For help with your space as a whole, the design pros here are going to want a floor plan drawn to scale, with accurate measurements in Imperial (not metric) units.

Most furniture and many décor items that are marketed as mid-century modern are really only mid-mod-influenced retro stuff. Some is reproduction (of varying quality). IMO, you'll get the best quality if what you purchase is either genuine vintage, or licensed from original designs.

Some books from my collection:

Some of my favorite resources (links):

Atomic Ranch

Alvar Aalto

Bjørn Wiinblad Denmark

Charles and Ray Eames

Charley Harper Art Studio

Eames House

Eero Saarinen

Hans J. Wegner - Carl Hansen & Søn

House of Finn Juhl

Raymond Loewy

Wirkkala

For an invaluable guide to (mostly) American mid-century design that was not part of the modern movement ("mid-century modest") see https://retrorenovation.com. This blog is no longer updated, and sadly is now plastered with ads, but the information it contains is still solid gold.

If your budget allows, I’d continue the oak flooring into the kitchen. The reevaluate. New light fixtures would be great too.

I think MCM is my fave so you are moving in thta direction with the kitchen cabiets , the dresser made to be an island is a miss IMO . MCM o me says siplicity no wall clutter or shelving filled with things that do not need display . So for me the "gallery" wall is too much and those skinny shelves loaded with stuff are not simplicity .I would remove the shelving keep the cabinets and hang a pice of art above each cabinet since I do not think the TV can be moved anywhere else that I can see. Overstuffed furniture not really a good idea and those pics you posted show the style to look for . The colors you like work well in MCM design I would not paint the cabinets but I would do the wood floors into the kitchen. I think the bluegray is not really working with what you describe as your new style . I don't think this change will be horribly difficult to do. A new wall color some declutter and maybe a new sofa and 2 chairs as opposed to the sectional.

Hi Patricia, what wall colour do you think? All the same colour or an accent wall somewhere? I agree with the couch and the decluttering probably being the best bang for my buck. What kind of kitchen island do you think would work better? The kitchen is a huge wide space (like 15' of countertop across on the kitchen window wall) so without an island its just like a rec room.

I think get an island that matches the rest of the cabinets , any decent cabinet maker can handle thta . Your cabinets are a bit dated but I kind of like them. Wall color even though I am tired of the white for everyhing iit works for wall color in a MCM home . I am not big on accent walls but in MCM they happened I usually choose a wall with nothing in it like doors or windows and then hang art and a color from the art for the accent color . I choose that after all items are in place this is my 1956 MCM ranch that wall wanted to be purple and I fought it for the longest time and then did it and loved it and I do not even like purple. Sometimes a house just tells you what it wants, The rest of my walls were Vancouver Day from C2 a very pale gray almost white .Same wall no purple..Ignoere yellow cast on the pruple wll pic the sofas and chairs are white

I like your inspo pictures!

We have a midcentury vibe in our house. Many of the pieces are originals that my husband found over the years (Herman Miller chairs, walnut credenza, MCM lights, etc.) You can find reproductions of many of those things. Or if you enjoy going to estate sales and flea markets you might get lucky and find some things (my husband has been going to estate sales for ages, and has a higher tolerance than I do for musty spaces.) He has occassionally found things online and even at thrift shops. He has a good eye!

I had a very traditional dining room set in my old house, which we realized would not go with his MCM items. In case it helps... for new items we ended up getting the Tate dining room table and chairs from Crate and Barrel (link), a linear console for our front entry from Room & Board (link) and a Jasper couch from R&B (link.) These go well with our original pieces and have the clean lines we like.

Have fun!

That ceiling fan above the diningroom table has to go. Not only because it’s in no way MCM. When the fan is on, the blades blow the dust and grime that collects on them, into the air. Ceiling fans have no place in a kitchen where food prep and cooking occurs, or above a table where food is being eaten.

If you are planning to make small changes over time then I would really plan this put. Start with very simple but impactful changes like new dining furniture, a new sofa etc. I wouldn’t change the cabinets colour unless you are planning on redoing the whole kitchen

I found a picture if it helps at all. On the left side, the chairs, table, wooden decor thingy, light fixture are all original / vintage, found by my DH over the years at various estate sales, auctions, and vintage shops. If you're patient you can find some great stuff!

The credenza is vintage. The clock was new and inexpensive but fits the vibe; the DR furniture is the Tate from Crate and Barrel. The DR light is new and chosen because 1. I like it and 2. it plays well with everything else. It's the Delaney from Capital Lighting. Rug is cheap but we're keeping it until the puppy has learned it's not a chew toy.

West Elm has some MCM-inspired items. We were underwhelmed with the furniture quality but found some cool planters there. You might like some of their lights, too.

A practical post-script: Be sure you and whoever lives with you, and/or is likely to visit often, can get into and out of at least some of your seating without pain. A lot of MCM furniture is quite low-slung. I can still use my Saarinen Womb Chair and Juhl Poet Sofa comfortably, but I have friends who can't.

