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A few well-placed mixed metal accents will add just the right amount of Mid-Century flair to your kitchen. This doesn't mean your kitchen has to be boring - there are plenty of ways to add personality without going overboard. Not only does this give you a chance to show off a little extra creativity with some colorful dishes, but it also makes your kitchen feel a lot more spacious and open. Atomic Age design is all about embracing the futuristic, space-age aesthetic of the Mid-Century. If you really want to make a statement in your Mid-Century Modern kitchen, then consider using color blocking. The space instantly becomes more inviting and can be decorated with Mid-Century Modern kitchen accessories like retro barstools.
Pick a pop of color
Consider adding a statement backsplash with geometric or abstract patterns to create a visual impact. You can also experiment with patterned flooring or accent tiles to add a touch of retro flair to your kitchen. If you’re looking to add a nostalgic touch to your kitchen, consider investing in retro-style appliances. These appliances will not only be functional but also serve as eye-catching focal points, instantly transporting you back in time. The renovation of this midcentury home in Falmouth, Maine, incorporates a modern aesthetic while preserving the home's midcentury character, as well as making it more energy efficient. Now, the bright and spacious kitchen opens to the dining and living spaces.
Midcentury Modern Backsplash

And many midcentury modern interiors featured bold patterns and bright shades of red, orange, blue, and other colors depending on individual tastes. Mid-century kitchen design ideas aren’t afraid to embrace bold and vibrant accent colors. Inject pops of color into your kitchen with hues like mustard yellow, avocado green, or burnt orange. These vibrant shades instantly add energy and a playful retro touch to your space. Consider incorporating accent colors through accessories, small appliances, or even a statement wall.
Work in some walnut millwork
When a style spans that many decades, it's no surprise that you could find everything from red, pink, and teal to beige, brown, and black. If you're one who appreciates major saturation, try mixing in a pretty pink tone like this to play off the rest of your features. The MCM design aesthetic is modern in style and construction, aligned with the Modernist movement of the period.
Use Orange as an Accent Color

Clean lines, organic materials, bright colors, and wood paneling are all iconic elements of midcentury modern design. This interior design style became popular during the mid-20th century and has remained one of the most sought-after aesthetics in homes everywhere. Whether you're looking to remodel your kitchen or start with small updates, our collection of midcentury modern kitchen ideas has decorating and design inspiration to help you add retro style to your space. Crisp, clean lines dominate the aesthetic balanced by rounded furnishings and well-placed accents.
She made the standout feature sing by accenting it with tumbled marble flooring (another MCM staple), calacatta viola marble countertops, and mauve cabinets swathed in Farrow & Ball's Sulking Room Pink. It's commonly known that light colors make a space feel bigger, which is why ceilings are often painted white. Instead, try utilizing high gloss paint that reduces the flat, boxy feel overhead. You can also paint the lower half of your walls a dark color with a lighter one on top, which will help draw the eye upward. The original inset trim in the living room floor subtly defines this open space that was once a galley kitchen.
Designers love Ariana Grande's mid-century modern kitchen - Homes & Gardens
Designers love Ariana Grande's mid-century modern kitchen .
Posted: Wed, 19 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
While the term “mid century modern” was coined in 1984 by writer and art historian Cara Greenberg, the movement itself took place between the 1940s and the 1960s. If you’re lucky enough to score a home with true mid-century modern architecture in its DNA, chances are you’re living amongst a lot of quirky angles and graphic lines. Lean into the impactful nature of these elements to help give your kitchen design credibility. In this mid-century kitchen, the team at Chesmore Buck Architecture embraced angular windows and a sloped ceiling, pairing them with the clean lines of slab-front base cabinetry and a floating shelf.
In smaller kitchens, the galley or L-shaped layouts are common, maximizing space and efficiency. In larger homes, open-plan layouts are often seen, with the kitchen flowing seamlessly into the living or dining areas. This openness is a hallmark of mid-century modern design, fostering a sense of community and interaction within the home. Selecting a kitchen table and designing a backsplash provides an opportunity to inject personal style into the space. Whether opting for a vintage piece or a modern interpretation of mid-century design, these elements can significantly impact the kitchen’s overall feel. When selecting materials and cabinets for a mid-century kitchen, consider the balance between form and function.
Mid-Century Modern kitchens are known for their vibrant and playful color palettes. Embrace bold hues like sunny yellows, avocado greens, or vibrant oranges. These pops of color can be incorporated through cabinetry, countertops, backsplashes, or even accent pieces.
The cabinetry often features a combination of open shelving and closed units, offering both display space and hidden storage. Metallic design accents came to play in a big way with midcentury modern decor, and they're a great way to add the glamour of a bygone era to your kitchen. It's not often you'd see us advocating for a c0lor this bold in the kitchen, but this juicy hue is a midcentury classic. Shades of orange and rust were all the rage during MCM's heyday and used as a way to inject lively flair into furniture, decor, and even wallpaper. Take a hint from this kitchen designed by Patrick Sutton and coat the interior of otherwise classic wood cabinetry with a standout shade like Electric Orange by Benjamin Moore.
Many Mid-century houses utilized then-groundbreaking post and beam architectural design that eliminated bulky support walls in favor of walls seemingly made of glass. Function was as important as form in Mid-century designs, with an emphasis placed on targeting the needs of the average American family. People enjoy mid century modern kitchens for their clean aesthetics and pleasing lines, as well as for the unique design details that make them so very personal. It’s possible to work this design into any space new or old and create a look that suits the home’s surroundings. Whether this is accomplished with great lighting or a good view, the bright, open feel of a mid century modern kitchen is always appreciated. Transitional mid century modern kitchen designs are among the most popular, as they combine traditional elements with contemporary ones.