Create a Colorful Vintage Kitchen

A vintage-style kitchen can mean many things: farmhouse fixtures, weathered finishes, simple shapes. In this cook space it translates into a warm, homey room that also has an elegant side. "The look is low-key Victorian," says home-owner and architect Sandy Vitzthum, who mixed timeworn furniture, such as a distressed table, with more refined turn-of-the-century touches, like a pendant lamp. A cast-iron sink and prized cherry-red Aga stove add extra character and do double duty as prep surfaces. Another smart use of space: the custom wall-mounted hutch, which includes a drip rack for plates. "We don't have a dishwasher, so that was essential!" she says. Inspired? Here's how to get a high-design setup like this one without obliterating your budget.