Midcentury Modern Blue Wave Tile Backsplash

Serving up underwater vibes, this blue wave tile backsplash playfully anchors this midcentury modern kitchen. Sample more blue tiles at fireclaytile.com/samples TILE SHOWN Wave Tile in Slate Blue DESIGN Diane Gordon Design PHOTOS Elisabeth Gordon

Mid mod beauty

LEVEL UP Design LLC

Large midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Jacksonville with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops and with island.

Waynesville Kitchen, Ceiling Bump-up, Bath Remodel

HomeSource Builders

A 1961 home with an under-eight-foot living room ceiling needed some freshening. We slanted the ceiling to match the roof pitch, and added a wall of bookshelves in the dining room. We gutted the kitchen and started over—complete with heated porcelain tile floor. A tiny bathroom had previously included a shower, which we replaced with a full-size vanity that features a striking vessel sink. Relighting the living room required new wiring. Our project manager suggested carrying the existing theme of arched door openings into several of the remodeling details.

Torch Modern Chic

Petoskey Kitchen and Bath - Designs By Dawn

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, quartz benchtops and brown floor.

E Ave Project

Bungalow 56

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island and beige floor.

Sausage Tree Cottage at The Kampong Botanical Garden Miami

Interiors by Maite Granda

Our firm worked closely with the Junior League of Miami to raise funds for the women and children who benefit from the Junior League’s programming and scholarships. A group of designers participated in the project of renovating the main house as well as the cottages. We felt in love with the Sausage Tree Cottage Kitchen and instead of demolishing the old kitchen we wanted to preserve the actual beauty and bring the old space back to it is glamour. The St Charles cabinets were of great inspiration for us. We strongly believe in history preservation. Rolando Diaz Photography

Custom Metal Accents

Temac Development Inc.

Metal sliding glass shades over floating kitchen shelves, built by Temac Development Inc, for more information check out Temac.com.
Small midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Worthington, OH Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

NJW Construction

What this Mid-century modern home originally lacked in kitchen appeal it made up for in overall style and unique architectural home appeal. That appeal which reflects back to the turn of the century modernism movement was the driving force for this sleek yet simplistic kitchen design and remodel. Stainless steel aplliances, cabinetry hardware, counter tops and sink/faucet fixtures; removed wall and added peninsula with casual seating; custom cabinetry - horizontal oriented grain with quarter sawn red oak veneer - flat slab - full overlay doors; full height kitchen cabinets; glass tile - installed countertop to ceiling; floating wood shelving; Karli Moore Photography

Moss Hill House

place architecture:design

Clean lines and a refined material palette transformed the Moss Hill House master bath into an open, light-filled space appropriate to its 1960 modern character. Underlying the design is a thoughtful intent to maximize opportunities within the long narrow footprint. Minimizing project cost and disruption, fixture locations were generally maintained. All interior walls and existing soaking tub were removed, making room for a large walk-in shower. Large planes of glass provide definition and maintain desired openness, allowing daylight from clerestory windows to fill the space. Light-toned finishes and large format tiles throughout offer an uncluttered vision. Polished marble “circles” provide textural contrast and small-scale detail, while an oak veneered vanity adds additional warmth. In-floor radiant heat, reclaimed veneer, dimming controls, and ample daylighting are important sustainable features. This renovation converted a well-worn room into one with a modern functionality and a visual timelessness that will take it into the future. Photographed by: place, inc

Geometric tiles

Tile Space New Zealand

"Whether it's diamonds, hexagons or printed surfaces, geometric tiles offer a textural look, adding interest to the space, a twist on the more traditional rectangles and squares." says Siobhan McDermond, Design Consultant at Heritage Tiles Parnell. "For a subtle look, use the same colour grout as the tiles, or use a contrasting or coloured grout to make the tile really pop."

Oxford Street

Koch Architects

Douglas Fir wood paneling on walls and upper cabinets, lower cabinets are stainless steel. Globe pendant lights from Cedar & Moss, Douglas fir wood ceiling with skylight, clerestory windows and oak wood floors, in mid-century-modern home renovation in Berkeley, California - Photo by Bruce Damonte.

Upper Alki Kitchen Remodel

Kirk Riley Design

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Remodel in Seattle featuring mirrored backsplash with Cherry cabinets and Marmoleum flooring. Jeff Beck Photography
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, mirror splashback, an undermount sink, with island, solid surface benchtops, linoleum floors and red floor.

Eichler Kitchen Renovation

Cathie Hong Interiors

We had a tight timeline to turn a dark, outdated kitchen into a modern, family-friendly space that could function as the hub of the home. We enlarged the footprint of the kitchen by changing the orientation and adding an island for better circulation. We swapped out old tile flooring for durable luxury vinyl tiles, dark wood panels for fresh drywall, outdated cabinets with modern Semihandmade ones, and added brand new appliances. We made it modern and warm by adding matte tiles from Heath, new light fixtures, and an open shelf of beautiful ceramics in cool neutrals.

Encino Mid-Century Modern Kitchen

LA Dwelling Inc

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances and white benchtop.

Step 180 cabinet step stool

Studio 76 Kitchens and Baths

We installed 3 integrated Step 180 cabinet step stools (by Hideaway Solutions) throughout the kitchen to reach the highest heights of the upper cabinets.

Blue Midcentury Escher Kitchen

Fireclay Tile

Photo: Jennifer Siu-Rivera // Design: The Inside Story Design
Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with medium wood cabinets, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

House // TW

M Gooden Design

Design ideas for a small midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

Meyer Remodel

Laura Juarez Baggett Studio, PLLC

Charles Davis Smith, AIA
Mid-sized midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Studio - Paris 5

Cécile Humbert - Design d'intérieur

Cuisine noire avec plan de travail en bois massif et étagères. Ouverte sur le salon avec délimitation au sol par du carrelage imitation carreaux de ciment.

Woodland Hills House

Bunch Design

Kitchen, bathroom and partial renovation of a residence. Design intent was to create a design complimentary to the existing mid century house while introducing hints and love of Japanese lifestyle. Photographed by: Bo Sundius

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!