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Midcentury Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Mid-Century Modern Interior Renovation
Mid-Century Modern Interior Renovation
Bonnie Wu Design, LLCBonnie Wu Design, LLC
Leslie Murchie Cascino
Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Detroit.
Northgate Kitchen
Northgate Kitchen
CarsonSpeer BuildersCarsonSpeer Builders
This mid-century modern was a full restoration back to this home's former glory. The vertical grain fir ceilings were reclaimed, refinished, and reinstalled. The floors were a special epoxy blend to imitate terrazzo floors that were so popular during this period. The quartz countertops waterfall on both ends and the handmade tile accents the backsplash. Reclaimed light fixtures, hardware, and appliances put the finishing touches on this remodel. Photo credit - Inspiro 8 Studios
Bellevue Mid Century
Bellevue Mid Century
Brio Interior DesignBrio Interior Design
Photography by Haris Kenjar
Design ideas for a retro kitchen in Seattle.
Find the right local pro for your project
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Lafayette Mid Century Modern Remodel
Lafayette Mid Century Modern Remodel
Klopf ArchitectureKlopf Architecture
The owners of this property had been away from the Bay Area for many years, and looked forward to returning to an elegant mid-century modern house. The one they bought was anything but that. Faced with a “remuddled” kitchen from one decade, a haphazard bedroom / family room addition from another, and an otherwise disjointed and generally run-down mid-century modern house, the owners asked Klopf Architecture and Envision Landscape Studio to re-imagine this house and property as a unified, flowing, sophisticated, warm, modern indoor / outdoor living space for a family of five. Opening up the spaces internally and from inside to out was the first order of business. The formerly disjointed eat-in kitchen with 7 foot high ceilings were opened up to the living room, re-oriented, and replaced with a spacious cook's kitchen complete with a row of skylights bringing light into the space. Adjacent the living room wall was completely opened up with La Cantina folding door system, connecting the interior living space to a new wood deck that acts as a continuation of the wood floor. People can flow from kitchen to the living / dining room and the deck seamlessly, making the main entertainment space feel at once unified and complete, and at the same time open and limitless. Klopf opened up the bedroom with a large sliding panel, and turned what was once a large walk-in closet into an office area, again with a large sliding panel. The master bathroom has high windows all along one wall to bring in light, and a large wet room area for the shower and tub. The dark, solid roof structure over the patio was replaced with an open trellis that allows plenty of light, brightening the new deck area as well as the interior of the house. All the materials of the house were replaced, apart from the framing and the ceiling boards. This allowed Klopf to unify the materials from space to space, running the same wood flooring throughout, using the same paint colors, and generally creating a consistent look from room to room. Located in Lafayette, CA this remodeled single-family house is 3,363 square foot, 4 bedroom, and 3.5 bathroom. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Jackie Detamore, and Jeffrey Prose Landscape Design: Envision Landscape Studio Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography ©2015 Mariko Reed Staging: The Design Shop Location: Lafayette, CA Year completed: 2014
Fairway Mid Century Remodel
Fairway Mid Century Remodel
Studio BuildStudio Build
Bob Greenspan Photography
Photo of a retro kitchen in Kansas City.
Dover Shores Remodel
Dover Shores Remodel
Eric Aust ArchitectEric Aust Architect
Lane Dittoe Photographs [FIXE] design house interors
Inspiration for a medium sized midcentury galley kitchen in Orange County with light hardwood flooring, an island, white splashback and white worktops.
Mid Century Remodel
Mid Century Remodel
Weaver ConstructionWeaver Construction
Photo of a medium sized retro l-shaped enclosed kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island and brown floors.
Mid-century Modern Kitchen Remodel
Mid-century Modern Kitchen Remodel
Core Home Solutions, Inc.Core Home Solutions, Inc.
Mid-century modern kitchen design featuring: - Kraftmaid Vantage cabinets (Barnet Golden Lager) with quartersawn maple slab fronts and tab cabinet pulls - Island Stone Wave glass backsplash tile - White quartz countertops - Thermador range and dishwasher - Cedar & Moss mid-century brass light fixtures - Concealed undercabinet plug mold receptacles - Undercabinet LED lighting - Faux-wood porcelain tile for island paneling
Redondo Beach New Construction
Redondo Beach New Construction
Natalie MyersNatalie Myers
Amy Bartlam
Inspiration for a retro kitchen in Los Angeles.
