In the midst of everything that’s going on, we thought it would be a good idea to revisit some classic TV show kitchens to see if we can find any design inspiration. Remember, before there was avocado toast, there were avocado green refrigerators. Perhaps those are best left in the past.
Does anything say 70’s like a brown refrigerator? The kitchen from That 70’s Show comes with some intense wallpaper and mint green cabinets, plus green vinyl chairs. You can also see a couple of orange vinyl bar stools that stand out.
Whether you love or hate this style, it definitely causes a reaction. Considering the title of the show, the designers had to go all-out. If you want to add a bit of 70’s flair to your kitchen, start with some things that are easier to replace like chairs or lighting fixtures.
No list of TV show kitchens would be complete without mentioning Monica and Rachel’s kitchen from Friends. Set in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan, this kitchen is full of life and excitement.
Whoever renovated the place last had an eye for zany colors and eclectic influences. Bright purple and green mingle with patterns and collectibles from around the world. The mismatched chairs ? and only one seat cover ? tie into the story of young friends living in New York City.
Exterior shots show a real building at 90 Bedford Street, though the interior is actually a set in Burbank, California. According to a CNBC analysis, Monica’s apartment was about 200 square feet larger than the average apartment in the West Village. Well, it’s easier to get a camera crew in there.
On the show, Monica and Rachael only paid $200 in rent. The apartment had been rent-controlled since Monica’s grandmother signed the original lease. That wouldn’t fly today. To maintain rent-control, you have to have lived in the place since 1971 yourself. Nowadays, a place like that could cost $5,000 or more each month.
Don and Betty Draper’s kitchen from the show Mad Men is a typical suburban kitchen from the 1950’s in Ossining, New York. If you haven’t seen the show, Don was an ad man who worked at an agency in Manhattan. Ossining is about an hour and a half north of Manhattan by train today.
One feature of this kitchen is the knotty pine cabinets, which were popular at the time. You can also see a couple of open shelves next to the window. This trend was mostly aesthetic ? there aren’t any structural advantages to using knotty pine.
It’s hard to see, but the blue laminate countertop also has metal edging that you might associate with a diner-type feel today. Of course, the plaid Waverly wallpaper and green linoleum tie the 50’s feel together. One of the easiest ways to get this look is to start with a vintage-style refrigerator. You can find one with a retro appearance but modern technology.
Now, here’s one good-looking TV show kitchen ? we’ll get to that jumpsuit later. On The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Will Smith is sent to live at his uncle’s Bel Air mansion.
The kitchen’s lighting game is on point with accent lighting on the glass cabinets, which have soft in-cabinet lighting themselves, plus under-cabinet lighting. The center cabinets are open with beautiful ornamentation. A white tile island holds a second gas range and plenty of extra storage.
Above, you can see another angle of the kitchen that shows the white and black tile floor and some hanging copper pots in front of a wall of windows and more cabinets. You can also see Will doing some black magic (from season two episode 10).
Behind him are the ovens and the main gas range with a large hood overhead. Going along with the characters of Will’s uncle and aunt, the spices, decorations, and dishes are all placed with care.
If you ever have to go to a 90’s themed party, take a look at the characters on this show for inspiration. You can find everything from wacky 80’s holdovers to high-class, but still goofy, 90’s outfits.
Who wouldn’t enjoy the feel-good comedy of The Golden Girls? That’s what this kitchen is all about ? feeling good. There’s nothing too spectacular about the cabinets or appliances, but it has a warm and inviting atmosphere.
You can see a shot of the kitchen set above. This TV kitchen is all about two things: charm and versatility. Hanging china plates and copper molds add character to what could have been a blank section of the wall. The kitchen also makes use of a rolling prep table as an island, and the stationary island has a folding countertop.
Here’s another New York apartment on our list of TV kitchens. Seinfeld’s apartment was set in the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan, just a couple blocks from Central Park. This fictional kitchen has a wrap-around island that juts into the living room.
To go with Jerry’s character, the kitchen is pretty basic with an off-white fridge and electric stove. He rented the place, anyway. NYC apartments don’t necessarily need to be as appealing as apartments in some other areas of the country because there’s always a supply of renters.
Gray tones finish out the siding, countertop, cabinets, and tile backsplash. In this shot, it might not look very inspiring. But gray is actually a pretty great color if you use it in the right way.
Rounding out our list is the TV show kitchen from The Brady Bunch, which takes 70’s style to new heights. Burnt orange and avocado green pop out as if they were neon lights. You can also see an indoor barbecue next to the ovens.
This is a nifty invention from the 60’s and your house may just have one. If you don’t want to use it, you can always hang a large piece of art over it. You’ll have to watch the show to see if housekeeper Alice Nelson ever used the one in The Brady Bunch.
From this angle, you can see the avocado color continues in the lower cabinets and the refrigerator. Here, textures are mainly flat. The cabinets don’t have any ornamentations and the countertop, backsplash, table, and chairs are all made of smooth textures. That makes the colors shine.
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