We’ll admit it: The midcentury-modern decor craze has finally slowed down. Gone are the days when everyone and their mother had to have a retro living room inspired by the sets of Mad Men and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. But now that the mass interest in the 1950s and ’60s style has abated somewhat, we think it’s time to refocus on it. In fact, as fashion writer Harling Ross says in her newsletter Gumshoe, a trend is worth following if you like it when it’s no longer trendy.
Rather than setting out to recreate time capsules of the era, interior designers can reimagine the aesthetic for modern living and revive original midcentury architecture in the process, outfitting spaces with both the trademark clean lines and warm palettes of the time alongside more contemporary layouts.
No place in the home exhibits this new chapter of midcentury-modern style better than the kitchen, where the geometry, materials, and colors of the ’50s and ’60s meet the function of today. To show you what this beautiful juxtaposition looks like, we’ve rounded up 12 midcentury-modern kitchens we love, as well as design ideas and advice for achieving the look in your own home.
What makes a kitchen midcentury-modern?
A midcentury-modern kitchen is a cookspace that incorporates design elements of the ’50s and ’60s—like flat-front cabinetry, walnut millwork, terrazzo countertops, and geometric tile—while also featuring contemporary appliances and amenities. Often, a midcentury-modern kitchen is set within a recently renovated midcentury-modern home.
Is midcentury-modern a good style for a kitchen?
We think so, especially if the style is era-appropriate for the architecture of the home. A midcentury-modern kitchen will feel like it belongs in an abode built in the ’50s and ’60s, but for a home of another time period, a midcentury-modern kitchen could still work. As long as the colors and materials don’t contrast with the rest of the dwelling too drastically, mixing eras is encouraged as a way to add depth. Read on for 12 midcentury-modern kitchen ideas that invoke the classic aesthetic while remaining stylishly timeless.