Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW As with most projects, it all started with the kitchen layout. The home owners came to us wanting to upgrade their kitchen and overall aesthetic in their suburban home, with a combination of fresh paint, updated finishes, and improved flow for more ease when doing everyday activities. A monochromatic, earth-toned palette left the kitchen feeling uninspired. It lacked the brightness they wanted from their space. An eat-in table underutilized the available square footage. The butler’s pantry was out of the way and hard to access, and the dining room felt detached from the kitchen. Lead Designer, Stephanie Cole, saw an improved layout for the spaces that were no longer working for this family. By eliminating an existing wall between the kitchen and dining room, and relocating the bar area to the dining room, we opened up the kitchen, providing all the space we needed to create a dreamy and functional layout. A new perimeter configuration promoted circulation while also making space for a large and functional island loaded with seating – a must for any family. Because an island that isn’t big enough for everyone (and a few more) is a recipe for disaster. The light white cabinetry is fresh and contrasts with the deeper tones in the wood flooring, creating a modern aesthetic that is elevated, yet approachable for everyday living. With better flow as the overarching goal, we made some structural changes too. To remove a bottleneck in the entryway, we angled one of the dining room walls to create more natural separation between rooms and facilitate ease of movement throughout the large space. At The Kitchen Studio, we believe a well-designed kitchen uses every square inch to the fullest. By starting from scratch, it was possible to rethink the entire kitchen layout and design the space according to how it is used, because the kitchen shouldn’t make it harder to feed the family. A new location for the existing range, flanked by a new column refrigerator and freezer on each side, worked to anchor the space. The very large and very spacious island (a dream island if we do say so ourselves) now houses the primary sink and provides ample space for food prep and family gathering. The new kitchen table and coordinating banquette seating provide a cozy nook for quick breakfasts before school or work, and evening homework sessions. Elegant gold details catch the natural light, elevating the aesthetic. The dining room was transformed into one of this client’s favorite spaces and we couldn’t agree more. We saw an opportunity to give the dining room a more distinguished identity by closing off the entrance from the foyer. The relocated wet bar enhances the sophisticated vibe of this gathering space, complete with beautiful antique mirror tiles and open shelving encased by moody built-in cabinets. Updated furnishings add warmth. A rich walnut table is paired with custom chairs in a muted coral fabric. The large, transitional chandelier grounds the room, pairing beautifully with the gold finishes prevalent in the faucet and cabinet hardware. Linen-inspired wallpaper and cream-toned window treatments add to the glamorous feel of this entertainment space. There is no way around it. The laundry room was cramped. The large washer and dryer blocked access to the sink and left little room for the space to serve its other essential function – as a mudroom. Because we reworked the kitchen layout to create more space overall, we could rethink the mudroom too – an essential for any busy family. The first step was moving the washer and dryer to an existing area on the second floor, where most of the family’s laundry lives (no one wants to carry laundry up and down the stairs if they don’t have to anyway). This is a more functional solution and opened up the space for all the mudroom necessities – including the existing kitchen refrigerator, loads of built-in cubbies, and a bench. It’s hard to not fall in love with every detail of a new space, especially when it serves your day-to-day life. But that doesn’t mean the clients didn’t have their favorite features they use on the daily. This remodel was focused largely on function with a new kitchen layout. And it’s the functional features that have the biggest impact. The large island provides much needed workspace in the kitchen and is a spot where everyone gathers together – it grounds the space and the family. And the custom counter stools are the icing on the cake. The nearby mudroom has everything their previous space was lacking – ample storage, space for everyone’s essentials, and the beloved cement floor tiles that are both durable and artistic.

Kitchen farm sinks, double kitchen islands, pendant lighting, and wood flooring.
Photo of an expansive midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with raised-panel cabinets, multiple islands, multi-coloured benchtop, a farmhouse sink, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed.

Inspiration for a large midcentury eat-in kitchen in Seattle with quartz benchtops, brick splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and vaulted.

A renovation transformation of a New Zealand bach home on the Leigh coast. The new kitchen has mid-century elements designed in a modern and contemporary way. A sculptural curved stone island is the hero but in no way dominates from the beautiful sea views of this home.

Eichler in Marinwood - The primary organizational element of the interior is the kitchen. Embedded within the simple post and beam structure, the kitchen was conceived as a programmatic block from which we would carve in order to contribute to both sense of function and organization. photo: scott hargis

Large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island, orange floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

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.

Custom walnut cabinets and gorgeous handmade tiles from Red Rock Tileworks gives this updated kitchen the authentic midcentury feel the owner was looking for.

Plenty of natural light in this Mid-century Modern beauty!
Design ideas for a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Calgary with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, blue floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

A modern contemporary kitchen remodel with mid-century modern influences. The eye catching exposed beams are complemented by a large island with panels capping the quartz counter top, which is a common mid-century design feature. The custom glass tile backsplash makes a statement, as do the pops of cobalt blue and the contemporary glass pendant lights.

Looking back at the open kitchen and dining room. Large windows look out over the backyard.
Design ideas for an expansive midcentury kitchen in Portland with quartz benchtops, white benchtop and wood.

The kitchen sits at the center of the house with access directly to outside dining and the the family room. The island bench features a solid marble slab and organically shaped timber cabinetwork. Timber ceilings conceal acoustic insulation.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Inspiration for a midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

This is an example of a midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, terrazzo benchtops, white splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and wood.

Design ideas for a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and wood.