This is an example of a midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Wales House

Flavin Architects

Flavin Architects was chosen for the renovation due to their expertise with Mid-Century-Modern and specifically Henry Hoover renovations. Respect for the integrity of the original home while accommodating a modern family’s needs is key. Practical updates like roof insulation, new roofing, and radiant floor heat were combined with sleek finishes and modern conveniences. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Hawthorne Hills Residence

Tammara Stroud Design

In 1949, one of mid-century modern’s most famous NW architects, Paul Hayden Kirk, built this early “glass house” in Hawthorne Hills. Rather than flattening the rolling hills of the Northwest to accommodate his structures, Kirk sought to make the least impact possible on the building site by making use of it natural landscape. When we started this project, our goal was to pay attention to the original architecture--as well as designing the home around the client’s eclectic art collection and African artifacts. The home was completely gutted, since most of the home is glass, hardly any exterior walls remained. We kept the basic footprint of the home the same—opening the space between the kitchen and living room. The horizontal grain matched walnut cabinets creates a natural continuous movement. The sleek lines of the Fleetwood windows surrounding the home allow for the landscape and interior to seamlessly intertwine. In our effort to preserve as much of the design as possible, the original fireplace remains in the home and we made sure to work with the natural lines originally designed by Kirk.

Old to New

Russell & Company Construction

Midcentury kitchen in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

The Potters: Open Plan Oak Veneer & White/Pink Laminate Plywood Kitchen

Wood & Wire

Wood & Wire - Oak veneer and white laminate, handleless plywood kitchen. Aqua and Pink highlights.
Large midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Manchester with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and white benchtop.

Westchester Residence

JWT Associates

The previous kitchen was the result of an 80's remodel, complete with dropped ceiling. We opened up the space and re-configured the entire kitchen to include a large island. The cabinetry is all custom. Double oven and range from Miele. SubZero fridge. The backsplash tile is from Heath Ceramics in LA. The Velux skylights are operable and have solar-powered shades.

Los Altos Home

Quinn Morgan Design

Design ideas for a midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Mid-Century Modern White Galley Kitchen

Jennifer Gustafson Interior Design

• Full Eichler Galley Kitchen Remodel • Updated finishes in a warm palette of white + gray • A home office was incorporated to provide additional functionality to the space. • Decorative Accessory Styling • General Contractor: CKM Construction • Custom Casework: Benicia Cabinets • Backsplash Tile: Artistic Tile • Countertop: Caesarstone • Induction Cooktop: GE Profile • Exhaust Hood: Zephyr • Wall Oven: Kitchenaid • Flush mount hardware pulls - Hafele • Leather + steel side chair - Frag • Engineered Wood Floor - Cos Nano Tech • Floor runner - Bolon • Vintage globe pendant light fixtures - provided by the owner

B House by Skiles Architect, PA in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Skiles Architect, PA

Photo of a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, green splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and brown floor.

kitchen 126

Savvy Kitchens

Large midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, with island and grey floor.

Mid Century With A Twist

Community Builders, LLC

Opened up the tiny closed off kitchen to the living space. Added new large window in the kitchen, new hardwood flooring, lighting, cabinets (Bellmont), quartz counter tops, new exterior door, paint and appliances. Added new floor, lighting and cabinets in the laundry room.

Deertrack Lane

Jeff Jordan Architects LLC

Gregory Maka
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Beacon Hill Mid-Century

Ore Studios

Lauren Colton
Inspiration for a small midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Arden Park Mid-Century Streng

Nar Design Group

This mid-century modern kitchen was developed with the original architectural elements of its mid-century shell at the heart of its design. Throughout the space, the kitchen’s repetition of alternating dark walnut and light wood uses in the cabinetry and framework reflect the contrast of the dark wooden beams running along the white ceiling. The playful use of two tones intentionally develops unified work zones using all modern day elements and conveniences. For instance, the 5’ galley workstation stands apart with grain-matched walnut cabinetry and stone wrap detail for a furniture-like feeling. The mid-century architecture continued to be an emphasis through design details such as a flush venting system within a drywall structure that conscientiously disappears into the ceiling affording the existing post-and-beams structures and clerestory windows to stand in the forefront. Along with celebrating the characteristic of the mid-century home the clients wanted to bring the outdoors in. We chose to emphasis the view even more by incorporating a large window centered over the galley kitchen sink. The final result produced a translucent wall that provokes a dialog between the outdoor elements and the natural color tones and materials used throughout the kitchen. While the natural light and views are visible because of the spacious windows, the contemporary kitchens clean geometric lines emphasize the newly introduced natural materials and further integrate the outdoors within the space. The clients desired to have a designated area for hot drinks such as coffee and tea. To create a station that could house all the small appliances & accessories and was easily accessible we incorporated two aluminum tambours together with integrated power lift doors. One tambour acting as the hot drink station and the other acting as an appliance garage. Overall, this minimalistic kitchen is nothing short of functionality and mid-century character. Photo Credit: Fred Donham of PhotographerLink

Bedford Place

Prideaux Design

Matt Vacca
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island and grey floor.

Nordlund Kitchen--After

Distinctive Kitchens

What had been an outdated and dark space with old appliances, is now a bright, stylish and textural open-floor plan kitchen and dining space. Before the gut remodel, the spaces lacked the cool Midcentury style the homeowners craved. Distinctive Kitchens was brought in to help choose finishes--tile backsplash and floors, sink, faucet, lighting, countertops and cabinet hardware. The goal was to bring the style and flare of the Midcentury Modern aesthetic back to the home using a neutral palette and lots of texture. The adjacent dining room was also part of the design, because the rooms have such a strong relationship to each other. We consulted on furniture and lighting in that room, making sure the two light fixtures (one over the sink, the other over the dining table) didn't compete for attention. We feel the end result is fresh, clean, and texturally beautiful. Kitchen and dining room staging by Allison Scheff of Distinctive Kitchens. Photos by Wynne H Earle

Sliding glass doors and clerestory windows combine to bring the outside in

MI Windows and Doors

A mid-century modern open floor plan is accentuated by the natural light coming from MI Windows and Doors windows and sliding glass doors. Windows serve as the backsplash of this sleek kitchen.

Mid-century Modern Kitchen Remodel

Core Home Solutions, Inc.

Mid-century modern kitchen design featuring: - Kraftmaid Vantage cabinets (Barnet Golden Lager) with quartersawn maple slab fronts and tab cabinet pulls - Island Stone Wave glass backsplash tile - White quartz countertops - Thermador range and dishwasher - Cedar & Moss mid-century brass light fixtures - Concealed undercabinet plug mold receptacles - Undercabinet LED lighting - Faux-wood porcelain tile for island paneling

Mid Century Modern I Bellevue, Washington

Syltebo Wight Homes & Jon Syltebo Painting Company

Large midcentury kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, medium wood cabinets and brown floor.

Contractor's Own House: Butler's House

On The Level Remodeling Company

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Boise with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Midcentury Kitchen with Flat-panel Cabinets 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!