Mid Century MOD Austin Remodel
Mid Century MOD Austin Remodel
Becca Stephens InteriorsBecca Stephens Interiors
Molly Winters Photography
Photo of a medium sized retro single-wall kitchen/diner in Austin with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic flooring and an island.
Mid Century Portland
Mid Century Portland
risa boyer architecturerisa boyer architecture
Lincoln Barbour
This is an example of a medium sized retro galley open plan kitchen in Portland with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, terrazzo flooring, an island and multi-coloured floors.
Allandale Midcentury
Allandale Midcentury
CG&S Design-BuildCG&S Design-Build
Photography by Ryan Davis | CG&S Design-Build
Inspiration for a retro kitchen in Austin.
The Mid-Century Modern House Renovation
The Mid-Century Modern House Renovation
Champion Floor CompanyChampion Floor Company
The homeowners of this Mid Century Modern home in Creve Coeur are a young Architect and his wife and their two young sons. Being avid collectors of Mid Century Modern furniture and furnishings, they purchased their Atomic Ranch home, built in the 1970s, and saw in it a perfect future vessel for their lifestyle. Nothing had been done to the home in 40 years but they saw it as a fresh palette. The walls separating the kitchen from the dining, living, and entry areas were removed. Support beams and columns were created to hold the loads. The kitchen and laundry facilities were gutted and the living areas refurbished. They saw open space with great light, just waiting to be used. As they waited for the perfect time, they continued collecting. The Architect purchased their Claritone, of which less than 50 are in circulation: two are in the Playboy Mansion, and Frank Sinatra had four. They found their Bertoia wire chairs, and Eames and Baby Eames rockers. The chandelier over the dining room was found in a Los Angeles prop studio. The dining table and benches were made from the reclaimed wood of a beam that was removed, custom designed and made by Mwanzi and Co. The flooring is white oak with a white stain. Chairs are by Kartell. The lighting pendants over the island are by Tom Dixon and were found at Centro in St. Louis. Appliances were collected as they found them on sale and were stored in the garage along with the collections, until the time was right.. Even the dog was curated...from a South Central Los Angeles Animal Shelter!
Marvelous Mid Century
Marvelous Mid Century
The Remodel GroupThe Remodel Group
This is an example of a medium sized retro l-shaped enclosed kitchen in Portland with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, green splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
Mid Century Modern Miami Residence
Mid Century Modern Miami Residence
Lisa Wolfe Design, LtdLisa Wolfe Design, Ltd
Inspiration for a large midcentury open plan kitchen in Miami with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, engineered stone countertops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island and white worktops.
Palermo
Palermo
Tyler Hogan PhotographyTyler Hogan Photography
Photography by Tyler J Hogan www.tylerjhogan.com
This is an example of a large retro kitchen/diner in Los Angeles with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz worktops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
夫婦で楽しむ大人の時間(マンション／apartment)
夫婦で楽しむ大人の時間(マンション／apartment)
LOHAS studio（ロハススタジオ）LOHAS studio（ロハススタジオ）
Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, terracotta flooring and beige floors.
Seattle Midcentury Addition and Remodel
Seattle Midcentury Addition and Remodel
H2D Architecture + DesignH2D Architecture + Design
Design by: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Built by: Carlisle Classic Homes Photos: Christopher Nelson Photography
This is an example of a retro u-shaped kitchen/diner in Seattle with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, blue splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, white worktops, a vaulted ceiling and feature lighting.
Travis Heights Vacation Rental
Travis Heights Vacation Rental
Christen Ales Interior DesignChristen Ales Interior Design
Photo of a medium sized midcentury l-shaped kitchen/diner in Austin with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, beige floors, white worktops and composite countertops.

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:

House // TW
House // TW
M Gooden DesignM Gooden Design
Small midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Dallas with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white worktops, window splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood flooring.
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