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Midcentury Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Open concept kitchen
Open concept kitchen
Vicki Simon Interior DesignVicki Simon Interior Design
Open concept kitchen created, eliminating upper cabinets, honoring rounded front entry to house. Rounded forms on shelf ends and vintage 70s Pierre Cardin brass stools. Butcher block island top is heavily used for prep surface.
Midcentury Kitchen
Midcentury Kitchen
Willow Creek InteriorsWillow Creek Interiors
Midcentury kitchen in Seattle.
Peninsula with Sink in Updated Mid-Century Modern Kitchen
Peninsula with Sink in Updated Mid-Century Modern Kitchen
MAK Design + Build Inc.MAK Design + Build Inc.
Medium sized retro u-shaped kitchen/diner in Sacramento with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain flooring, a breakfast bar, white floors, white worktops and exposed beams.
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Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation
Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation
Herron Horton Architects, Inc.Herron Horton Architects, Inc.
Kitchen with walnut cabinets and screen constructed by Woodunique.
Large retro galley kitchen/diner in Little Rock with a submerged sink, dark wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, no island, white worktops, exposed beams, a vaulted ceiling, flat-panel cabinets and brown floors.
Bloomington Flansburgh House
Bloomington Flansburgh House
Susan Yeley HomesSusan Yeley Homes
Nearly two decades ago now, Susan and her husband put a letter in the mailbox of this eastside home: "If you have any interest in selling, please reach out." But really, who would give up a Flansburgh House? Fast forward to 2020, when the house went on the market! By then it was clear that three children and a busy home design studio couldn't be crammed into this efficient footprint. But what's second best to moving into your dream home? Being asked to redesign the functional core for the family that was. In this classic Flansburgh layout, all the rooms align tidily in a square around a central hall and open air atrium. As such, all the spaces are both connected to one another and also private; and all allow for visual access to the outdoors in two directions—toward the atrium and toward the exterior. All except, in this case, the utilitarian galley kitchen. That space, oft-relegated to second class in midcentury architecture, got the shaft, with narrow doorways on two ends and no good visual access to the atrium or the outside. Who spends time in the kitchen anyway? As is often the case with even the very best midcentury architecture, the kitchen at the Flansburgh House needed to be modernized; appliances and cabinetry have come a long way since 1970, but our culture has evolved too, becoming more casual and open in ways we at SYH believe are here to stay. People (gasp!) do spend time—lots of time!—in their kitchens! Nonetheless, our goal was to make this kitchen look as if it had been designed this way by Earl Flansburgh himself. The house came to us full of bold, bright color. We edited out some of it (along with the walls it was on) but kept and built upon the stunning red, orange and yellow closet doors in the family room adjacent to the kitchen. That pop was balanced by a few colorful midcentury pieces that our clients already owned, and the stunning light and verdant green coming in from both the atrium and the perimeter of the house, not to mention the many skylights. Thus, the rest of the space just needed to quiet down and be a beautiful, if neutral, foil. White terrazzo tile grounds custom plywood and black cabinetry, offset by a half wall that offers both camouflage for the cooking mess and also storage below, hidden behind seamless oak tambour. Contractor: Rusty Peterson Cabinetry: Stoll's Woodworking Photographer: Sarah Shields
San Elijo - Project
San Elijo - Project
ProPacific Builders, Inc.ProPacific Builders, Inc.
Medium sized retro u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, an island, beige floors and white worktops.
San Elijo - Project
San Elijo - Project
ProPacific Builders, Inc.ProPacific Builders, Inc.
Medium sized retro u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, an island, beige floors and white worktops.
Appliance Garage Drawer Outlet
Appliance Garage Drawer Outlet
Docking DrawerDocking Drawer
Stow your coffee maker, toaster, blender and more while keeping them plugged in and ready for use.
This is an example of a midcentury kitchen in San Francisco.
Mid-Century Renovation
Mid-Century Renovation
Wendy Wilson & AssociatesWendy Wilson & Associates
This mid-century ranch-style home in Pasadena, CA underwent a complete interior remodel and renovation. The kitchen walls separating it from the dining and living rooms were removed creating a sophisticated open-plan entertainment space.
Mid-Century Modern Deck House
Mid-Century Modern Deck House
The Design GalleryThe Design Gallery
This is an example of a medium sized midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz worktops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, beige floors, white worktops and exposed beams.
Jarunas
Jarunas
Black Forest Design and BuildBlack Forest Design and Build
Retro kitchen in Other.
Pomona Lake Kitchen + Living
Pomona Lake Kitchen + Living
TVL Creative Ltd.TVL Creative Ltd.
Medium sized retro l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, white worktops and a drop ceiling.
Palm Springs
Palm Springs
Studio GildStudio Gild
Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Chicago.
Houston Museum District
Houston Museum District
Britt Design GroupBritt Design Group
Midcentury kitchen in Austin.
Midcentury Kitchen
Midcentury Kitchen
Retro kitchen in Denver with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, an island and white worktops.
Montclair Sanctuary
Montclair Sanctuary
Tina Montemayor DesignTina Montemayor Design
Small retro l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble worktops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island, multicoloured worktops and exposed beams.
Hampden Home Remodel
Hampden Home Remodel
UserUser
Inspiration for a medium sized retro l-shaped kitchen/diner in Denver with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and grey worktops.
Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel
Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel
Haven Design and ConstructionHaven Design and Construction
The kitchen in this Mid Century Modern home is a true showstopper. The designer expanded the original kitchen footprint and doubled the kitchen in size. The walnut dividing wall and walnut cabinets are hallmarks of the original mid century design, while a mix of deep blue cabinets provide a more modern punch. The triangle shape is repeated throughout the kitchen in the backs of the counter stools, the ends of the waterfall island, the light fixtures, the clerestory windows, and the walnut dividing wall.
Rochester MCM Kitchen Remodel
Rochester MCM Kitchen Remodel
Labra Design BuildLabra Design Build
Design ideas for a midcentury kitchen in Detroit.

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:

Oak Hills Mid Century Modern
Oak Hills Mid Century Modern
Mosaik Design & RemodelingMosaik Design & Remodeling
This outdated kitchen came with flowered wallpaper, narrow connections to Entry and Dining Room, outdated cabinetry and poor workflow. By opening up the ceiling to expose existing beams, widening both entrys and adding taller, angled windows, light now steams into this bright and cheery Mid Century Modern kitchen. The custom Pratt & Larson turquoise tiles add so much interest and tie into the new custom painted blue door. The walnut wood base cabinets add a warm, natural element. A cozy seating area for TV watching, reading and coffee looks out to the new clear cedar fence and landscape.
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