The kitchen was designed two years ago and was then erased and redesigned when the world became a different place a year later. As everyone attempted to flatten the curve, our goal in this regard was to create a kitchen that looked forward to a sharp curve down and of a happier time To that promise for happier times, the redesign, a goal was to make the kitchen brighter and more optimistic. This was done by using simple, primary shapes and circular pendants and emphasizing them in contrast, adding a playful countenance. The selection of a dynamic grain of figured walnut also contributes as this once-living material and its sinuous grain adds motion, rhythm, and scale. Proud of their 1970s home, one challenge of the design was to balance a 1970's feel and stay current. However, many ‘70s references looked and felt outdated. The first step was a changed mindset. Just like the return of the ‘40s bath and the retro movement a few years ago, every era returns in some way. Chronologically, the '70s will soon be here. Our design looked to era-specific furniture and materials of the decade. Figured walnut was so pervasive in the era: this motif was used on car exteriors such as the 1970 Town and Country Station Wagon, which debuted the same year the existing home was built. We also looked at furniture specific to the decade. The console stereo is referenced not only by high legs on the island but also by the knurled metal cabinet knobs reminiscent of often-used stereo dials. Knurled metalwork is also used on the kitchen faucet. The design references the second piece of '70s furniture in our modern TV tray, which is angled to face the television in the family room. Its round pencil and mug holder cutouts follow the design of walnut consoles and dashboard of the station wagon and other elements of the time.

Wayzata Mid-Century Modern Whole Home Restoration

Thompson Construction

Mid-Century Modern Restoration

Ashford Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Customer Space | Waterville, Ohio

Flooret

Deep tones of gently weathered grey and brown. A modern look that still respects the timelessness of natural wood.

Modern Maple Kitchen

La Costa Cabinets & Design

Beautiful striated granite countertops play off the warm tones of the maple clad kitchen. Slab door and drawer front paired with sleek glass subway tiles nod towards mid century modern influences. Glass light fixtures and gold finishes contrast the cool grey tones of the countertop. Desk space is crafted out of the end of the cabinet run for quick mail sorting.

Woodhaven Modern

Flavin Architects

Our clients wanted to replace an existing suburban home with a modern house at the same Lexington address where they had lived for years. The structure the clients envisioned would complement their lives and integrate the interior of the home with the natural environment of their generous property. The sleek, angular home is still a respectful neighbor, especially in the evening, when warm light emanates from the expansive transparencies used to open the house to its surroundings. The home re-envisions the suburban neighborhood in which it stands, balancing relationship to the neighborhood with an updated aesthetic. The floor plan is arranged in a “T” shape which includes a two-story wing consisting of individual studies and bedrooms and a single-story common area. The two-story section is arranged with great fluidity between interior and exterior spaces and features generous exterior balconies. A staircase beautifully encased in glass stands as the linchpin between the two areas. The spacious, single-story common area extends from the stairwell and includes a living room and kitchen. A recessed wooden ceiling defines the living room area within the open plan space. Separating common from private spaces has served our clients well. As luck would have it, construction on the house was just finishing up as we entered the Covid lockdown of 2020. Since the studies in the two-story wing were physically and acoustically separate, zoom calls for work could carry on uninterrupted while life happened in the kitchen and living room spaces. The expansive panes of glass, outdoor balconies, and a broad deck along the living room provided our clients with a structured sense of continuity in their lives without compromising their commitment to aesthetically smart and beautiful design.

Tiny But Mighty Kitchen

Lucy Johnson Interior Design

Custom Kitchen and Dining Room Remodel in Manhattan Beach

Periana Architecture

Glen Road

risa boyer architecture

Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation

Herron Horton Architects, Inc.

Kitchen with walnut cabinets and screen constructed by Woodunique.

Spiegelwand statt Fliesenspiegel

Ellerbrock "Bad und Küche" GmbH

Um auch der Stilwand besondere Offenheit zu verleihen wurde unter den Oberschränken und hinter dem Spülbereich auf einen klassischen Fliesenspiegel verzichtet. Stattdessen gibt eine Spiegel-Verkleidung auch dem wandseitigen Küchenbereich eine offene und großzügige Wirkung.

Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

Highland Park Kitchen 1

Jacob Evans Kitchen & Bath

Mid-Century Modern, Shavano Park

NR Interiors

This newly remodeled Kitchen features a mix of classic two tone shaker cabinetry with the modern accent of quarter sawn white oak slab front Euro style cabinetry which hides a utility closet, provides a coffee bar and hidden pantry in a sleek wall of gorgeous cabinets. This white oak cabinet is balanced across the room with the table end of the island which heavy duty white oak butcherblock top intersects the quartzite waterfall edge of the island.

Pomona Lake Kitchen + Living

TVL Creative Ltd.

Pomona Lake Kitchen + Living

TVL Creative Ltd.

GREENWICH CT - Mid-Century Modern

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

The clients loved their newly purchased, quiet, and secluded home, but it needed a full renovation. As the homeowners are avid chefs, the design and intelligent usage plan for the new kitchen took top priority. They were inspired by a visit to the DEANE showroom displays and selected a sleek, modern style without hardware for their midcentury, Italian modern update. High gloss, lacquer cabinets in a soft grey add warmth to the room, and all cabinets and drawers are opened either via channel pulls or touch-operated. To keep the quartzite countertops clean and free of clutter, the drawers were customized to include knife inserts, silverware dividers, and spices out of sight with a cooking utensil drawer right below the range and a pull-out cabinet underneath the sink to give easy access to cleaning supplies. The patinaed stainless steel island with distressed, wire-brushed cabinets acts as both an area for eating as well as entertaining, with storage designed for serving platters. Appliance garages flank the cooktop counter areas, and the detail at the bottom of the custom hood echos the channel pulls. Refrigerated beverage drawers and contemporary SubZero/Wolf model appliances complete the space, with the single slab, seamless backsplash providing a dramatic focal point. The designer loves how the mixture of stainless steel and high gloss lacquer makes the room so stunning.

Mid-Century Modern Condo in Historic Capitol Hill

Finesse Design Remodeling

A two-bed, two-bath condo located in the Historic Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, DC was reimagined with the clean lined sensibilities and celebration of beautiful materials found in Mid-Century Modern designs. A soothing gray-green color palette sets the backdrop for cherry cabinetry and white oak floors. Specialty lighting, handmade tile, and a slate clad corner fireplace further elevate the space. A new Trex deck with cable railing system connects the home to the outdoors.

Duluth Kitchen Remodel

Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design

niguel west mid-century modern

Moss Yaw Design studio

modern geometries, pendant lighting and contrasting materials add visual interest while a new peninsula and oversize island provide for increased functionality at the open kitchen

Midcentury Kitchen Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Midcentury Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!