Antique Kitchen Decorating Ideas

Kitchens are easily one of our favorite places in the home; they're inviting, great for entertaining, can be designed in a variety of styles and color schemes, and can instantly turn your kitchen into a spectacular gathering place. With the huge variety of kitchen styles to choose from, we thought you might enjoy being inspired by some of the most beautiful ones we've found.

Old world-style kitchens have unique characteristics that come from an earlier period in history. Whether you opt for authentic pieces or modern reproductions, the distinctive feature of this style brings an appreciation of age, beauty and warmth to any traditional home.

Old wood, aged paints and finishes, hardwood floors, and kitchen cabinet styles that resemble antique furniture can be incorporated to accomplish this style.

In the kitchen above, the refrigerator and freezer are built into a custom wood cabinet that looks like a French armoire that's become a "fridge" armoire.   It's fabulous!  Choosing just the right lighting, faucets, cabinet handles, and flooring help pull together this French country-style kitchen.

Something to keep in mind is that old artwork, dishes, chairs, and beautiful chandeliers can instantly give your kitchen some old world charm and take it from drab to fab!

For a more subtle approach, interior designers will often combine old furniture with new pieces in order to keep it warm but fresh.  You can use old furniture to create a kitchen island (one of my other favorite elements of a kitchen!), a kitchen desk, a drinks cart or an old china hutch to add more character.

We hope these photos and ideas will inspire you to create your own personal old-world kitchen with lots of unique pieces that make it perfect for you.   We leave you with a few more photos of antique-style kitchens we love, and stay tuned for more fun ideas from Verdigris!

Vintage Spring Fashion Finds

It's official - Spring has finally blossomed here in Virginia. We can't think of a better way to welcome the sun than with a compilation of vintage fashion finds to spruce up your wardrobe! Layer-friendly, transition-perfect pieces can be hard to come across, especially when it's 55 degrees one day and 75 the next. That's where we come in, though!

There's nothing like the thrill of the hunt - picture an entire Sunday dedicated to sifting through local thrift and antique stores (of course stopped by us here at Verdigris!), resulting in finding a few pieces that were just waiting to be in your closet.

We're always on the lookout for standout vintage curators and finds, and during the warmer seasons is when you'll find the best of the best. Now's the time to shop some beautiful vintage-inspired treasures and we've chosen a few of our favorites. Remember to choose pieces that match well with your wardrobe, while still taking a fresh, new leap in your style! Let us know what you want to snag up!

6 Key Winter-to-Spring Transition Pieces:

Midi Dress / Skirt

Cardigan / Blazer

Scarf

Lightweight Sweater

Trench Coat

Oxfords

Happy Shopping! Share your favorite Vintage-inspired Spring finds with us!

Spring Fashion Inspiration

Spring is right around the corner and before you know it, you'll be out and about enjoying Easter brunch, long strolls, and egg hunts. This means it's time to get your Spring wardrobe ready to go!

Easter is known to be associated with the change in seasons and since we're finally feeling the warmer weather and sunny skies of Spring here in Virginia, it's time to bring out both bright and pastel colors.

From head-to-toe whites and pastel hues to bright and bold prints, these vintage finds will have you yearning for Spring (and Easter!) right away.

Head-to-toe Whites

• ModCloth Dress
• William De Lillo Drop Earrings
• Chanel Vintage Quilted Handbag
• Hermes Vintage Scarf
• Salvatore Ferragamo Shoes

Pastel Hues

• Emilio Pucci Vintage Floral Skirt
• 60s Vintage Floral Earrings
• Yves Saint Laurent Vintage Blazer
• Maison Martin Margiela Power Shoulder Dress
• Vintage Clip-on Earrings
• Vintage Flower Hair Comb

Bright & Bold Prints

• Ken Scott Floral Blazer
• Ken Scott Floral Skirt
• 1930s Bakelite Beaded Purse
• Yves Saint Laurent Printed Dress
• Kenzo Floral Jacket
• 1950s Snake Print Heels
• Vintage Jacques Levine Floral Heels

Undeniably Beautiful Vintage Frocks

Ahh, the feel and look when slipping into a vintage ensemble - so rich and romantic. It's interesting to imagine how the women before us styled the outfit themselves and how designers even came about their collections to begin with. Aside from the imaginary fantasies, sporting a timeless frock is a definite way to stand out in the middle of a mass of people in otherwise ready-to-wear pieces. This year, let's go back in time and raid those old closets and unique vintage shops to snag an old dress and take it for a new spin in a new era.

Take a look at the following options below for some inspiration and start channeling your inner vintage persona - whether it be a mod Twiggy, a quirky, yet sophisticated Lucille Ball, or an ever-so-elegant Grace Kelly.

 Biba '70s Seductive Low-Cut Plunge Billow-Sleeves Gown in

 Black, $1,200, available at Timeless Vixen on 1stdibs.

 

Krizia '80s Leopard Face Angora Sweater Dress in Cream, $460, available at eBay.

 

Valentino Butterfly Print Silk Evening Gown, $795, available at The Way We Wore on 1stdibs.

 

'40s Silk Floral Day Dress with Cutouts, $375, available at Shrimpton Couture on 1stdibs.

 

Halston '70s Sequined Mermaid Gown in Seafoam Green, $4,500, 

available at The Way We Wore on 1stdibs.

 

Oscar de la Renta '70s Metallic Silk Beaded Dress, $700, available at Thrifted Modern on 1stdibs.

 

Averardo Bessi '80s Silk Dress, $899, available at Helpers House of Couture on 1stdibs.

 

Halston '70s Crepe Grecian Dress with Cape in Nude, $4,500, 

available at The Way We Wore on 1stdibs.

Can you tell that most of these pieces are seen in fashion today? It's amazing how designers nowadays are heavily influenced by creations of the past, and simply make minor alterations to keep the style modern and fresh. Happy shopping!