10 Vintage Style Kitchens in Historic Homes

Whether your taste is retro or classic these vintage style kitchens will inspire you. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite kitchen designs that create modern kitchens to fit seamlessly in historic homes. These vintage kitchen design ideas and custom cabinetry details were designed for some very special old homes right here in the USA.

Consider a Pass Through

Click here to see more of this Philly Contemporary Kitchen.

Pass throughs were popular in older homes and we think they’re a worthy addition even if not original. A pass through can open up rooms in your house for better light or conversation while keeping sounds, smells, and messes hidden in the kitchen. In this Philadelphia row home the homeowners created a contemporary kitchen, but used a traditional hutch facing the dining room. The pass through was not original, but fits the historic style.

Save the Old and Embrace the New

Click here to see more of this Ardmore Eclectic Kitchen

For a kitchen renovation in Ardmore, PA we relocated a vintage hutch from the kitchen to the dining room. The homeowners asked us to incorporate a beverage refrigerator here too. Our answer? Of course! If a fridge will make the hutch more useful for the homeowners then it’s worth incorporating. Any preservation is better than none.

Classic White Kitchens Go With Everything

Click here to see more of our Delancey Fancy Kitchen.

For this stately townhouse on Delancey Street the homeowners wanted a kitchen that fit the look of their home and would be a good investment for potential resale. Warm White cabinetry was designed with classic detailing to appeal to most buyers and match the posh Rittenhouse surroundings. If you’re considering adding contemporary materials or details to your kitchen, a white base color will help it coordinate with your classic architecture.

Add Vintage Pattern Wallpaper to Your Kitchen

Click here to see more of this Philly Rowhouse Kitchen.

For this South Philly row home we added color, pattern, and history with William Morris wallpaper. Using vintage style wallpaper ensures your colors and patterns are historically appropriate for an older home. Wallpaper also offers a more formal feel if your kitchen is open plan style.

Choose the Right Windows

Click here to see more of this Kitchen and Bath in Chestnut Hill.

You don’t have to keep old drafty windows in your historic home, though you may want to consider restoration if they are in good shape. For our projects we always use wood windows with mullions on the outside of the glass. This allows us to paint the windows inside and out. We advise that homeowners match the original window style in their home or consider other period appropriate styles. Read our blog post on windows here.

Incorporate Historic Materials

Click here to see more of this Chestnut Hill Shaker Modern Kitchen

This kitchen in Chestnut Hill incorporates rustic beams to offer a feeling of history and age. Even contemporary kitchens can feel older when historic materials are mixed with new.

Pour On the Charm

Click here to see our Cabinet Possibilities in Philadelphia Kitchen

Old houses are known for charming built-ins with handmade details. When designing a new kitchen for a historic home consider detailing cabinets with corbels, feet, and leaded glass inserts. For this kitchen in Fairmount we used a vintage fireback behind the range too.

Add a Vintage Style Range

Click here to see this Ardmore Mediterranean Kitchen.

This mediterranean style kitchen exudes old world style with a colorful La Cornue range. Airy kitchens designer Sean Lewis picked a range with antique style brass knobs to make the whole kitchen feel older.

Use Furniture Pieces

Click here to see more of this Mount Airy Kitchen Remodel.

In Mount Airy we upcycled a vintage hutch to fit a tight space and add charm. Historic homes usually had multiple furniture pieces in the kitchen, so incorporating one will help the kitchen feel authentic in your historic home.

Moldings and Bead Board Save the Day

Click here to see more of this Main Line Classic Kitchen.

Many historic homes have been renovated in ways that make it hard to bring back that historic charm we love. Opening up rooms may result in awkward window placement, unsightly pipe chases, or funny ceiling height changes. We use moldings to unify old and new spaces. Try to match the style and size of the original trim in your home, but don’t worry about a perfect match, it’s probably not available. Adding wainscoting creates a consistent horizontal line in the kitchen which will distract from strange window or ceiling heights. Bead board was used regularly in historic homes and is an easy way to add texture and durability.

Now that you have ten tips for creating a new kitchen in your historic house, what are the next steps? First, check out our pinterest for more kitchen design inspiration. Then, fill out our contact form to start your renovation with Airy Kitchens.