The Architectural Digest Home Design Show is an annual ritual for New York design fans looking to catch up on the latest and greatest interior design trends. For 2015 products with a sense of nostalgia were a noticeable element throughout the show. Kitchen appliances in pastel colors attracted a lot of attention with its retro flashback to the 1950s.

A sprinkling of colorful appliances in hues ranging from pastel pink to robin’s egg blue brightened up the AD Home Design exhibition spaces.  Showgoers commented on the ‘fresh’ take the appliances brought to the rooms.  For the first time stainless steel sightings were few and far between.

In the 1950’s pastel kitchens were a prominent design trend pervading nearly every house in America, and kitchen appliances followed suit. That decade saw stoves and fridges outfitted in various light, yet colorful shades, including yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and pink.

Because open floor plans had not yet entered the design world, and entertaining where you cooked was seen as a faux pas, kitchens were kept separate from the rest of the home. As such, a pastel-filled kitchen never really became overwhelming, and families didn’t have to worry about it clashing with the rest of their decor.

Throughout the years, color in the kitchen became uncommon as apartment layouts began to feature open floor plans. Each decade’s color of choice became more and more neutral, and coupled with the decrease in home and room size during the ’70s and ’80s, colorful appliances fell by the wayside.

As a result, today’s kitchen appliances are almost guaranteed to be stainless steel, black or white. But as the kitchen is more integrated into the home, appliances are becoming more like furniture.  And for color lovers everywhere, the pastel appliance trend is making a comeback.  Modern brands like Smeg and Big Chill are creating colorful, retro-style appliances that fit in perfectly with modern design.

Now pastel in the kitchen is a great way to add subtle color and charm in the interior. The light and muted nature of the pastel tends to reflect a warm energy. This is especially true for white clean kitchens where a pastel pop of color adds humor with its retro vibe.