Sunny Retro Kitchen: Get the Look

Kitchen renovations can be intimidating, but Matt and Blair's is an inspiring example of what can be accomplished with reuse and some elbow grease. They stretched their budget by refinishing and restoring what they already owned, adding some (semi) new appliances, and fitting out the kitchen with new paint, tile, and countertops. Here's a piece-by-piece source list if you're embarking on your own kitchen reno project.

Steel Kitchen Cabinets

Dwyer Kitchen Cabinets: Matt and Blair's cabinets are original vintage Republic steel cabinets that they refinished. For new metal cabinets, check out Illinois-based Dwyer. They sell powder-coated steel or aluminum cabinets made from recycled content with Greenguard certification.

Porcelain Farmhouse Sink

Vintage Tub & Bath: Their kitchen sink is a vintage porcelain drainboard style that was refinished and restored. You can often find sinks like these at salvage shops or, if you want to buy new, we found this farmhouse sink online at Vintage Tub and Bath for $1,330.

Glass Tile Backsplash

Hamilton Parker: Matt and Blair purchased 1-inch glass white tile for their backsplash from Columbus tile shop Hamilton Parker. Small squares like these are available in mesh-backed sheets to make installation easier. For other tips on shopping for tile and where to look, see this post.

Traverine Tile Floors

Home Depot: Travertine tile floors were really popular in modern homes during the 50s and 60s. The natural, neutral look complements modern decor, and travertine is a very durable, low-maintenance floor covering. Matt and Blair bought their flooring at Home Depot on clearance.

Wood Countertops

Wood Werks: The wood countertops came from Columbus store Wood Werks, a local retail lumber supply store that serves carpenters and homeowners. For other lumber and building suppliers, see our listings here.

Second-Hand Appliances

Craigslist: You might not immediately think of craigslist as a source for appliances, but Matt and Blair's appliances are a combination of craigslist finds and family hand-me-downs. You can also try salvage shops for appliance shopping on a budget.

Aqua Walls

Sherwin Williams: The aqua walls give the kitchen its retro flavor. The color, Sherwin Williams' Aquatint-SW6936, shifts with the sun from pale blue to greenish blue to turquoise. Turquoise and red are complimentary colors, so they tend to look more intense when paired together.

Wall-Mounted Organizer

IKEA: The organizer hung across the window frame is part of IKEA's Asker series, a kitchen rail system that includes containers, dish drainers, hooks, and racks that can be added or interchanged according to what you want.

Black and White Curtains

Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts: The curtains were sewn from leftover fabric. Making cafe curtains is a relatively easy project if you have basic sewing skills. (Find instructions here.) Matt and Blair's curtains are made from Robert Allen's Eclipse Kohl Fabric, currently on sale for $30/yard.