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Nowadays, kitchens are all about having enough space to cook, eat, entertain, an gather together as family. For this reason, the average kitchen project has become much, much more than just upgrading old appliances and cupboards. An estimated twenty percent of homeowners have already taken down walls on the ground floor, and about thirty percent were reaping the benefits of an open plan kitchen and dining area. The selling point of the open plan kitchen is that it becomes an area where the chef can be a part of the action while entertaining, but also, on a more personal note, daily, so that the whole family can be together.
But an open plan kitchen doesn’t just appear overnight. There are certain things to consider before planning, like the layout of the area, the lighting, the flooring, and the colour scheme, to name just a few. That’s why we here at homify have created this Ideabook, so you can have a few tips when redesigning your kitchen.
Obviously, before you can have your open plan kitchen come to fruition, you have to plan it. You need to consider where the other rooms in your home start
and end
in order to properly utilize the open area and the functional role of the kitchen needs to be considered. Make note of the plumbing and electrical outlets in your space, as those are expensive to move. So keep them where they are, if you can, and work around them.
Think about where you could place the dining area, and if there’s a small corner anywhere in the area, perhaps a small breakfast nook would look nice there. You also need to think about the relationship between spaces in the kitchen area – as in every kitchen, the work triangle between the fridge, sink, and stove should be in the forefront.
Deciding on a colour scheme would be the next step in planning your open kitchen. When considering your colour scheme, think about your cabinetry and countertop styles and shades. In most kitchens, white is the “go to” option because of its versatility. White matches with any appliance, countertop, or cabinetry you can buy, plus it goes great with any interior design style, be it modern, country, minimalist, or eclectic – you name it, and white can pull it off.
Take this black and white style kitchen as a prime example. The dark interior matches perfectly with the white marble countertops, it brightens up the space, and it adds a luxurious element.
Although white is a great base, don’t be afraid to get some colour in there. Even small accent walls of colour or a mosaic tile backsplash is enough to make a statement and give the whole room a cohesive look.
The next thing we want to think about when planning an open kitchen is the lighting. Without proper lighting, your kitchen is just useless. If there isn’t enough light, you will not be able to see what you are doing, be it simply walking in and out of the space or actually cooking, and no one wants to have an accident in the kitchen due to inadequate lighting. So, if you have big windows or large glass patio doors to bring in the sunshine, use them! Natural light will brighten up your kitchen, making it feel airy and welcoming, and you’ll get the added benefit of your daily vitamin D. If you don’t have large windows, however, this gives you even more of an excuse to get creative with your lighting. Take this kitchen, for example. Long fluorescent lights that run along the ceiling and down the wall are stylistic, futuristic, and provide the kitchen with plenty of light. There are also spot light dimmers installed in the ceiling for mood lighting.
Now that you have the colour scheme and the light sources all figured out, it’s time to pick the right flooring. As with any home design element, flooring comes in countless varieties, each with their own pros and cons. For the open plan kitchen, it’s not only about picking flooring that will suit the kitchen, but you also need to think about how that floor with either fuse with that of the living and/or dining room, or how it will segue into it. For example, you could opt for tile flooring in the kitchen because of the ease of maintenance or it’s many colour and design choices, and this could also be the flooring you use in your dining room. But if you want to create more of a visual border between spaces, you could opt for tile flooring in the kitchen – perhaps a nice neutral colour – and then imploy hardwoods in the living and/or dining area.
Storage is the next important consideration for the open plan kitchen. Open plan kitchens are all about spaciousness, unity, and cleanliness. An unorganized, cluttered kitchen will only frustrate you come meal time and make your space feel smaller and more cramped. The best way to set up an open plan kitchen is to have a single wall dedicated to appliances and to install cabinets that reach the ceiling. This image shows us quite fantastic cabinetry with spice racks on the doors, large compartments in the center for non-perishables and the microwave, and even drawers for any knick knack or for your cutlery. Open shelving is another storage option. With this option, you won’t be bothered with opening cabinet after cabinet looking for what you need, as it will be staring you in the face! Open shelving also allows you more space to decorate with family photos, or you could add a plant or two.
As we just mentioned, open plan kitchens boast spaciousness, unity, and cleanliness, and in order to keep these three things in balance in your kitchen area, the only things you should be keeping in your kitchen are what’s important. That doesn’t mean you can’t decorate, but it does mean to decorate with caution. Keep it rather minimal so the combined space of your kitchen and dining room isn’t too busy. Or you may think that large potted plant on the ground is in the perfect spot in the dining room, but if it’s taking up too much space, it will hinder the floor plan, making it harder to access each area. The kitchen isn’t really a place where you want your stuff just lying around, either, as it hinders the kitchen’s functionality.
