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  1. Kitchen
  2. Layout: Single-wall

Midcentury Single-wall Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Olathe MCM
Olathe MCM
Stumpff HomeWorks, LLCStumpff HomeWorks, LLC
Photo of a midcentury single-wall kitchen/diner in Kansas City with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, multi-coloured splashback, granite splashback, integrated appliances, slate flooring, an island, black floors, white worktops and a vaulted ceiling.
Earthy Mackay House
Earthy Mackay House
Cathie Hong InteriorsCathie Hong Interiors
This 1956 John Calder Mackay home had been poorly renovated in years past. We kept the 1400 sqft footprint of the home, but re-oriented and re-imagined the bland white kitchen to a midcentury olive green kitchen that opened up the sight lines to the wall of glass facing the rear yard. We chose materials that felt authentic and appropriate for the house: handmade glazed ceramics, bricks inspired by the California coast, natural white oaks heavy in grain, and honed marbles in complementary hues to the earth tones we peppered throughout the hard and soft finishes. This project was featured in the Wall Street Journal in April 2022.
house-25
house-25
dwarfdwarf
Design ideas for a medium sized retro single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with an integrated sink, open cabinets, grey cabinets, stainless steel worktops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback and a breakfast bar.
Modern Dark Grey Kitchen with Adriatic in Lead Walnut
Modern Dark Grey Kitchen with Adriatic in Lead Walnut
UltraCraft CabinetryUltraCraft Cabinetry
Door Style: Adriatic in Lead Walnut Vertical - Designer: PS Modern - Photographer: Ketchum Photography
Design ideas for a large midcentury single-wall open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and an island.
Groove Pad Studio Apartment
Groove Pad Studio Apartment
Sustainable HomeSustainable Home
The live edge countertop, reclaimed wood from an urban street tree, creates space for dining. The compact kitchen includes two burners, a small sink, and a hotel room sized refrigerator. photos by Michele Lee Willson
Mid Century Modern Kitchen
Mid Century Modern Kitchen
HOMEpossibleHOMEpossible
The 1960's atomic ranch-style home's new kitchen features and large kitchen island, dual pull-out pantries on either side of a 48" built-in refrigerator, separate wine refrigerator, built-in coffee maker and no wall cabinets.
Upper East Side
Upper East Side
Anjie Cho Architect PLLCAnjie Cho Architect PLLC
This project was a full-gut renovation on a Upper East Side Apartment combination.
This is an example of a medium sized retro single-wall enclosed kitchen in New York with a submerged sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, blue splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, terrazzo flooring, white floors and an island.
Short North Kitchen and Dining Room Remodel - Columbus, OH
Short North Kitchen and Dining Room Remodel - Columbus, OH
Kitchen KraftKitchen Kraft
Midcentury single-wall open plan kitchen in Columbus with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite worktops, blue splashback, metro tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island, brown floors, grey worktops and dark hardwood flooring.
Lake Sawyer Remodel
Lake Sawyer Remodel
Malone's Landscape Design | BuildMalone's Landscape Design | Build
Open architecture with exposed beams and wood ceiling create a natural indoor/outdoor ambiance in this midcentury remodel. The kitchen has a bold hexagon tile backsplash and floating shelves with a vintage feel.
Newport Beach MidCentury Modern Home
Newport Beach MidCentury Modern Home
Anthology InteriorsAnthology Interiors
Beautiful, expansive Midcentury Modern family home located in Dover Shores, Newport Beach, California. This home was gutted to the studs, opened up to take advantage of its gorgeous views and designed for a family with young children. Every effort was taken to preserve the home's integral Midcentury Modern bones while adding the most functional and elegant modern amenities. Photos: David Cairns, The OC Image
Los Gatos Treehouse
Los Gatos Treehouse
Cathie Hong InteriorsCathie Hong Interiors
This 1960s home was in original condition and badly in need of some functional and cosmetic updates. We opened up the great room into an open concept space, converted the half bathroom downstairs into a full bath, and updated finishes all throughout with finishes that felt period-appropriate and reflective of the owner's Asian heritage.
Kitchen in Brooklyn Townhouse, New York NY
Kitchen in Brooklyn Townhouse, New York NY
ArsightArsight
Welcome to a world of refined taste in this Brooklyn Brownstone Townhouse residence in New York, where Arsight has constructed a kitchen that exemplifies luxury. The splendid brownstone floor anchors a bespoke kitchen adorned with luscious wood accents, embodying ageless sophistication. Crown molding and meticulous millwork heighten the ambiance, while tastefully arranged shelves display your gourmet essentials. The marble backsplash imparts a hint of grandeur, blending harmoniously with the extensive use of natural elements. Stainless steel and wood features complete this kitchen's style and utility narrative.
CHAMBLEE Clean and modern kitchen
CHAMBLEE Clean and modern kitchen
Rosa Moreno KitchensRosa Moreno Kitchens
Photo of a medium sized retro single-wall open plan kitchen in Atlanta with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.
480 MacDonough St
480 MacDonough St
German Kitchen Center (Queens)German Kitchen Center (Queens)
Medium sized midcentury single-wall kitchen/diner in New York with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, composite countertops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo flooring, an island, beige floors and white worktops.
WOODLAND KITCHEN
WOODLAND KITCHEN
Kate Roos Design LLCKate Roos Design LLC
The available space for the kitchen was long and narrow. An efficient galley layout with a large island provided improved function and flow in this two-cook kitchen.
1 Bay Ceiling + Wall Mounted Collector's Shelving Unit
1 Bay Ceiling + Wall Mounted Collector's Shelving Unit
Amuneal Manufacturing Corp.Amuneal Manufacturing Corp.
Amuneal made the Rolling Kitchen Ladder and matching Collector’s bar shelving unit for the Great Room style kitchen in this Aspen, Colorado home. The wall + ceiling mounted bar shelving unit creates tall vertical space for bottle and stemware storage. Each glass shelf includes a brass bottle rail stop. The Ladder features quiet glide rolling hardware with rails in patinated aluminum for light weight and ease of use, and curved handle grips wrapped in black hand stitched leather as well as peened textured treads with warm brass tread noses.
Bold Colors
Bold Colors
R Jones Designs, Inc.R Jones Designs, Inc.
Inspiration for a medium sized retro single-wall enclosed kitchen in Atlanta with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz worktops, metallic splashback, glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, multicoloured worktops and exposed beams.
Cocina
Cocina
Eleuve InteriorismoEleuve Interiorismo
This is an example of a medium sized retro single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite worktops, coloured appliances, an island, grey floors and beige worktops.
Inglewood Mid Century
Inglewood Mid Century
CCdesign PartnershipsCCdesign Partnerships
Beautiful remodel of an outdated kitchen in Inglewood. Clean modern design with high gloss white cabinets and a kitchen island with a dramatic waterfall edge. The cool lines are juxtaposed with warm natural elements for an inviting space.
Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel
Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel
Woodsmiths Custom MillworkWoodsmiths Custom Millwork
The slab door and drawer front cabinetry in this Mid-Century Modern kitchen remodel has a sleek appearance. Graining from the cherry wood provides visual texture and the Chili stained finish give the cabinets a gentle luster.

Midcentury Single-wall 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.

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