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Midcentury Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Rasha's warm cherry plywood kitchen
Rasha's warm cherry plywood kitchen
LoziLozi
Retro kitchen in London.
The Childe - Atkinson's Chorlton Kitchen
The Childe - Atkinson's Chorlton Kitchen
Wood & WireWood & Wire
This is an example of a retro kitchen in Manchester.
ENUGU
ENUGU
Wood Works BrightonWood Works Brighton
We were commissioned to design and build a new kitchen for this terraced side extension. The clients were quite specific about their style and ideas. After a few variations they fell in love with the floating island idea with fluted solid Utile. The Island top is 100% rubber and the main kitchen run work top is recycled resin and plastic. The cut out handles are replicas of an existing midcentury sideboard. MATERIALS – Sapele wood doors and slats / birch ply doors with Forbo / Krion work tops / Flute glass.
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Mid Century Family Home
Mid Century Family Home
Become Interiors LtdBecome Interiors Ltd
Design ideas for a midcentury kitchen in Hertfordshire.
Torrens Road
Torrens Road
ROCK + POPPINSROCK + POPPINS
Inspiration for a retro l-shaped kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, orange splashback, an island, grey floors and white worktops.
Project Cedar
Project Cedar
Studio Far WestStudio Far West
This is an example of a retro kitchen in Cornwall.
The 1930s Extension
The 1930s Extension
YARD ArchitectsYARD Architects
The primary intent of the project was to bring the property up to a modern standard of living, with additional space at the rear to provide kitchen, dining and living space for a couple who would become a family over the course of the build, with the arrival of twins in a very Grand Designs manner. The project was relatively cost effective, and it was decided early on to draw upon the existing 1930’s design aesthetic of the existing house. A white painted render finish to the extension was combined with the curved corner which drew influence from the beautiful curved bay window at the front of the house. Green glazed ceramic tile details were a response to the painted tile window cills, each a different colour on the development of 6 houses located just outside the Wandsworth Common Conservation Area. The tiles came to define planting zones as part of the landscaping at the rear of the extension. Further up the house, a new softwood staircase with circular balusters lead to the new loft conversion, where the master bedroom and en-suite are located. The playful design aesthetic continues, with vintage inspired elements such as a T&G timber clad headboard ledge and the mid-century sideboard vanity unit that the clients sourced for the bathroom. Internally, the spaces were designed to incorporate a large self-contained study at the front of the house, which could be opened to the rest of the space with salvaged pocket doors. Interior designer Sarah Ashworth put together a 1930’s inspired colour scheme, which is at it’s boldest in this study space, with a golden yellow paint offsetting the clients vast collection of vintage furniture. A utility and downstairs loo are incorporated in the original small kitchen space, with a free flowing sequence of spaces for living opening up to the garden at the rear. A slot rooflight provides light for the kitchen set in the centre of the plan.
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Interior Styling
Interior Styling
Danielle Lancaster InteriorsDanielle Lancaster Interiors
This is an example of a medium sized retro l-shaped kitchen in Manchester with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz worktops, light hardwood flooring, no island and white worktops.
Rawlings Street
Rawlings Street
Anthro ArchitectureAnthro Architecture
View of the beautifully detailed timber clad kitchen, looking onto the dining area beyond. The timber finned wall, curves to help the flow of the space and conceals a guest bathroom along with additional storage space.
Cheltenham Extension
Cheltenham Extension
Robin Quarrelle PhotographyRobin Quarrelle Photography
This is an example of a midcentury kitchen in Other.
Nordic Kitchen
Nordic Kitchen
Irving sykes kitchens and fine furnitureIrving sykes kitchens and fine furniture
Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, terrazzo worktops, stainless steel appliances, an island, grey floors and multicoloured worktops.
Sleek, modernised retro 70's open plan kitchen diner
Sleek, modernised retro 70's open plan kitchen diner
My Bespoke RoomMy Bespoke Room
It's sophisticated and stylish, with a sleek and contemporary feel that's perfect for entertaining. The clean lines and monochromatic colour palette enhance the minimalist vibe, while the carefully chosen details add just the right amount of glam.
Modernist EnerPHit Plus
Modernist EnerPHit Plus
EcosphericEcospheric
Kitchen with lighting by MS Lighting Design
Retro kitchen in London.
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Ferndale: Mid-century four bedroom single story home
Ferndale: Mid-century four bedroom single story home
Muchmore DesignMuchmore Design
The primary material used for the kitchen is iroko, combined with plywood lined interior cabinetry. A four metre long skylight installed above the island casts natural light across the beautiful oiled iroko wood. Reeded glass, popular in the 1960´s, was also fitted into the sliding pantry doors. The central island and units were installed on matte black plinths providing a floating appearance above the floor.
1950's House Refurb
1950's House Refurb
Born Designers LtdBorn Designers Ltd
Bespoke hand built kitchen with built in kitchen cabinet and free standing island with modern patterned floor tiles and blue linoleum on birch plywood
Mid-Century Modern Beach House
Mid-Century Modern Beach House
Pfeiffer DesignPfeiffer Design
Design ideas for a retro kitchen in Sussex.
The Garry's Kitchen Chorlton
The Garry's Kitchen Chorlton
Wood & WireWood & Wire
Retro kitchen in Manchester.

Midcentury Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful midcentury kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of midcentury kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of retro photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of midcentury kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own retro kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your midcentury kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small midcentury kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some retro kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What midcentury kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your retro kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small midcentury spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and retro kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and 1950s style accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of midcentury kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your retro kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

Check out these popular kitchen pages below:

Mid-Century Modern London Flat
Mid-Century Modern London Flat
Interior FoxInterior Fox
Retro kitchen in London.
Plywood delight - a refurbishment of a 1960's flat
Plywood delight - a refurbishment of a 1960's flat
Elena Rowland Architects ARB no.085001BElena Rowland Architects ARB no.085001B
Kitchen
This is an example of a midcentury kitchen in London.
Formica Green Slate, Formica Blush & a Formica Seed island
Formica Green Slate, Formica Blush & a Formica Seed island
Plykea LtdPlykea Ltd
This mid-century modern home features Formica Green Slate and Blush complemented with a Formica Seed island, all with birch plywood semi-recessed grab handles. Internal drawers are birch plywood to match. A stainless steel Quooker Fusion Round tap, with the Quooker Cube accessory, provides instant boiling, hot and cold water plus chilled cold and chilled sparkling!
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