The idea of mixing something from the midcentury with something modern sounds absurd to most ears. But as the current kitchen design trends, dominated by cool colors, silver-tipped light bulbs, and colorful kitchen tiles, have shown us, this is very much doable.
What is a Midcentury Modern European Kitchen
So, what is midcentury modern European kitchen design? This is a kitchen design pattern that emphasizes wide-open spaces, clean lines, splashes of wood and color or graphic patterns, and, in some instances, the integration of nature into the kitchen.
In its pure form, the midcentury modern European kitchen design employs the honest use of materials. This means that decorations and embellishments are kept to a bare minimum. This design also birthed the open floor plan kitchen.
So, how can you tinker with it? The possible designs of the midcentury modern European kitchen are not written in stone. Rather than staying true to the original, traditional European kitchen architecture, there are many avenues through which you can add personality to your design.
Even better, midcentury modern kitchen design ideas work well whether you’re building from scratch or remodeling your kitchen.
How? That’s what you’ll find out in this piece. So, read on.
1. Go with Metal Cabinets
Metal cabinets were the first cabinets to be used in the midcentury modern design kitchen. This happened thanks to the steel demand surge after World War II. Demand for these cabinets faded towards the 60s when wood cabinets finally made a powerful entry into the market.
However, some manufacturers still produce authentic, retro versions of metal cabinets for mid-century modern design purists. Alternatively, you can hunt for vintage originals, which you can later recoat and repaint.
2. Try the Galley
Some historians argue that the galley was among the first midcentury modern European kitchen designs. These kitchens were not truly open-plan, but the construction was done so that the galleys provided a sense of connection between the kitchen and the rest of the interior space.
The galley style is also considered one of the most efficient kitchen designs. The long space and counters along each side provide ample space and a nice flow from the kitchen to other spaces.
Despite not being the current trend, the galley can still look spectacular. You can experiment with open-floor-plan kitchen options such as wood and marble or neat patterns on the backsplash tiles.
3. Extend the Curves to the Furniture
Extend the Curves to the Furniture
One of the key features of midcentury modern kitchen designs is smooth flowing lines and curves. These are prevalent in cabinets, colors, and even accessories used in the kitchen.
What about the furniture? If you want to nail this design, you should extend these curves to the furniture, too. You can shop for new furniture or order new ones made to follow a line or curve pattern in your kitchen. This will allow the furniture to blend in with the rest of the place, creating a homogenous design feel.
So, where should you put these lines or curves? For instance, the arms, legs, and back of chairs are perfect areas. However, you should be careful not to overdo things. Minimalism is a key aspect of this design.
4. Mix Wood and Marble
The authentic use of natural materials is at the heart of midcentury modern kitchen designs. If you want an edgy-looking kitchen, a mix of wood and marble is the way to go.
For instance, you can use a Walnut veneer with a lacquer gloss finish on the kitchen cabinets, drawers, and other storage areas. The Walnut gives the space a natural feel, while the gloss adds a modern touch to the entire design.
On the other hand, you can have the countertops made out of marble. Carrara marble can be great for the island.
Then, assuming you have an L-shaped orientation, the perimeter can have Absolute Black Granite for the countertops. Make sure the marbles are also honed to blend aesthetically with the glossy Walnut veneer.
5. Try Flooring with Natural Stones
Try Flooring with Natural Stones
In its purest form, the midcentury modern European kitchen design featured natural stones for the flooring. This set the tone for the entire kitchen space and thus the midcentury modern design architecture of minimalism and authentic use of natural materials.
Ideally, your flooring choice should be slate, terrazzo, bluestone, or travertine. These are among the original stones used for flooring these kitchens. And yes, they can be quite expensive.
So, what other options can you explore? Cork and wood. These are still considered natural materials that can provide an authentic, midcentury, modern look to your kitchen. Plus, they’re more affordable compared to their stone counterparts.
If you decide to use cork or wood, the key thing to note is that the grain should be subtle, and the tone should be medium.
6. Get Back to Flat Front Cabinets
Get Back to Flat Front Cabinets
Before the midcentury modern European kitchen design lost popularity a few years back, flat-front cabinets were the in-thing. Then, most interior designers swung away in favor of decorated cabinets with trim panels as the design lost its fame.
But now, the flock is coming back. Flat front cabinets are, according to midcentury modern kitchen design purists, the only style of cabinets that can work well with a midcentury modern kitchen design.
Otherwise known as slab-door cabinets, flat-front cabinets look sleeker, are cheaper to produce, and blend perfectly with the design theme of the mid-century modern kitchen—natural, simplistic, and minimalistic.
You can even try some trending kitchen cabinet colors, including white, gray, blue, two-toned cabinets, and wood-stained cabinets, which are the more natural-looking options.
Aren’t laminates tacky and ugly?
Well, that was the perception. With improvements in manufacturing processes, laminates are back bigger, better, and more stylish. Plus, they’re the material you should be going for in case you have little love for stones or you find granite and marble too expensive.
Laminates come in various colors that blend nicely with a midcentury modern European kitchen design. These include current, trendy kitchen colors such as sea green, black, and mixed wood tones. Plus, thanks to better manufacturing processes today, laminates are more durable than they initially were.
The design variations have also improved, with some companies offering laminates that mimic certain natural materials or stones for a more authentic look. And for the ones that don’t, the colors are still perfect enough to blend nicely with wood and tiles.
8. Try Glass Tiles for the Backsplash
The kitchen backsplash also plays a huge role in creating the overall tone of the kitchen. And for a midcentury modern European kitchen design, glass tiles can be the perfect choice for a natural stone-themed kitchen.
Glass tiles can be used for the backsplash, and white quartz countertops can be used. A wood-plank ceramic tile can be incorporated into the floor to break the white monotony. This floor is highly recommended if you have a pet.
Given how white the kitchen can get with this design, you need a slight dash of color on the kitchen equipment to tone things down a bit. For instance, you can have an orange stove and simple wallpaper in the bar area to add color to the glass tile backsplash.
Plus, since the midcentury modern design is based on the idea of bringing nature into your kitchen space, you can add a green potted plant right next to the kitchen island as a final touch.
