Photography by Treve Johnson Photography
Photo of a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, brown splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Makeover

Plush Design Interiors

A lovingly cared for mid-century home was very original, but not functional or with modern appliances. With a nod to the bones and heritage of the home, the new kitchen was designed with a retro feel. The pantry and fridge were relocated but the original footprint largely adhered too. The raked ceilings are original but the original kitchen was entirely removed. A servery window was added to easily access the al fresco area. The combination of black and wood grain cabinets with white countertops were designed for modern function, but copper door handles and smoke glass splashback add a retro feel.

Mid-Century Kitchen and Dining

White Crane Construction

This stunning mid-century whole house remodel focuses on integrating great new fixtures, finishes and materials, while preserving the integrity of the original architectural aesthetic. This atomic age gem has many original architectural features like a custom copper fireplace hood, 12' stacking wood doors, and original woodwork that mesh seamlessly with the new design elements. Included in the project are an owners' suite with new master bath, a new kitchen, and completely remodeled main and lower levels. Photos: Jill Greer

Wahroonga

QUANTUM BUILT

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown splashback, with island and green benchtop.

9th Ave

Gilmans Kitchens and Baths

Photography by Treve Johnson Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, brown splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Upper West Side Residence

Ann Baumgartner Design

Marco Ricca
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, a peninsula and brown floor.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen Makeover

Plush Design Interiors

Lala

Anthony W Design

Open concept interior, with brick wall accent
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, marble benchtops, brown splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Stunning Mid-Century Remodel

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

This stunning kitchen can credit its clean lines to flush cabinetry. The oven wall also houses the refrigerator, pantry spaces, and other storage areas. To open a drawer or cupboard, just press the door. And yes, that bar sink is exposed on two sides!

Buxton Kitchen

Cambria

Warm earth tones sing from the Cambria Buxton countertops to the wood cabinets and vent hood. This home provides a cozy feeling throughout with a variety of textures and tones to pull the eye in. Space by: Darcie Janzen Design

Gianna

Paul Gray Homes

Midcentury kitchen in Wichita with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, brown splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and white benchtop.

The Bold Concrete Countertop

All Star Concrete

Brown Concrete Countertop
Photo of a midcentury eat-in kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, brown splashback, glass tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and with island.

ALNOSTRUCT / ALNOSHAPE

European Living Kitchen and Bath

Mid-sized midcentury single-wall open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, cement tiles, with island and grey floor.

Retro, Mid Century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Habitar Design

A contemporary, Mid-Century Modern kitchen refresh with gorgeous high-gloss white and walnut wood cabinetry paired with bright, red accents. The flooring is a beautifully speckled Terrazzo tile. Open shelving against a reclaimed brick backsplash is brightened up with recessed lighting. Our designer, Mackenzie Cain, created this truly unique kitchen for these stylish homeowners.

Stunning Mid-Century Remodel

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

This modern yet cozy breakfast bar features multiple gorgeous design features: ribbon window, exterior corner sink, open shelving, glossy white cabinets and a wine refrigerator.

Kingston Street Extension

Ashworth Parkes Architects

Justin Paget
Small midcentury galley separate kitchen in Cambridgeshire with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Midcentury Modern Historic

Celeste Trudeau Design

Photo of a midcentury l-shaped kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, brown splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Hildy Lane

Mãkena Interiors

renovated original Midcentury Home designed by Palm Springs Architect Hugh Kaptur, AIA
Photo of a midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, brown splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Woodlawn Kitchen Remodel

Howells Architecture + Design

This kitchen renovation (in an old Portland home) was inspired by the owners' gutsy attitude and love of midcentury modern furniture. A bold, dark materials palette includes Oregon walnut custom cabinetry, handmade gunmetal-gray ceramic tile, and white quartzite countertops. Photos: Anna M Campbell; www.annamcampbell.com

Auf eleganter Linie - SieMatic im Harmonischen Kontrast.

Küchen Am Wall GmbH

Auf eleganter Linie - SieMatic im Harmonischen Kontrast. Moderne, minimalistische Küchenplanung mit wunderschönen Med-Century Gestaltungselementen und Design Interior. Dunkle, anthrazit farbige Fronten stehen im eleganten Kontrast zu einer Keramik Arbeitsplatte, welche dem ausdrucksstarken Pulpis Marmor nachempfunden ist.

Midcentury Kitchen with Brown Splashback 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!