest in the interior design of this era. Retro kitchens can be just as functional as other kitchens, with the added fun of designing a piece of nostalgia.
Metal Cabinets
If you're serious about getting the 50s look in your kitchen, you really need to find an aqua-colored metal kitchen cabinet. These fixtures were ubiquitous in the 1950s, and have become icons of the era. Typical metal cabinets featured horizontal ventilation slots in the panels in front of the sink, double sinks with a built-in drain board on each side, and vertical silver pulls on the doors. The vast majority of these items have gone to the great kitchen in the sky, and if you're lucky enough to find an original, it is probably rusty or in poor shape. It would be possible to have a craftsperson construct a reproduction, but the cost would no doubt be prohibitive.
Weird Wallpaper
The 1950s loved wallpaper, and much of it was rather strange. Textured wallpaper, starbursts, and pictures of birds might all be found on the walls of a kitchen in the 1950s. Given the thousands of choices available in wallpaper today, finding a retro look will be much easier than finding an original metal cabinet. Look through issues of Good Housekeeping from the 50s to find authentic ideas for wallpaper from the era.
Chrome Dining Table
Nothing screams 1950s like a Formica-topped table with chrome edges, surrounded by chrome-framed chairs with padded aqua seat cushions. Like the metal cabinet, you are unlikely to find an original, but increasing numbers of design companies are manufacturing reproductions of these as public interest in the era grows.
Retro Refrigerator
Refrigerators of the 1950s had a very distinctive look. They featured rounded corners, large, prominent chrome pulls on the front, and often had dazzling manufacturer logos like "Electrobuzz" emblazoned in chrome on the front. Even if you could get an original of one of these, you probably wouldn't want it because they were horribly inefficient compared to newer appliances. Have a look at your local design store and you will find new, Energy Star-certified efficient appliances that have been inspired by the 50s aesthetic, although none of them may quite match the sleek perfection of an original 50s fridge. You could always get an original and use it as a cupboard, keeping the new efficient fridge as a fridge, and have the best of both worlds.
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