Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Earthy Mackay House

Cathie 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.

Mid Century Modern Kitchen that's Connected to Nature

Normandy Remodeling

The homeowner's love of cooking and entertaining were hugely important in the design. As such, every cabinet was outfitted and accessorized to maximize efficiency. Inserts such as this spice drawer organizer make cooking and entertaining a breeze.

Palka Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Collection Customer Space | Lebanon, Ohio

Flooret

Warm, light, and inviting with characteristic knot vinyl floors that bring a touch of wabi-sabi to every room. This rustic maple style is ideal for Japanese and Scandinavian-inspired spaces.

4th Street Bungalow

Blythe Interiors

Mid-sized midcentury galley kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Rosewood Lane Whole House

Schloegel Design Remodel

Designer: Lindsay Brungardt Elegant mid-century modern kitchen with a bar, black lower cabinets, warm stained upper cabinets, black appliances, white porcelain tile backsplash, vaulted stained wood ceilings, and natural tone wood floors.

Mid-Century Modern Highland Park West Home

Mosier Luxury Homes

Photo of a large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Woodstock Clean and Modern Kitchen

Rosa Moreno Kitchens

white and brass quartz countertop
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

West View Mid Century Modern Green Kitchen

Hive Home

In a home with just about 1000 sf our design needed to thoughtful, unlike the recent contractor-grade flip it had recently undergone. For clients who love to cook and entertain we came up with several floor plans and this open layout worked best. We used every inch available to add storage, work surfaces, and even squeezed in a 3/4 bath! Colorful but still soothing, the greens in the kitchen and blues in the bathroom remind us of Big Sur, and the nod to mid-century perfectly suits the home and it's new owners.

Juanita Heights Remodel

H2D Architecture + Design

This kitchen has a midcentury flare that nods to the original style of the home. The coffee nook features floating shelves and the perfect designated place for coffee machines. Architecture and interior design: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com

Mid Century Kitchen

DDK Kitchen Design Group

Kitchens are a part of our personality. Sophisticated yet so simple. The cabinets are maple with nothing but a natural finish. Highlighting the beautiful character of maple wood. Slab doors on frameless construction. Simple hardware and a long butcher block island. Tile that really draws your eye to the shelves. The white tile on the range wall sets the stage to admire the hood. Designed by Jean Thompson for DDK Kitchen Design Group. Photographs @michaelakaskel

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.

Walnut and Turquoise Allure

CraftedWild Cabinetry

Staging: Jaqueline with Tweaked Style Photography: Tony Diaz General Contracting: Big Brothers Development
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped kitchen pantry in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, green splashback, panelled appliances, no island and white benchtop.

San Elijo - Project

ProPacific Builders, Inc.

Mid-sized midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen Remodeling.

Mr. & Mrs. Construction & Remodeling

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Duluth Kitchen Remodel

Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Kenilworth Project - Mid Century Modern Whole House Remodel

Haven 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.

Palm Springs Project

Andrea Van Soest- Vantage Design Studio

Design ideas for a midcentury galley kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and white benchtop.

20th Century Denver

Watson & Co

Design ideas for a midcentury galley kitchen in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen

Alli Rader Creative

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury eat-in kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

All Cabinet Styles Midcentury 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!