Practical and durable but retaining warmth and texture as the hub of the family home.Rear works benches are stainless steel providing durable work surfaces while the timber island provides warmth when sitting around with a cuppa! The darker colours with timber accented shelves creates a recessive quality with earth and texture. Shelves used to highlight ceramic collections used daily.

Curvaceous Turn of the Century

Space Craft Joinery

Design ideas for a midcentury kitchen in Adelaide.

Mt Eliza

Katherine Charlton Design

Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Melbourne.

Bellows House

Brickworks Building Products

Design ideas for a midcentury kitchen in Sydney.

Midcentury Home Addition and renovation

Donald Lococo Architects

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 However, many ‘70s references looked and felt outdated.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.

Park Slope Modern Row House

The Brooklyn Studio

This residence was a complete gut renovation of a 4-story row house in Park Slope, and included a new rear extension and penthouse addition. The owners wished to create a warm, family home using a modern language that would act as a clean canvas to feature rich textiles and items from their world travels. As with most Brooklyn row houses, the existing house suffered from a lack of natural light and connection to exterior spaces, an issue that Principal Brendan Coburn is acutely aware of from his experience re-imagining historic structures in the New York area. The resulting architecture is designed around moments featuring natural light and views to the exterior, of both the private garden and the sky, throughout the house, and a stripped-down language of detailing and finishes allows for the concept of the modern-natural to shine. Upon entering the home, the kitchen and dining space draw you in with views beyond through the large glazed opening at the rear of the house. An extension was built to allow for a large sunken living room that provides a family gathering space connected to the kitchen and dining room, but remains distinctly separate, with a strong visual connection to the rear garden. The open sculptural stair tower was designed to function like that of a traditional row house stair, but with a smaller footprint. By extending it up past the original roof level into the new penthouse, the stair becomes an atmospheric shaft for the spaces surrounding the core. All types of weather – sunshine, rain, lightning, can be sensed throughout the home through this unifying vertical environment. The stair space also strives to foster family communication, making open living spaces visible between floors. At the upper-most level, a free-form bench sits suspended over the stair, just by the new roof deck, which provides at-ease entertaining. Oak was used throughout the home as a unifying material element. As one travels upwards within the house, the oak finishes are bleached to further degrees as a nod to how light enters the home. The owners worked with CWB to add their own personality to the project. The meter of a white oak and blackened steel stair screen was designed by the family to read “I love you” in Morse Code, and tile was selected throughout to reference places that hold special significance to the family. To support the owners’ comfort, the architectural design engages passive house technologies to reduce energy use, while increasing air quality within the home – a strategy which aims to respect the environment while providing a refuge from the harsh elements of urban living. This project was published by Wendy Goodman as her Space of the Week, part of New York Magazine’s Design Hunting on The Cut. Photography by Kevin Kunstadt

Glen Road

risa boyer architecture

Photo of a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a drop-in sink, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, exposed beam, flat-panel cabinets and brown floor.

Mid Century Remodel

Weaver Construction

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped separate kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Mid Century Modern Kitchen that's Connected to Nature

Normandy Remodeling

Natural walnut cabinetry, quartzite stone countertops and backsplash and a large picture window all make this mid-century modern kitchen a celebration of nature.

Wayzata Mid-Century Modern Whole Home Restoration

Thompson Construction

Mid-Century Modern Restoration
Mid-sized midcentury eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, with island, white floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Mast

Innovative Builders & Design, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Midcentury Kitchen

Willow Creek Interiors

Midcentury kitchen in Seattle.

Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation

Herron Horton Architects, Inc.

Kitchen with walnut cabinets and screen constructed by Woodunique.
This is an example of a large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Little Rock with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, white benchtop, exposed beam, vaulted, flat-panel cabinets and brown floor.

Mid-Century Classic

Lucy Johnson Interior Design

Enlarged kitchen by removing a wall, back door & window, creating a U-shaped kitchen. Open site lines into Dining & Living room now. High storage cabinets were provided on the Dining room side of peninsula. Which helped separate the kitchen from eating area.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

C&R Remodeling

This mid century modern home boasted irreplaceable features including original wood cabinets, wood ceiling, and a wall of floor to ceiling windows. C&R developed a design that incorporated the existing details with additional custom cabinets that matched perfectly. A new lighting plan, quartz counter tops, plumbing fixtures, tile backsplash and floors, and new appliances transformed this kitchen while retaining all the mid century flavor.

Zilker Park MCM

Ashby Collective

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, terrazzo floors, no island, white floor, black benchtop and medium wood cabinets.

Riverside MCM Ranch Re-imagined

Liv Companies LLC Design + Build

closeup of the kitchen cabinets with edge pulls
Design ideas for a large midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

White Sails Mid-Century Modern

Patterson Custom Homes

Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Orange County with marble benchtops, multiple islands and grey benchtop.

Encino Mid Century

Pamela Leone Design, Inc.

Mid Century Kitchen
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, white benchtop, no island and grey floor.

Marvelous Mid Century

The Remodel Group

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped separate kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Midcentury Brown 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!