Despite the prevalence of steel cabinets in the 1940s, wood was still a popular and reliable choice. With its slab-front units, curved breakfast bar and bent metal counter seats, this kitchen shows the origins of many of today's trends. We can breathe a sigh of relief that the brown-and-yellow colour scheme was abandoned at the turn of the decade though...

Another gem from 1940s designer, Hazel Dell Brown, this pale yellow kitchen is chock-full of quirky features. From the glass divider printed with an elegant floral design to the daybed in the corner, the room has everything you'd ever need in one space. 

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This 1950s magazine illustration features a mint green oven that matches the slanted rafters, a polished brass pendant light and elegant wood cabinetry. Note the white-brick wall – a predecessor to the metro tile – and the trendy gold-coloured hardware, which can be seen in many modern homes today.

Sporting a gleaming stainless steel oven and matching hob, this would have been a cutting-edge kitchen back in its day. The pale yellow units are offset by an orange wall which has been decorated with an eclectic collection of metal trivets, rolling pins and ladles. 

The 1950s saw pastel shades aplenty in kitchens, including salmon pink. Complemented by white wood panelling, floral curtains and geometric linoleum, this compact kitchen is brimming with vintage appeal. 

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Bold, sunny hues dominated the 1950s, symbolising a more optimistic outlook following the Second World War. With its canary yellow units, coral-coloured kettle and vibrant spice tins, this bright kitchen was an early example of the colour blocking trend.

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Mint green may not be in fashion now, but pastel-coloured cabinets were all the rage back in the '50s. Combined with candy pink walls and accessorised with a trendy sunburst clock and matching copper kettle, this kitchen was bang on trend 60 years ago.

With its eclectic display of patterned crockery and powder blue chequerboard sink skirt, this charming kitchen offers a glimpse into an old-fashioned country home. Cheerful sunflowers, stripes and bright blue cabinets make this a sunny space to cook and eat. We love the record player – perfect for kitchen parties!

The handy hatch – an intrinsic feature to many a retro kitchen – takes centre stage in this vintage magazine illustration. With its loud geometric ceiling and pops of red and turquoise, this vibrant image will bring back memories of Friday family suppers and Sunday roasts.

This trendy galley kitchen boasts many features that would not look out of place in a contemporary home. From the Moroccan-style tiles to the frosted glass pendant lights, the space is a source of inspiration for homeowners embracing the mid-century modern trend.

Now on display in the National Museum of American History, the kitchen of celebrated chef Julia Child epitomises the sleek designs favoured by homeowners in the 1960s. Complete with butcher-block counters and stainless steel range, this was every home cook's dream kitchen and Julia designed it with her husband Paul, including the ingenious pegboards for hanging her gleaming copper pans. 

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With its curved counter, stainless steel splashback and cluster of pendant lights, this kitchen shows off a number of 21st-century trends. The wood-panelled walls and ceiling fan were typical of the 1960s, as was the open-plan layout. With dinner parties becoming increasingly popular, kitchens were built to facilitate entertaining.

What better way to bring a pop of colour to a boring beige kitchen than to add a vibrant lime green? With its diner-style booth, curved counter and lemon-print curtains, this retro kitchen would have been the epitome of cool back in the day.

With its neon yellow sink panels, bright orange cookware and jazzy curtains, this cheerful kitchen symbolises the liberal mindset of the swinging '60s. The quirky mix of pastel and fluorescent hues has sadly not stood the test of time, but there's no reason why it can't make a comeback. 

The designer of this kitchen certainly had no qualms about mixing and matching. With its bright wooden cabinets, trompe l'oeil tiles, faux marble counters and floral pelmet, this room is nothing if not original. The pièce de résistance is the turquoise shagpile – one trend that has not dated well!

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Wood was king in the '70s as designers moved towards natural hues and organic materials. With its wooden beams and rich grained cabinets, this time-capsule kitchen is a prime example of late 20th-century design. Warm and homely, this space would have been perfect for entertaining.

The 1970s were all about the hippie movement and this sunny yellow kitchen pays homage to the decade of flower power. The mismatched hanging mugs match the tea towel and chopping board, while the colourful Kellogg's Corn Flakes box adds the perfect finishing touch to this retro throwback.

A slightly more austere style, this 1980s Australian kitchen champions the new taste for minimalism. A hangover from the '70s where earth tones were on-trend, it features mottled brown tiles with matching accent shelving and cabinet trims. The suspended oven is a great space-saving feature and child-friendly to boot.

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