General preservation of old homes is a favorite conversation for householders of vintage houses but hardly ever do you hear talk about a kitchen restored to its former glory. Those beautiful historic houses we have all grown to love and respect did not have the kind of kitchens we want today. Unrestored historic kitchens in the present day are antiquated, inefficient and poorly laid out.

In a classic prewar house kitchens had been work places plain and simple. All the things in the kitchens was freestanding from the large cast iron range, the sink on porcelain legs, the refrigerator and a table that doubled as a workspace. Those that were modernized in subsequent decades often held even less appeal than those before. The countertop, tiles, and ceiling materials in them were no match visually to the counterparts they replaced. Kitchen appliances were also disappointing at best with their dismal colors.

These days we want to capture the flavor of the kitchens we envisage our grandparents loved and enjoyed. Homey, cheerful and full of the aroma of good cooking. Fortunately, replicating the feel of a classic kitchen in an existing space has never been simpler. As the requirement for kitchen accessories with a patina of age has grown, so has the availability of period materials. Architectural rescue, and properly made reproduction hardware and domestic appliances are comparatively easy to locate. Old-fashioned or antique items can be discovered by perusing advertisements in many home design magazines, asking at neighborhood antique shops and architectural rescue companies, and also at car boot or yard sales

Cabinets, more than any other single element in the project, decide the feel and feel of a kitchen. To give a classic feel to a kitchen, designers caution against filling the kitchen with modern built in units. Architectural rescue companies usually sell classic units in wooden or metal finishes. These cabinets blend well with standalone antique or reproduction pieces. An antique dresser or a porcelain sink provides appeal in addition to semi-customized items like plate racks and open shelving. Painted wooden cabinets may warp when stripped so be advised to check out one cabinet door first. Metal cabinets should be stripped, polished, and lacquered to prevent them from corroding.

Stone countertops are compatible with old style kitchens as long as the stone is honed to a soft finish, not sleek and modern. Vermont soapstone is one common choice.

For flooring, designers often recommend hardwood. Linoleum, much maligned for years, is now becoming fashionable again. Virgin rolls of classic linoleum from previous decades can often be found at rescue companies or at speciality stores.
On the ceiling, is an attractive and rather unique choice, especially when left in its natural condition. As an alternative, try thick Anaglypta paper, a cream-coloured wallpaper imprinted in a variety of period patterns. It is not as expensive as pressed metal and once painted, achieves a much similar effect.

Discovering genuine looking stoves and also refrigerators grew simpler in the mid Nineteen Eighties when the country look was blooming. Our grandparents' cookers have often been renovated and are now much easier to find. No matches needed!. Although the majority of old cookers are white, some do turn up in cream, green, or cobalt blue. Cooker hoods are more difficult to discover to match your range since they weren't around one hundred years ago. Try buying wood and mixing it into the upper cabinets.

Vintage style hardware is the final touch for the completion of your classic kitchen. Designers recommend vintage brass, satin nickel or a blackened surface. The hardware makes the whole kitchen look as if it has been there for years, just like the rest of your vintage home