Eames molded plastic chairs are (in my experience) easier on creaky hips and knees. I have some vintage side chairs and two armchairs. I use the side chairs at my dining table. They have fantastic back support and are the most comfortable dining chairs I've ever had. Both the armchairs and the side chairs work as extra living room seating for my guests who can't manage the lower seating, such as my nonagenarian parents! Fortunately, the original designs are still licensed, so you don't have to buy vintage to get real Eames chairs. (Beware of non-licensed reproductions that only look like Eames chairs.)

https://www.eamesoffice.com/product-category/furniture/eames-furniture-collections/molded-plastic-chairs/

If you are anywhere near a Design Within Reach showroom, you can test-drive a lot of genuine MCM furniture designs, as well as others. Brace yourself! DWR is expensive. Fortunately, just sitting on a sofa or chair at a showroom doesn't obligate you to buy from them. I did buy a couple of licensed items from them, as a special present to myself, but most of my furniture is vintage, sourced over time, plus a few pieces I grew up with, which my mother let me have after she downsized.

Good job to your DH those pieces are perfect .That kitchen table and the fan are probably best not in MCM

I think redecorating in steps is a good idea. Me I would get started now, no reason not to.

Move and rotate the sofa so that one side is under the window, leaving a few inches for the drapes to hang.

This would leave room to add two MCM side chairs that would be opposite the window. They don't have to be completely on the wood floor...float them so they fit nicely into the seating.

Add a coffee table.

I agree nothing on the cluttered shelves says MCM. I like books with a nice MCM bookend and coffee table books stacked. Then two or three bold MCM decor pieces.

I agree the gallery wall does not read MCM, try editing and hang them in a row at the same level or on one long narrow shelf. Or use one large piece of art instead.

Use your 70's colors in throws/throw pillows and art.

You also need a large area rug. It's nice you have a decor theme and color scheme...makes it easier to shop.

I like the kitchen.

REALITY CHECK!

MCM is not identical to "minimalist aesthetic." Many pix taken of the Eames House (Case Study House No. 8) show this clearly. Who cares if your items don't need to be displayed? What if you like them to be displayed? If you have items you like to see every day, liking MCM is not a reason not to display them any darned way you like.

https://archeyes.com/the-eames-house-a-deep-dive-into-case-study-house-8/ 

https://artincontext.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Eames-House-Living-Room.avif

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9yugcdqHhE&t=96s

https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/iconic-house-eames-ray-charles-eames-los-angeles/?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=organic

There certainly were MCM designers whose homes looked more minimalist, less maximalist. Finn Juhl's house is a good example—but even his house is shown with books stacked on a bench. Ultimately, your home is yours. You live in it. So it's okay if it looks lived-in, rather than staged.

From the nest article linked above: In 1962, Finn Juhl gave this quote to Danish newspaper Politiken …

"Have you ever noticed these fancy homes designed by architects? Everything is so pure and clean, they only dare use the colours white, black and grey. They don't even risk hanging art on the walls, and when they do it's some small abstract piece. It can't be necessary to reduce our surroundings to something so boring when we have so many exciting opportunities."

"If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." — William Morris

Thank you all for your ideas so far! Please keep them coming! And Amy-thank you for your input on MCM vs minimalist. I definitely intend to keep out the things we love. The more I look at what I "Pin", the more I realize I am a bit of a maximalist at heart. I love mixed patterns and unexpected decor but don't want to go full kitsch. (although I do have a shelf that holds only a wooden duck wearing rainboots with a sign that says "what the duck"..)

I want the house to feel inviting, like a family lives here. However, that being said I think I do have some things I could put away that would help make it easier to dust and make things more pleasing to the eye. I agree that I think I should split up the gallery wall. I'll disperse the pictures I really like throughout the house and find some larger 70's art pieces (or have my toddlers do something abstract in my colours!)

I cant wait to see my husbands face when he comes home and I've tried rearranging the couch! ;)

I'm glad I could help. I like a lot of the other ideas you've been given, too!

Funnily enough, my friends and family all think I'm a minimalist. I would hardly describe myself that way, but I'm not a maximalist, that's for sure. I think of myself as being in the "deacquisition" phase of my life.

I agree with Patricia that your kitchen cabinets already have a modern/mid-century vibe to them. Think of arranging your shelves with 1/3 books, 1/3 decor, and 1/3 blank space to make them feel less cluttered. Good luck with your project!

I used to be a complete maxilimalist with an addiction to found objects. Then my husband was tested positive for dust mite allergies. Dusting is my past time and as a result I have become a minimalist. I still have lots of ornate furnishings, vintage pieces, and some quirky stuff about my home, but man oh man, I've come to love a decluttered and dusting friendly look.

Summarizing from some excellent suggestions above:

--Easy, inexpensive steps:

Change light fixture over stairs to a Sputnik or glass globe style.

Replace pillows and throws with brighter '70's inspired colors.

--Big impact, higher cost step:

Paint all the gray walls white or off white.

I'm curious about art as a starting point. I did a google image search based on the artwork in your inspo pic with the green sofa. I couldn't find an exact match but here is a link to other art in a similar vein.

@Kendrah I get "Image not found" with your link...nothing. Try again.

Edited to show a picture of the couch turned the other way. I do agree we could use another chair here. And a lamp or something on the table. Ignore the kids junk :)

I like the sofa turned that way. You could add olive green and orange pillows. i would take down the busy gallery wall in the dining room and find large modern art with olive green and orange. i think your kitchen cabinets should stay as is.

Remove everything from the dining table for a clean look. i think your first purchase should be a new lighting fixture for over the table.