Kitchens Through the Decades: The Evolution of the Modern Day Kitchen (from the 1930s and Beyond) | Kitchen Remodeling and Cabinetry Twin Cities MN
We all know that history repeats itself, and that includes design styles. While some styles we hope to never see again, others are the building blocks of what we see in kitchen’s today. Here’s a fun little look at kitchens through the decades…
The 1920s Kitchen: The 1920s might seem like the distant past, but almost 100 years ago a highly sanitized, well-organized kitchen was all the rage. Before built-in cabinets, the Hoosier cabinet became the efficient cook’s dream. This one-stop cooking station was a freestanding cabinet that opened up to metal-lined flour bins and sifter, cookbook holders, a calendar, grocery list, and nutritional charts. Sounds like a good idea even today! Take a look at one here.
The 1930s Kitchen: With the advent of electrical appliances and the welcome addition of the ice box in every kitchen, kitchens of the 1930s were the bare bones basics of what we have today. While space was slim, country charm was high, and cheerful colors with decorative touches became the norm.
The 1940s Kitchen: Homes in the 1940s still maintained a more formal look – often with crown moulding and some sense of sophistication (a look we often consider “timeless” today). But with wartime at hand, everyone made sacrifices and the kitchen became more practical than decorative. Planting victory gardens and canning pickles or jam became the focus.
The 1950s Kitchen: Post-war, kitchens got more lively, with bold colors, checked flooring, and floral wallpapers becoming common. The U-shaped kitchen, placing the sink, range, and fridge at center stage, became the must-have layout, and newly built homes were moving the kitchen to the front of the home, rather than the back. Mass-production made kitchen gadgets more affordable, and storage was becoming a bigger priority. Check out some 1950s kitchen photos here!
The 1960s Kitchen: As interior design started to get less conservative, cheery colors were thrown off for more dramatic contrasting ones. Elements such as elaborate wallpaper, bright tile countertops, and gold accents began to show their face.
The 1970s Kitchen: The 1970s brought a dramatic shift in ideas, which led to a dramatic shift in homes. Women put cooking on the back-burner and pursued other interests, and kitchens became ambiguous and oddly colored (think browns, golds, and avocado tones). Dark wood cabinets, mixed materials, an excess of brass, and loads of vinyl flooring led the trends. Microwave ovens and delivery pizza were just around the corner. Less cooking, more free time!
The 1980s Kitchen: As the 1980s came into view, kitchens took on a cleaner and more well-equipped look. “Modern” style was freely incorporated in kitchens and dining areas, featuring curved edges, geometric patterns, or big florals. Beige was a big hit, cabinets were often wood-toned, and much of that 70s vinyl flooring was being replaced with white tile. Accent colors were muave, teal, blue, or yellow, sometimes without rhyme or reason. The kitchen island became more popular and storage innovation (complete with a place for the kitchen TV) was an important issue. If you dare, have a peek at 10 decorating trends of the 80s here.
The 1990s kitchen: After the drama of the previous two decades, style took an extreme turn toward simple, resulting in 1990s kitchens that were often bland. An excess of light oak cabinetry was matched with white tile floors, white appliances, and simple accents. But bigger was better and professional-grade appliances started to become popular in homes. Function and space were highly valued, while style less-so.
The 2000s kitchen: As the 2000s made way, the kitchen became even more valued. Busy families found their love for the combined great room, and the formal dining area became less common. The kitchen became a more central design point, and prep stations and kitchen islands took center stage. Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances joined the kitchen remodelers list, and open concept kitchens made the space perfect for entertaining or using as the home office.
The Current kitchen — The 2010s: The kitchen is now the heart of the home, featuring comfortable style, practicality, and innovative design for kitchens big and small. Open-concept kitchens are still the most desired style, cabinetry can come in any color you can imagine (with organizational features galore), and new innovations in surfaces abound. Technology is a driving force in all areas, from appliances to smart-panels to home office stations. Today’s design often takes the look of transitional – a mix of contemporary with traditional — meaning cues from all the decades past are found in kitchens today! Can you spot them in yours?
Want to see more photos of current kitchen trends? Try these.
Will styles continue to repeat themselves? We bet they will! For now, stop by our amazing showroom here at The Cabinet Store + Culina Design in Apple Valley and see what’s in right now (or what will be popular next!). One of our designers would be more than happy to create a free kitchen layout for you with our computerized software. Whether you’re looking to create a timeless kitchen or a trendy one, we have something perfect for your personal style. Get in touch today!
