An open plan kitchen is a perfect environment for eating, socialising and entertainment at the same time. It becomes a place where most of your time is spent, whether you are relaxing, cooking, entertaining or spending time with family. The beauty of an open plan kitchen is that it can be a huge space saver, smaller kitchens can be opened up to make use of and maximise all of the available space. Creating open plan kitchens can be done by knocking down walls to combine living areas. It is ideal for small houses, flats and those who like to communicate with family and friends in the space of the same room.
Here at Handmade Kitchen Co Essex, we can help you plan and design your perfect open plan kitchen. We will work closely with you to determine your needs, requirements, style preferences and storage options to help you create your ideal kitchen which is practical, stylish and comfortable.
Things to consider when designing an open plan kitchen
Divisions
Open plan kitchens work best when rooms are partially separated into different divisions. The use of partitions, breakfast bars, kitchen islands and counters can all act as a barrier between your kitchen and living room/dining room area. Divisions create two different zones with all benefits of open plan, combining live-in rooms for a light and airy space.
Storage and Space-Saving
When creating space between a kitchen and living room, walls may be removed which is a worry regarding storage; one less wall doesn’t have to mean less storage. There are several options to optimise storage; breakfast bars with cabinets and kitchen islands with under counter storage and built in power sockets are a great solution. A breakfast bar or kitchen island will also act as a great dining area for family and friends to gather round and eat. There are also options to save space by removing radiators on the walls and installing under floor heating
Minimalistic Approach
Keeping your kitchen tidy and minimal will help to avoid any distracting clutter. Too many decorations and appliances will make your open plan kitchen look jumbled and disarranged. The use of handleless cabinets and doors help you to minimise clutter and make your kitchen appear more bright and spacious. There are also clever options to hide your appliances, food and waste bins.
Style Combinations
When designing your open plan kitchen, it is important that you consider the styles of the living room and kitchen. Two different styles may clash and look awful, for example, a sleek stainless steel kitchen won’t work very well with a shabby chic living room. It is important that your styles work together rather than work against each other. This applies to flooring, walls and furniture choices. Two different styles blended into an open plan setting will look tacky and mismatch, therefore you need to experiment or research styles that work.
Lights and Ventilation
Choosing the correct lights for an open plan kitchen is important. You don’t want lights that will overpower the living room or clash. A good option for open plan kitchens is under-counter lights and over-counter task lighting. These are not only visually appealing but they are also great space savers. Appropriate mood lighting is also a great feature as it allows you to convert the atmosphere from cooking into winding down in a relaxing space.
Ventilation is a must have for open plan kitchens, you don’t want excessive smoke and cooking smells entering the living room and seeping into furnishings. Extractor fans are a must to keep doors and smoke controlled and in one place.
Open plan living should be comfortable, practical, fun and suited to your lifestyle. Therefore, consider what you want and need to include in your kitchen and think carefully about space and how it will function. With an open plan kitchen, you have the ability to use your imagination and throw the rule book away. You can create the perfect cooking, entertainment and living environment for you and your family.
Here at Handmade Kitchen Co Essex, we can help you design and build your perfect open plan kitchen with clever storage solutions, space saving options, lighting, flooring, furniture, cabinets, doors, seating, appliances etc. From start to completion we will work with you to help you create space that is practical and stylish so you can have a clever open plan kitchen design that suits you.
If you would like any more information about open plan kitchens then please do not hesitate to contact us here at Handmade Kitchen Co Essex. We also have a fully functioning showroom where you can come and view some of our beautiful open plan designs for inspiration and ideas. We look forward to hearing from you.
