Top Tips for a Fabulous Open Plan Kitchen

Many customers come to us wanting an open plan kitchen in their home but worry that they don’t have enough space, especially when they look at all the beautiful pictures in glossy magazines, which are often much larger than the average home.

With so many advantages to having an open-plan kitchen such as the ability to socialise easily with family and friends while cooking and being able to keep an eye on children whilst they do homework, it is a great solution for a many homes.

Happily, our experienced designers can create a living kitchen in many different rooms, whatever the size or shape.

We would begin by discussing your needs, how the space is to be used, where people will eat, where guests will sit while you cook and what kind of cooking zone is required.

Furniture or flooring can be used to create different zones, a kitchen island or a breakfast bar can visually divide a space as well provide useful storage, work surface and a place to meet and chat.

Selecting the same floor throughout different zones can bring the room together and there are many modern options that look great and are hard wearing enough for the kitchen. Ceramic or porcelain tiles that look like wood for example, are warm and welcoming, easy to clean and very robust.

It is essential to consider how to deal with the clutter and the mess that a kitchen creates when you want to relax and entertain in the same space. A utility room obviously helps where space is available but there are plenty of hidden storage solutions and some new hide and slide furniture that can also work well.

Noise and extraction are two big factors to be considered. The cooker hood, for example, needs to be both powerful enough to quickly eliminate odours, but also ideally quiet. If the dishwasher and the washing machine are in the living kitchen it is worth investing in appliances which have a low decibel (dB) rating. Fully integrated appliances concealed behind matching cabinet doors provide a streamlined effect.

The room can be made lighter and made to appear larger by extended into the garden if it is possible to position the living kitchen at the rear of the house. Adding patio doors and an outside seating area that is easily accessible, makes the most of garden views and can be used for entertaining on sunny days.

When it comes to colours, choose light colours, gloss finishes, pale woods and mirrors to reflect light.

If you are dreaming of an open plan kitchen for your home, why not call in and speak with one of our experienced designers, we look forward to seeing you soon.