A mid-century modern haven with a Mondrian-inspired kitchen

When they briefed us on the conversion of this five-bedroom, five-bathroom B&B into a midcentury-modern-inspired single-family home, our clients envisioned entertaining spaces immersed in nature and laid out around a bold and beautiful kitchen inspired by Piet Mondrian’s abstract geometric compositions. Stepping up the short flight of stairs leading to the new kitchen/lounge/dining open floor plan unveils dramatic views of the surrounding Cotswold hills and Tewkesbury Abbey. A new kitchen picture window to the front elevation and sets of large windows to the back and side elevations flood the “upside-down” home with constantly changing natural light and capture a treetop outlook in the front and garden views at the rear. In true mid-century modern fashion, the space is enclosed by slatted screens and lightly zoned through the arrangement of furniture and rugs, above which the eye can pass through unhindered. Extensive repairs to the roof structure have also been completed to prevent it from slowly collapsing on the house below.

Eichler No. 2

User

Midcentury u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white appliances, concrete floors, a peninsula, grey floor, white benchtop, timber and vaulted.

Baker Vintage Kitchen Remodel

TVL Creative Ltd.

Our wonderful Baker clients were ready to remodel the kitchen in their c.1900 home shortly after moving in. They were looking to undo the 90s remodel that existed, and make the kitchen feel like it belonged in their historic home. We were able to design a balance that incorporated the vintage charm of their home and the modern pops that really give the kitchen its personality. We started by removing the mirrored wall that had separated their kitchen from the breakfast area. This allowed us the opportunity to open up their space dramatically and create a cohesive design that brings the two rooms together. To further our goal of making their kitchen appear more open we removed the wall cabinets along their exterior wall and replaced them with open shelves. We then incorporated a pantry cabinet into their refrigerator wall to balance out their storage needs. This new layout also provided us with the space to include a peninsula with counter seating so that guests can keep the cook company. We struck a fun balance of materials starting with the black & white hexagon tile on the floor to give us a pop of pattern. We then layered on simple grey shaker cabinets and used a butcher block counter top to add warmth to their kitchen. We kept the backsplash clean by utilizing an elongated white subway tile, and painted the walls a rich blue to add a touch of sophistication to the space.

Mid Century Remodel

First Lamp

John Granen
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback and with island.

Mid Mod Kitchen Open Shelving

Latitude 39 Designs, LLC

Photo by Megan Bannon
Photo of a midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Summit Kitchen Reno

Dusted Blvd

Taryn Schumacher
Mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Indianapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Open Kitchen

GARC Design

Large midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Richmond with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Mid-Century Kitchen- Towson

Bearded Builders, Baltimore

This is an example of a large midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and recessed.

house-19

dwarf

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, porcelain splashback, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and black benchtop.

MidCentury Modern

Alpha Smart Builders, Inc.

This is an example of an expansive midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Parade of Homes 2016

User

This is an example of a midcentury eat-in kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

NW Hills Remodel

Christen Ales Interior Design

Merrick Ales
Photo of a midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Rosenwald House

Flavin Architects

This remodel of a mid century gem is located in the town of Lincoln, MA a hot bed of modernist homes inspired by Gropius’ own house built nearby in the 1940’s. By the time the house was built, modernism had evolved from the Gropius era, to incorporate the rural vibe of Lincoln with spectacular exposed wooden beams and deep overhangs. The design rejects the traditional New England house with its enclosing wall and inward posture. The low pitched roofs, open floor plan, and large windows openings connect the house to nature to make the most of its rural setting. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Olympic Manor

Tristan Gary Designs

Open concept kitchen with a large island, drink station, is open to the dining room and living room to take advantage of the incredible views. We installed automated shades and lighting controls throughout the home.

Mid Century Modern Sea Pearl House

Aria Stone Gallery

Needless to say, this kitchen is a cook’s dream. With an oversized peninsula, there is plenty of space to create tasteful confections. They added another element of interest to their design by mitering the edges of their countertop, creating the look of a thicker slab and adding a nice focal point to the space. Pulling the whole look together, they complemented the sea pearl quartzite countertop beautifully with the use of grey subway tile.

Mid Century Remodel

First Lamp

John Granen
Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback and with island.

Ashford Signature | Modin Rigid LVP Customer Space | Waterville, Ohio

Flooret

Deep tones of gently weathered grey and brown. A modern look that still respects the timelessness of natural wood.
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Other with a single-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Houston Heights Bungalow Artsy Mid-Century Modern remodel

Snaidero Houston

Contemporary Snaidero CODE kitchen with a mid century modern vibe. The light front cabinets (in Feather Grey melamine), combined with the chrome hardware and the light grey Caesarstone cemento countertops on both wall sides of the kitchen, are contrasted by darker grey island (Beton Oak melamine) and black Doomos Dekton countertop on the island. Museum wood flooring and the very modern style light fixture above the long island, complete the look. Stainless steel Mieel range and hood paneled appliances and open shelving to store dishes, other kitchenware and art are a perfect combination. White subway tile for backsplash and while museum grade wall painting.

Квартира в стиле 60-х с духом авангарда

Шалаева Анна

Юрий Гришко
This is an example of a midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Other with grey splashback, multi-coloured floor, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, coloured appliances and grey benchtop.

Mensinger kitchen

d KISER design.construct, inc.

Colin Conces
Design ideas for a small midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Omaha with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, black floor and white benchtop.

Midcentury Kitchen with Grey 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!