Glass

Decorating Your Kitchen With A 1940’s Retro Theme

These days kitchen décor comes in all colors, sizes and eras. One fun way to decorate your kitchen is with a bit of 1940’s nostalgia. Painted cabinets, glass knobs, and vintage linens combined with new appliances that have a retro look can give you a unique and functional kitchen.

You can get a great 1940’s look without spending a bundle and still be able to fill your kitchen with some nice collectibles. Here’s some ideas on how you can get a 1940’s look in your kitchen.

Colors

Some popular colors from this era include jadeite and a red and white theme. You can find plenty of vintage accents to fill your kitchen for either one of these color schemes. Why not start a collection of jadeite that you can display in open cabinets as well as use for dishware? You can jazz the place up with vintage wooden handle gadgets that are painted jadite and cream. If you are going for the red and white theme, there are plenty of red vintage kitchen ware gadgets out there and vintage linens can really perk up the place. Another advantage of the red and white theme is you can also add in a fruit theme on top of it like apples or strawberries.

I would leave the walls a neutral color – white of off white so that it does not detract from all
your great accessories. Linoleum flooring in a checkerboard pattern would be perfect.
Some color coordinated throw rugs can add a bit of color to the floor and pull it all together.

Lighting

Simple lighting is best. You can buy vintage ceiling lights and wall sconces if you want a
really authentic look. Of course you’ll want to make sure you have enough task
lighting so some modern lights will have to be worked in. I suggest you make them as subtle as possible so they don’t look out of place.

Window Treatments

Use vintage curtains for your windows. You can buy them with complimentary colors and great patterns.
If you can’t find curtains make some out of vintage dish towels or tablecloths – you can buy tablecloths that have stains in 1 area pretty cheaply and then just use the good area for the curtains! If you are going with a red and white 1940’s kitchen decorating theme, you might want to pick either cherries or apples as a secondary theme and look for curtains with those fruits in the motif.

Furniture

Glass knobs will really jazz up your furniture and cabinets and add an authentic vintage look. If you have painted cabinets in either white or cream, try the Green Glass knobs. Your table and chairs should either be a chrome vintage style dinette (you can buy these new and you can still get vintage ones as well), or a vintage wooden style table with enamel top. If you can’t find either of these, you can buy any type table and hide it with a vintage tablecloth.

Accessories

Accessories for 1940’s style kitchens can be found in antique malls as well as bought brand new.
Soften up the room by hanging vintage tablecloths and tea towels around. Chrome appliances go well with this look as do the retro style appliances you can buy brand new these days. And don’t forget the vintage
breadbox and canisters – every kitchen had them on the counter and you can choose from chrome
or enamel in cream and green, or red and white to complete your look.

About the Author

Lee Dobbins is the owner of
A Kitchen Decorating Idea
where you can get more ideas on how to

decorate your kitchen on a budget
.

Star Right Magic Made Kitchen Mixer Jadeite Bowl Eames!

KitchenAid KSM150PSAQ Stand Mixer, Martha Stewart Blue Collection Artisan 5 Qt. Aqua Sky $299.99 includes, mixer, Dough hook, wire whip, paddle and pouring shield….

Jade Jadeite Rectangular Butter Dish $24.95 Depression style glassware, jade, jadite Jadeite butter dish, “Butter!” in black lettering…

Jade Jadeite Glass Arched Salt Pepper Set w/ Roosters $24.95 Gorgeous!-2 1/4 ” X 2 1/4 ” 3 3/4 ” High-Metal Screw On Lid-Very Nice Quality Reproduction Of Depression Era Glassware-Great Retro Look-Super Gift Idea…

Goodrich Dino 12 Porcelain Gooseneck Barn Light – Jadite $219.00 Made in the U.S.A. by Barn Light Electric Co.® As homeowners and builders have discovered, porcelain barn lights add a one of a kind, special touch to any space. The GoodrichTM Dino takes its design ques from the GoodrichTM Sky Chief. It replicates traditional warehouse lighting styles and puts them in a smaller form. The GoodrichTM Dino should be considered when shopping for front porch, garage,…

Ivanhoe Bomber 17 Porcelain Pendant in Jadite with 8′ Black Cord $189.00 Our largest shade available, the Ivanhoe Bomber combines a simple, sloped shade that provides a wide radius of down lighting. Rated for damp locations, this shade is perfect for both interior laundry rooms, dining room table lighting and exterior workshops and garages. Originally found in factories and warehouses, this fixtures knows how to work. Our genuine porcelain enamel finish over heavy g…

Ivanhoe Sky Chief 16 Porcelain Pendant in Jadite with 8′ Black Cord $169.00 The Ivanhoe Sky Chief is the design that started it all. This classic warehouse shade style combines both simple form and high function. Rated for damp locations, this shade is perfect for both residential and commercial applications. This workhorse provides ample lighting over restaurant dining areas and retail work space. Originally found in factories and warehouses, this fixture knows how to…

Anchor Hocking’s Fire-King and More: Identification and Value Guide Including Early American Prescut and Wexford $8.92 Fire King includes not only dinnerware but reamers, measuring cups, mixing bowls, mugs, and more. Gene Florence has compiled a second edition of his bestselling book on Fire King. Loaded with hundreds of new full color photos, vintage catalog pages, company materials, extensive facts, information, and values, this book has everything collectors expect from Gene Florence, America’s leading glasswar…

Anchor Hocking’s Fire-King & More Identification & Value Gde $24.95 From the 1940s through 2000, Anchor Hocking Glass Corporation of Lancaster, Ohio, produced an extensive line of heat resistant oven glassware called Fire-King. The company’s lines included not only dinnerware but also a plethora of glass kitchen items – measuring cups, mixing bowls, mugs, and more. Loaded with hundreds of full-color photographs, vintage catalog pages, company morgue items, facts, …

Sweet Romance Women’s Vintage Glass Ring $43.49 li>Click here for Ring Sizing ChartRing features a floral jadeite glass panelJewelry has a bronze finish