Midcentury Modern Remodel. Three spaces into one for this Kitchen

Where do we even start. We renovated just about this whole home. So much so that we decided to split the video into two parts so you can see each area in a bit more detail. Starting with the Kitchen and living areas, because let’s face it, that is the heart of the home. Taking three very separated spaces, removing, and opening the existing dividing walls, then adding back in the supports for them, created a unified living space that flows so openly it is hard to imagine it any other way. Walking in the front door there was a small entry from the formal living room to the family room, with a protruding wall, we removed the peninsula wall, and widened he entry so you can see right into the family room as soon as you stem into the home. On the far left of that same wall we opened up a large space so that you can access each room easily without walking around an ominous divider. Both openings lead to what once was a small closed off kitchen. Removing the peninsula wall off the kitchen space, and closing off a doorway in the far end of the kitchen allowed for one expansive, beautiful space. Now entertaining the whole family is a very welcoming time for all. The island is an entirely new design for all of us. We designed an L shaped island that offered seating to place the dining table next to. This is such a creative way to offer an island and a formal dinette space for the family. Stacked with drawers and cabinets for storage abound. Both the cabinets and drawers lining the kitchen walls, and inside the island are all shaker style. A simple design with a lot of impact on the space. Doubling up on the drawer pulls when needed gives the area an old world feel inside a now modern space. White painted cabinets and drawers on the outer walls, and espresso stained ones in the island create a dramatic distinction for the accent island. Topping them all with a honed granite in Fantasy Brown, bringing all of the colors and style together. If you are not familiar with honed granite, it has a softer, more matte finish, rather than the glossy finish of polished granite. Yet another way of creating an old world charm to this space. Inside the cabinets we were able to provide so many wonderful storage options. Lower and upper Super Susan’s in the corner cabinets, slide outs in the pantry, a spice roll out next to the cooktop, and a utensil roll out on the other side of the cook top. Accessibility and functionality all in one kitchen. An added bonus was the area we created for upper and lower roll outs next to the oven. A place to neatly store all of the taller bottles and such for your cooking needs. A wonderful, yet small addition to the kitchen. A double, unequal bowl sink in grey with a finish complimenting the honed granite, and color to match the boisterous backsplash. Using the simple colors in the space allowed for a beautiful backsplash full of pattern and intrigue. A true eye catcher in this beautiful home. Moving from the kitchen to the formal living room, and throughout the home, we used a beautiful waterproof laminate that offers the look and feel of real wood, but the functionality of a newer, more durable material. In the formal living room was a fireplace box in place. It blended into the space, but we wanted to create more of the wow factor you have come to expect from us. Building out the shroud around it so that we could wrap the tile around gave a once flat wall, the three dimensional look of a large slab of marble. Now the fireplace, instead of the small, insignificant accent on a large, room blocking wall, sits high and proud in the center of the whole home.

Scarboro Residence

Uniik Design

This mid century kitchen features light tones of blue that compliment the walnut and brass accents. Floating shelves offer a little space for decor and some accent books for cooking.

Lillian Dr.

Corvallis Custom Kitchens & Baths

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Streng Home

Design Shop Interiors

black cabinets, wood range hood, open shelving, wood shelves, oranges, white backsplash, white tile, greenery, plants, shelf styling, vintage rug, white barn lights, barn lights, cutting boards

Mid Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Rothman+Rothman Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, orange cabinets, solid surface benchtops, with island, a double-bowl sink, stainless steel appliances and light hardwood floors.

Inwood Place

Cuppett Kilpatrick Architecture + Interior Design

White Oak cabinets and floor. Island counter top is Pietra Cardoso Schist. White counter top is Caesarstone, color Fresh Concrete. Island paint color is Sherwin Williams, Iron Ore. White wall and cabinet color is Benjamin Moore, Cloud Cover. Photo by Whit Preston

Scout Island

Alterstudio

Photography by Whit Preston Photography and Paul Finkel of Piston Design
Inspiration for a midcentury kitchen in Austin with stainless steel appliances, quartz benchtops, a double-bowl sink and flat-panel cabinets.

Chelsea Anigre

ReFind Kitchens

Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Midcentury Kitchen Renovation

Art of Construction

Design ideas for a large midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Retro Style Kitchen Remodel

Saratoga Kitchens and Baths

Design ideas for a small midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, ceramic splashback and brown floor.

Décoration style 50's pour un appartement 3 pièces

Alexandre Cochet - Architecture d'Intérieur

la cuisine participe au coté rétro de l'appartement avec des meubles peint en vert et noir ainsi qu'un damier noir et blanc
Photo of a small midcentury galley separate kitchen in Paris with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors and no island.

Lake Forest Park Renovation

FINNE Architects

The Lake Forest Park Renovation is a top-to-bottom renovation of a 50's Northwest Contemporary house located 25 miles north of Seattle. Photo: Benjamin Benschneider

Midcentury Modern Transformation

Fresh Space Design LLC

The goal of this remodel was to create a highly functional kitchen that meshed seamlessly with the Clients' 1950's era home. Our design marries refinished oak hardwood flooring, sleek walnut veneer cabinets, quartz countertops, tile backsplash, modern globe lighting and oversized brushed nickel hardware. Recycled stools add just the right note of whimsy.

A Haberdasher's Hideaway In Skåne, Sweden by deVOL

deVOL Kitchens

Inspiration for a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, pink splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, multiple islands, white floor, pink benchtop and wood.

Braeburn Mid Century Modern, Houston, TX

Victoria Sheffield

Midcentury modern kitchen with white kitchen cabinets, solid surface countertops, and tile backsplash. Open shelving is used throughout. The wet bar design includes teal grasscloth. The floors are the original 1950's Saltillo tile. A flush mount vent hood has been used to not obstruct the view.

Kitchen-Great Room Remodel

HomeSource Builders

This ranch-style home needed updating. The load bearing wall that had separated the kitchen from the living room was removed to make way for a larger kitchen with a breakfast bar island and new lighting, and bring in the view out the back windows. New, floor-to-ceiling dining room cabinets with a wet bar were added to cover one wall.

Retro Style Kitchen Remodel

Saratoga Kitchens and Baths

Inspiration for a small midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, coloured appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, ceramic splashback and brown floor.

SKYCROFT KITCHEN

Kate Roos Design LLC

By better utilizing the available wall space, the homeowners were able to gain double wall ovens and a breakfast bar.
Photo of a small midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Ewald Terrace Home Addition

FBC Remodel

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

West Hills Modern

The Works

Lincoln Barbour
Photo of a midcentury kitchen in Portland with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and grey benchtop.

Midcentury Kitchen with a Double-bowl Sink 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!