Mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Upper West Side Apartment, New York City

Victoria Klein

The kitchen was updated by cleaning the original 70's birch plywood cabinets and adding a few to get some good clean lines. We kept the existing tile floor but replaced the lights with these teal ceramic pendants which echo the teal used in other parts of the apartment. Glass shelves were integrated into the window to showcase some of the clients' art. The new countertop is compressed glass. An Anodized aluminum backsplash adds reflection to the narrow space

Los Gatos Treehouse

Cathie Hong Interiors

This 1960s home was in original condition and badly in need of some functional and cosmetic updates. We opened up the great room into an open concept space, converted the half bathroom downstairs into a full bath, and updated finishes all throughout with finishes that felt period-appropriate and reflective of the owner's Asian heritage.

Mid-Century Fusion kitchen remodel and living space addition in Monrovia

Metropolis Drafting and Construction Inc

A Modern home that wished for more warmth... An addition and reconstruction of approx. 750sq. area. That included new kitchen, office, family room and back patio cover area. The custom-made kitchen cabinets are semi-inset / semi-frameless combination. The door style was custom build with a minor bevel at the edge of each door. White oak was used for the frame, drawers and most of the cabinet doors with some doors paint white for accent effect. The island "legs" or water fall sides if you wish and the hood enclosure are Tambour wood paneling. These are 3/4" half round wood profile connected together for a continues pattern. These Tambour panels, the wicker pendant lights and the green live walls inject a bit of an Asian fusion into the design mix. The floors are polished concrete in a dark brown finish to inject additional warmth vs. the standard concrete gray most of us familiar with. A huge 16' multi sliding door by La Cantina was installed, this door is aluminum clad (wood finish on the interior of the door).

414 Fall Creek Drive

3rd Street Custom Homes

Design ideas for a midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Mid century modern Interior

USI Design & Remodeling

Mid century modern galley kitchen. Wall cabinets to the 8' ceilings. Stacked double oven with microwave above the ovens. Kitchen features-Horizontal oak flat-panel Oak cabinets and Oak hardwood floors. 36" Induction cooktop. Eat-in peninsula.

Kitchen

Alli Rader Creative

This is an example of a large midcentury eat-in kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Custom Home

Constructive Design Services

Custom cabinetry designed by Leslie Gross and made by Jeff Forsyth, Atlanta, Georgia. Custom vent hood by Classic Custom Metal Works and Designs, Tampa, Florida

Lincoln

Acorn Deck House Company

With a grand total of 1,247 square feet of living space, the Lincoln Deck House was designed to efficiently utilize every bit of its floor plan. This home features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two-car detached garage and boasts an impressive great room, whose soaring ceilings and walls of glass welcome the outside in to make the space feel one with nature.

Maison marseillaise

Hello Maison

Maison marseillaise des années 20. intérieur complètement repensé pour correspondre à la vie d'aujourd'hui mais en gardant l'âme de l'ancien. Mélange des tendances vintage et industrielle. Les carreaux de ciment et les tomettes ont été retirés, nettoyés et placés à des endroits plus judicieux pour le nouvel agencement. Cuisine ouverte avec cellier, ilot central, évier timbre office

Modern Maple Kitchen

La Costa Cabinets & Design

Beautiful striated granite countertops play off the warm tones of the maple clad kitchen. Slab door and drawer front paired with sleek glass subway tiles nod towards mid century modern influences. Glass light fixtures and gold finishes contrast the cool grey tones of the countertop. Desk space is crafted out of the end of the cabinet run for quick mail sorting.

Mid-Century Modern Panoramas

Jackson Design & Remodeling

Jackson Design and Remodeling
Midcentury kitchen in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and with island.

PBH Colip House

PBH Design

Large midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and a peninsula.

Appartement Chatenay

Régine Louiset - Reve'l Architecture

Design ideas for a midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, with island and white benchtop.

Midcentury Modern duplex renovation

Dani Zeghbib

REpixs.com
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, blue splashback, white appliances, linoleum floors, a peninsula and turquoise floor.

1950's Ranch House Kitchen Remodel

Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS - Atmoscaper Design

Photo by Robin Amorello CKD CAPS
Large midcentury u-shaped separate kitchen in Portland Maine with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, linoleum floors and no island.

Cardinal Coordinates

3 Lights Design

During our early designs, the owners expressed interest in adding solar panels. Being in a subdivision, the home was oriented at an odd angle and not one conducive for gathering the rays of the sun, Furthermore, tall trees to the south cast shade over the home for much of the day. Still, in drawing out the lines of an ideal orientation for solar electricity, the owners fell in love with the cardinal coordinates—north, south, east, and west—running through their home. So that’s what the 3 Lights Design team did, create a balance between the existing layout and the new elements reflecting cardinal coordinates. In this way, the new structure becomes like a sacred compass, orienting visitors to the 4 direction of the world. The bamboo flooring in this photo is running due north-south, while the beams above conform to the layout of the previous home. Thomas Kuoh Photography

Kitchens

Teague Hunziker Photography

©Teague Hunziker
Photo of a small midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, tile benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Mid Century Modern Arcata

Humboldt Countertops & Surfacing

Photo of a large midcentury kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, laminate floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Panoramic Eichler Kitchen

Marin Kitchen Works Inc.

Panoramic doors to open up the kitchen making an airy, free-flowing space.
Large midcentury galley kitchen pantry in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, brown floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Midcentury Kitchen with Light Wood 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!