Small Kitchen Renovation: Wind Back the Clock with a Mid Century Modern Kitchen

Tile flooring in materials like slate, blue stone, or terrazzo was common in the typical Mid Century Modern kitchen. Tearing out your current flooring and replacing it with concrete is a great option for a present-day take on this retro design. Concrete is becoming increasingly popular and for good reason: it’s extremely durable, it lowers your energy costs by providing excellent insulation, and it’s easy to care for. Stain your concrete floor in a natural shade and it will be a beautiful and long-lasting foundation for your new/old kitchen.

If concrete isn’t for you, Amy and Anna suggest opting for wood-look ceramic tile. Whatever you choose, stay away from vinyl. “Vinyl has no place in today’s Mid Century Modern kitchen—and, in our opinion, in no kitchen at all.”

Forget about our era’s obsession with granite. Tear out your current countertops and replace them with Quartz or concrete to make the best marriage between retro design and modern sensibilities. If you want to go further down the retro path, choose a Corian countertop in a solid color. But remember, achieving the look of a Mid Century Modern kitchen isn’t just about what material you use. You also want to incorporate the era’s simplicity by opting for thin countertops (you’ll need to specify this with your supplier) with square edges.

When it comes to your backsplash, shiny is the enemy of a Mid Century Modern kitchen. Instead, texture is the key to adding interest to the era’s clean lines. Remove your glass tile backsplash and replace it with a stone backsplash to add a unique and on-trend touch to your kitchen that still works beautifully with the retro style you’re aiming for. If stone isn’t your cup of tea, opt for a backsplash made with matte-finished tiles in an accent color(s).

The Mid Century Modern kitchen’s obsession with minimalism and clean lines is especially true of cabinetry. If your current cabinetry has panels, molding, trim, or other kinds of embellishment, it’s time to replace them (or at least replace the doors) with unpanelled cabinetry sporting simple, sleek hardware, like pull bars in place of knobs. And forget about our current love affair with white cabinetry. For a real retro feel, you want a natural wood look. If wood just isn’t your thing, you could opt for a color, using your cabinetry as an accent piece that adds flair to the room.

To really achieve the feel of a Mid Century Modern Kitchen, your furnishings should be minimal but distinctive. Choose a table with a thin top, square or gently rounded edges, and thin, unembellished legs, preferably tapered. Chairs should be equally simple and unembellished, with thin legs and seats in a solid color. With a small kitchen renovation, this has the bonus effect of taking up much less space than modern-style furnishings.

In the Mid Century Modern kitchen, lighting fixtures either receded into the background or went to the opposite extreme, serving almost as art pieces that added personality to the room. If you prefer simple lighting, Amy and Anna suggest track lighting, can lighting, or pendant lighting. If you want to go for something more eye-catching, make sure you choose wisely: “Chandeliers will work, but it needs to be a Mid Century style chandelier: wood or metal and glass, not glass prisms.”