Add Functionality To A Kitchen With A Vintage Workspace That's As Useful As It Is Beautiful

When searching for a clever way to blend vintage charm and functionality in the kitchen, sometimes the more obscure item from a different part of the house can actually transform your space. Doilies, vintage curtains, antique cookie jars, and old cookbooks are great decorations, but they don't offer the utility your space might need. On the other hand, an antique dining set doesn't necessarily feel unique and quirky. But Teresa Rudolph, a renter living in a small apartment in Berlin, revamped her tiny outdated kitchen by adding an eclectic feature that, while seemingly out of place, perfectly suits the kitchen and offers the perfect combination of functionality and character. 

"It's an antique workbench," Teresa told Apartment Therapy. "... Over time, it's served every purpose you can imagine — it's been a desk, a bookshelf — but I love it most in the kitchen as a work surface and herb shelf."

One vintage kitchen trend we'd love to see being used today is repurposing vintage furniture in a clever way to give it new life. Teresa stated that she found the workbench on Kleinanzeigen, a German online marketplace similar to eBay. The workbench was likely meant as a woodworking table or a tool and utility table in the garage. Yet Teresa has restored and repurposed this piece. Now, it's a statement piece used as a food prep surface, coffee bar, and shelf, where it brings charm and character into the space while also offering more surface area for meal prep in a tiny kitchen.

As you scour the internet for the best tips and tricks to give your overly modern kitchen more vintage charm, consider following in Teresa's footsteps by sourcing an antique workbench or surface to invite into your space. A workbench can naturally become a tabletop surface for food prep or storage. Teresa has added an espresso machine, syrups, and a cork basket to hers. You can also utilize any drawers or space beneath the table for storage baskets and bins. Thrifting or visiting antique shops to find these old workbenches can be a great way to save money while also adding more prep space to the kitchen.

However, you don't have to go all in with a rustic workbench if that's not your vibe. Other vintage kitchen decor to never pass up at the thrift store can include side tables, benches, armoires, fine china cabinets, and desks. Each can function as a tabletop for kitchen tools and essentials or provide additional storage for dishware and food goods. The key is to think outside the box and choose an item that, while it may be intended to serve a particular purpose, can also double as a kitchen table or storage unit.

Just be sure to give antique items a deep clean prior to stashing them alongside your food. Taking time to correct minor repairs and scratches, seal any wood, or stain and paint pieces to suit your style is also a good idea.