22 Art Deco Kitchens to Add Vintage Glamour to Your Cooking Space

Reflect Curves and Fluting Throughout

One curved element or fluted window won't have enough power to turn an entire kitchen into an Art Deco escape.

The characteristics that place a space under this style should be seen in a few spots to really create that feeling. Fluting could be added to glass cabinet windows, an island, or a peninsula. Rounded edges could feature on hardware, countertops, and glass panes, too.

Amplify Glam Details

Art Deco embraces glamorous textures, details, and materials, such as velvet and metallic finishes.

In a kitchen, this could look like leather or faux leather stools, gold trim around appliances or beneath an island, and shinier accessories and vessels such as food storage containers or salt and pepper shakers.

Go for Gold

The luxe sheen and hue of gold rightly fits into an Art Deco kitchen. Mixed with a dark marble or stone countertop and backsplash and you'll have a much jazzier area to whip up meals.

It doesn't have to feel dim though. Surrounded by white cabinetry and the aforementioned gold details, a cooking space can feel light, airy, and Deco-inspired.

Keep the Theme Going

A Deco-inspired backsplash is one thing, but carrying this theme throughout the rest of the space is a well-executed design.

Even if you prefer a more subtle take on the style, small details make a major difference. Try incorporating the same shapes in a backsplash or tile layout into the cabinets or hardware.

Retain Elements of Original Kitchens

Originally full of lime green and pale yellow cabinets, this kitchen received a mega upgrade but its designers still managed to keep lovely Art Deco details intact and add additional ones, such as '20s-inspired wall-mounted lights.

The creative minds behind this renovated Art Deco kitchen also mentioned that they kept the original service hatch since the kitchen is separate from other rooms in the house.

Spin Art Deco Through a Unique Color Palette

Rich jewel tones were expected in the '20s and '30s, but as this kitchen proves, you don't have to stick to the standard color palette to create a gorgeous Art Deco vignette.

Choosing pink and green, for instance, or pastel tones is a fun way to make a defined interior design style something that's all your own.

Bring in Dark Wood

Deep mahogany, dark espresso brown, and other deeply saturated woods will make a space feel more aligned with this earlier period—particularly a kitchen that may look relatively new or modern.

It doesn't have to be much to have a big impact. A layer of wooden cabinets, a wooden island, or a wood hutch in a darker shade can all bring a Deco element.

Don't Forget the Ceiling

While the Art Deco lights and deep, jewel-toned color palette exude Art Deco in this kitchen, looking up really ties it all together.

Creating a statement ceiling, whether through molding like seen here, or with paint and wallpaper, gives that glamorous edge and attention to detail that was common place during the era.

Go for a Deeper Palette

Think of all the swanky speakeasies and underground bars that appeared during this time and apply those cool styles to your own kitchen.

This could be deeper brown and black palettes, warm lights, and darker metallic finishes on faucets, lights, and appliances. As mentioned earlier, dark woods are a great way of bringing this particular feel in.

Make a White Kitchen Pop

Even if your kitchen wasn't originally designed with Art Deco flair in mind, it can quickly take on this aesthetic with only a few thoughtfully considered design tweaks.

A warm metallic glass wall-mounted lamp and a fluted island give minimal cooking spaces a Deco upgrade.

Think Geometrically

If you simply want just a few Deco touches, keep geometry in mind. This could be perfectly laid square tiles, hardware in semi-circular shapes, and an overall appearance that's well-balanced even when built around permanent features.

Add Just One or Two Features

An Art Deco-inspired kitchen doesn't require every detail to have a '20s spin. As Breese explains, going overboard isn't necessary.

It could involve a light fixture or two, unique tiles, or "even warming up the space with a beautiful antique French poster could add so much glitz to the space," she says.

Choose a Statement Color

Sticking with dark, rich tones or neutrals is perfectly stylish, but selecting one bold hue to be center stage in an Art Deco kitchen will really uplevel your style.

A bright teal or aqua is one example of a gorgeous color that pairs nicely with other palettes found during this periods—like gold, brown, and white. It doesn't have to be everywhere, but on the island, a door, and around window frames is the perfect way to accent.

Focus on the Bar Area

A glamorous bar area is a must, and if your kitchen has the space for one of these, it's the perfect niche for emulating Art Deco—albeit your spot for tipple doesn't need to be hidden. Flappers and partygoers back then would be envious of this bar set-up.

For a similar approach, it's important to get the lighting, symmetry, and materials right. Bottles and glasses should be illuminated with a soft, glowing light and shelves should be even and balanced.

Embrace Rich Moody Shades

If the shade makes you feel swanky, it was likely a popular color during this time. Jewel tones feel right at home in an Art Deco-inspired kitchen and can be brought in through various ways.

A leather upholstered dining bench, walls, and artwork are all great ways of doing so. Don't be afraid to mix complementary shades either!

Infuse Art Deco Elements

The design firm behind this space noted that the owners already had quite a few collected items from this particular period. While this space verges more on the lines of mid-century modern, a shelving unit at the end of the island leaves room to display Art Deco pieces.

Small touches like this nod to the unique design from the era but don't necessarily need to take over the whole cooking space.

Balance a Kitchen with Dark and Light Tones

A bright white kitchen is often reminiscent of minimalism and other design styles. To take it into Deco territory without redesigning or fully committing to one look over another, try two cabinet types.

White cabinets contrasted against dark wooden ones blend two very distinct aesthetics. Intricate crown molding and a pendant inspired by the era will take it up another notch.

Mix Two Styles

Throughout the '20s and '30s, Art Deco wasn't the only design style that existed. As this kitchen shows, it can look wonderful when blended with shapes and colors from the Spanish Colonial Revival.

Lime green, sunshine yellow, and deep black are bold choices that'll make a cooking space stand out from others. Although Deco colors are normally rich and deep, as buildings in places like Miami prove, pastels and bright tones are a fun way to upgrade the look from the norm.

Combine Deco and Minimalism

Combine the neutral palettes of minimalism with the geometric prowess of Art Deco and you have yourself a dreamy cooking space.

A kitchen can balance both very nicely—for instance, add fluting to cabinets but do so in a lighter shade of wood like gray or beige. Geometric tiles can also be rendered in quiet hues for a gentler spin.

Spin Art Deco in a Modern Way

Art Deco felt modern for its time and when mixed with the tastes of today, it can make for a great finish.

While a cooking space can feel bright and built for modern day, there are ways to infuse Deco-reminiscent touches. This could be bubbly pendant lighting, rounded countertops, a fluted island and range, or spackled travertine floors.

Embrace Other Designs From the Era

If glam and luxury isn't exactly the look you're aiming for in your kitchen, you can look to other design styles that were prevalent during the '20s and '30s.

Simpler farmhouse-style kitchens and minimal cooking spaces were around, too, and as this space shows, it's possible to keep a more neutral color palette and still involve details from these decades, like the stainless steel textures, white flat-faced cabinets, and geometric, square-designed fixtures.

Nail Down Fluting Elements

Fluting is one of the most pertinent architectural finishes found in Art Deco spaces. In a kitchen, there are so many opportunities to bring this in. It also creates a great visual when mixed with rounded curves and arches.

A fluted dining table, island, cabinet face, or light are all possibilities. This could also be complemented by ribbed textures where the fluted area protrudes outward.