It's funny what inspires us. Yesterday I was visiting my amazing Babcia (which is Polish for grandma) and I thought for the thousandth time just how awesome her house is. Entering her home is like entering a time warp, it is literally untouched design wise from when my dad was a little boy growing up there.We are talking retro appliances, shag carpeting, green floral couches - the works.
I snapped a pic of her original 1950s kitchen with my iPhone while I was there:
Ahh I mean it's truly lovely in it's own way, no?
I'm especially smitten with the fun counter top.
And the fact that the harvest gold oven is still fully operational is pretty cool too when you think about it.
Anyways, it got me thinking about how you could translate something like this into modern design
(avoiding the cheap finishes and obviously thinking more about function and code).
Here are my tips:
1. I love the idea of using the teal color in a backsplash subway tile. High end finish with a punch.
2. Fun ad posters like this one from Etsy ad instant retro charm.
3. My Babcia's kitchen has yellow everywhere. Yellow paint is so sunny and bright for a kitchen!
4. You can see that the edge of my Babcia's counter is stainless steel. Doing an entirely stainless steel counter top will add modern balance but still tie into a retro theme.
5. My Babcia's house has original crystal knobs on every.single.door. This is probably my favourite detail about her home. Another thing she has a bunch of that I love: rag rugs.
6. Keep cabinets simple and white to balance out all the other color happening here.
7. If you are going to embrace the retro look, go smeg all the way. I love this cream fridge (better than the harvest gold appliances, that's for sure!).
I'll have to show you her bathroom next time I visit. It's equally as cool.
Love you Babcia (I say to my beloved stubborn grandmother who doesn't use a computer and would probably disapprove of this post entirely. She really is the best!).
I snapped a pic of her original 1950s kitchen with my iPhone while I was there:
I'm especially smitten with the fun counter top.
And the fact that the harvest gold oven is still fully operational is pretty cool too when you think about it.
Anyways, it got me thinking about how you could translate something like this into modern design
(avoiding the cheap finishes and obviously thinking more about function and code).
Here are my tips:
2. Fun ad posters like this one from Etsy ad instant retro charm.
3. My Babcia's kitchen has yellow everywhere. Yellow paint is so sunny and bright for a kitchen!
4. You can see that the edge of my Babcia's counter is stainless steel. Doing an entirely stainless steel counter top will add modern balance but still tie into a retro theme.
5. My Babcia's house has original crystal knobs on every.single.door. This is probably my favourite detail about her home. Another thing she has a bunch of that I love: rag rugs.
6. Keep cabinets simple and white to balance out all the other color happening here.
7. If you are going to embrace the retro look, go smeg all the way. I love this cream fridge (better than the harvest gold appliances, that's for sure!).
I'll have to show you her bathroom next time I visit. It's equally as cool.
Love you Babcia (I say to my beloved stubborn grandmother who doesn't use a computer and would probably disapprove of this post entirely. She really is the best!).
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