Weather House is a bespoke home for a young, nature-loving family on a quintessentially compact Northcote block. Our clients Claire and Brent cherished the character of their century-old worker's cottage but required more considered space and flexibility in their home. Claire and Brent are camping enthusiasts, and in response their house is a love letter to the outdoors: a rich, durable environment infused with the grounded ambience of being in nature. From the street, the dark cladding of the sensitive rear extension echoes the existing cottage!s roofline, becoming a subtle shadow of the original house in both form and tone. As you move through the home, the double-height extension invites the climate and native landscaping inside at every turn. The light-bathed lounge, dining room and kitchen are anchored around, and seamlessly connected to, a versatile outdoor living area. A double-sided fireplace embedded into the house’s rear wall brings warmth and ambience to the lounge, and inspires a campfire atmosphere in the back yard. Championing tactility and durability, the material palette features polished concrete floors, blackbutt timber joinery and concrete brick walls. Peach and sage tones are employed as accents throughout the lower level, and amplified upstairs where sage forms the tonal base for the moody main bedroom. An adjacent private deck creates an additional tether to the outdoors, and houses planters and trellises that will decorate the home’s exterior with greenery. From the tactile and textured finishes of the interior to the surrounding Australian native garden that you just want to touch, the house encapsulates the feeling of being part of the outdoors; like Claire and Brent are camping at home. It is a tribute to Mother Nature, Weather House’s muse.

Architects Project

Mark Hardy

Inspiration for an expansive midcentury kitchen in Hampshire with concrete floors, grey floor and wood.

Thomasdale

Whack Work

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, yellow splashback, ceramic splashback, coloured appliances, concrete floors, no island, grey floor, white benchtop and wood.

Atomic Ranch MCM Main House

Breathe Design Studio

Our Austin studio decided to go bold with this project by ensuring that each space had a unique identity in the Mid-Century Modern style bathroom, butler's pantry, and mudroom. We covered the bathroom walls and flooring with stylish beige and yellow tile that was cleverly installed to look like two different patterns. The mint cabinet and pink vanity reflect the mid-century color palette. The stylish knobs and fittings add an extra splash of fun to the bathroom. The butler's pantry is located right behind the kitchen and serves multiple functions like storage, a study area, and a bar. We went with a moody blue color for the cabinets and included a raw wood open shelf to give depth and warmth to the space. We went with some gorgeous artistic tiles that create a bold, intriguing look in the space. In the mudroom, we used siding materials to create a shiplap effect to create warmth and texture – a homage to the classic Mid-Century Modern design. We used the same blue from the butler's pantry to create a cohesive effect. The large mint cabinets add a lighter touch to the space. --- Project designed by the Atomic Ranch featured modern designers at Breathe Design Studio. From their Austin design studio, they serve an eclectic and accomplished nationwide clientele including in Palm Springs, LA, and the San Francisco Bay Area. For more about Breathe Design Studio, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/ To learn more about this project, see here: https://www.breathedesignstudio.com/atomic-ranch

Portland Mid Century Modern Home

Michelle Rolens - Neil Kelly Design/Build

Open kitchen plan with 2 tier countertop/eating height. Waterfall edge from one cabinet height to eating height and again to floor. Elongated hex tile from Pratt & Larson tile. Caesarstone pure white quartz countertop.

OMBYGNING, VEKSØ SJ.

Nordpil-arkitekter

Midcentury galley kitchen in Aarhus with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, with island, beige floor, black benchtop and wood.

Silvertop

Jamie Bush & Co.

This is an example of a midcentury kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, brick splashback, brown benchtop and wood.

Pine Ridge MCM Addition and Whole House Remodel

Atlas Moran Construction

White Poggen Pohl cabinetry and Miele Appliances
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, wood, quartz benchtops and ceramic splashback.

Valles

MH Remodeling LLC

Photo of a small midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, brown floor, grey benchtop and wood.

Kitchen FINAL

Matterhorn Development Co.

Fully customized kitchen, deep blue backsplash tile, pot filler is a faucet, custom cabinets, oak wood for the framing of this beautiful kitchen.
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury single-wall kitchen pantry in Austin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Interior Remodel

Forward Design Build Remodel

The goal of this project was to create an updated, brighter, and larger kitchen for the whole family to enjoy. This new kitchen also needed to seamlessly integrate with the rest of the home both functionally and aesthetically. The laundry room also needed an aesthetic refresh. What sets this kitchen apart is the laminated plywood edging between walnut cabinetry and the door handle detail integrated within those boundaries.

West Seattle Mid-Century

Board & Vellum

Photos by Tina Witherspoon.
Large midcentury u-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island, black benchtop and wood.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

C&R Remodeling

This mid century modern home boasted irreplaceable features including original wood cabinets, wood ceiling, and a wall of floor to ceiling windows. C&R developed a design that incorporated the existing details with additional custom cabinets that matched perfectly. A new lighting plan, quartz counter tops, plumbing fixtures, tile backsplash and floors, and new appliances transformed this kitchen while retaining all the mid century flavor.

Cedar Island Residence

Scott Edwards Architecture

Midcentury kitchen in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and wood.

Midtown Midmod

Hammersmith Structures

Inspiration for a midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Denver with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and wood.

Mid-Century Modern Vancouver Special

PlaidFox Studio

This light and airy marble kitchen is a stark contrast to the small compartmentalized kitchen that existed before. With the long 19-foot kitchen island we worked with a finish carpenter to cover the cabinetry in wooden pieces to create a ribbed effect. The texture really elevates this modern, minimalist kitchen and makes it interesting. An appliance garage to the left of the ovens keeps all the clutter out of sight! Practical, calming, and great for entertaining!

Glen Ellen Residence

Knock Architecture and Design

Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and wood.

Hi-Hat House

Kimball Modern Design + Interiors

This is an example of a midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, terrazzo benchtops, white splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop and wood.

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.

West Coast Darling Kitchen + Powder Room

Kirk Riley Design

This classically designed mid-century modern home had a kitchen that had been updated in the1980’s and was ready for a makeover that would highlight its vintage charm. The backsplash is a combination of cement-look quartz for ease of maintenance and a Japanese mosaic tile. An expanded black aluminum window stacks open for more natural light as well as a way to engage with guests on the patio in warmer months. A polished concrete floor is a surprising neutral in this airy kitchen and transitions well to flooring in adjacent spaces.

Midcentury Kitchen with Wood 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!