Historically, however, kitchens were actually pretty peppy, according to Deborah Baldwin, editor of This Old House magazine has lots of ideas. (www.bhg.com/kitchen) If you're in a rental with limited decorating options, go for colour accents like Kitchens in traditional and vintage homes often are dressed in conservative garb: neutral hues, stainless steel, white-on-white or beige-on-beige.