built-in ovens and tall pantry cabinets maximize the space and cabinet storage.
Photo of a small midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and red benchtop.

Mid-Century Modern Transformation in Denver

KE Interiors, Inc.

Design ideas for a large midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Franklin (multi-room) Mid-Century Modern Makeover

Usable Space Interiors, LLC

Another angle.
Design ideas for a small midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

McDowell Mountain - Mid Century Modern

Kitchens by Good Guys

In this kitchen up in Desert Mountain, we provided all of the cabinetry, countertops and backsplash to create the Mid Century Modern style for our clients remodel. The transformation is substantial compared to the size and layout it was before, making it more linear and doubling in size. For the perimeter we have white skinny shaker cabinetry with pops of Hickory wood to add some warmth and a seamless countertop backsplash. The island features painted black cabinetry with the skinny shaker style for some contrast and is over 14' long with enough seating for 8 people. In the fireplace bar area, we have also the black cabinetry with a fun pop of color for the backsplash tile along with honed black granite countertops. The selection choices of painted cabinetry, wood tones, gold metals, concrete flooring and furniture selections carry the style throughout and brings in great texture, contrast and warmth.

Rio Del Mar Remodel - Kitchen

Urbana Design Studio

Black Marvin windows are set flush with the countertop to create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. The GE Cafe range is framed in by windows to make the space feel light and airy.

Mid-Century Modern

Woodways

This modern contemporary kitchen is inspired by Woodways' Italian parent company, Zordan. Utilizing light woodgrain laminate cabinetry with sleek slab style doors, this kitchen becomes the focal point of any home. A gray quartz is seen within the island, perimeter countertop, and as a sliding piece over the sink for hidden storage. The island includes a simple waterfall edge and exposed shelving areas as well as a built in freezer drawer to accommodate compact spaces. with simple waterfall edge. Purple accents bring color into the crisp and sleek kitchen. Lift door upper cabinets allow for full access of cabinet space.

Merry Mid-Century

Andersonville Kitchen & Bath

This kitchen designed by Andersonville Kitchen and Bath includes Dura Supreme Cabinetry with Uppers; Chroma slab door in painted Linen and stained bases in Butternut Camden slab for the kitchen. The bar area features Dura Supreme Chroma slab in Gale Force blue.

Mid Century Residence

KP Hudson Construction Inc.

Design ideas for a large midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, a peninsula, white floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Big Girl Kitchen

Sklar Studios

Details of the walnut and white custom cabinets cleanly repeat themselves throughout the home. One of the very challenging things about an open concept kitchen, is that you lose a lot of storage space. Thoughtful design that makes use of taller pantry style cabinets as well as incorporating storage to both sides of the island while not giving up the knee space for bar stools helps to solve this dilemma. And once again...we snuck the flooring transition detail between the porcelain hex tile and the cork flooring to bleed the line between where the kitchen starts and the family room begins. It certainly sparks a lot of conversation while gathering around the island.

Statford Kitchen

H. Miller Bros

STRATFORD KITCHEN A mid-century inspired kitchen, designed for a mid-century house. We love mid-century style, and so when we were approached to design this kitchen for a beautifully revived mid-century villa in Warwickshire, it was a dream commission. Simple, clean cabinetry was brought to life with the gorgeous iroko timber, and the cabinetry sat on a matt black plinth – a classic mid-century detail. A walk-in pantry, lined in single-depth shelving, was framed behind sliding doors glazed with traditional reeded glass. Refrigeration and storage was contained in a long run of tall cabinets, that finished in a mirror-backed bar with integral ice bucket But the show-stealer was a set of bespoke, handmade shelves that screened the kitchen from the hallway in this open plan home. Subtly detailed, like only real furniture-makers can, with traditional jointing and mid-century radiused edges.

North Oak

Studio Evloh LLC Interior Architecture & Design

black kitchen with sitting room and large island. stainless steel island with integrated sink, black appliances, bright light and plants.
Mid-sized midcentury eat-in kitchen in Raleigh with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, beige splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Mid Century/Transitional

Rebecca Ryan Design

Photo of a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Beverly Glenn

Designer Kitchens LA

Custom Home Renovation
Large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Magnolia Journal A frame

AHG Interiors

Design ideas for a small midcentury l-shaped kitchen in New York with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Mid-Century Modern House Renovation

GARC Design

This is an example of a large midcentury single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, concrete benchtops, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Robinson Woods

DiFabion Remodeling, Inc.

Photo of a large midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Charlotte with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, white appliances, terrazzo floors, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Minimalist Modern

Paschall Design and Clutch Modern

This is an example of a large midcentury eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

McDowell Mountain - Mid Century Modern

Kitchens by Good Guys

SF Kitchen Remodeling

Vivian Costa

Full Kitchen Remodeling in San Francisco - Presidio Heights. White Kitchen Cabinets Blue Base Cabinets Quartz Kitchen Countertop Matching Quartz Backsplash Built-in Washer and Dryer Built-in Miele Oven and Miele Microwave New Vinyl Flooring New Baseboards and Trimming Lighting Fixtures Installation

Mid Century/Transitional

Rebecca Ryan Design

Midcentury Kitchen with Engineered Quartz 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!