Open Kitchen Dining Room

Open plan kitchen ideas are all about space – space to cook, space to entertain and space for the whole family to gather, to chat and to just be. The average kitchen project has become so much more than just new look cabinetry and appliances.

The big appeal of open plan kitchen layouts is that the kitchen and cook can be part of the action when entertaining and, on a day to day basis, the whole family can be together.

In this time-pressed age, it's a real boon to be able to offer help with homework while preparing the evening meal, and to be able to keep one eye on children while managing other tasks – so you can see why it's one of the most popular kitchen ideas.

'People have become generally less formal, and so are more willing to share cooking, dining and relaxing areas,' says Tim Higham of Higham Furniture. 'When throwing a party or entertaining friends, it is seen as sociable to cook and entertain at the same time. Families also want to share the space so that they can multi-task while preparing food.'

And in summer, an open plan space really comes into its own. The majority of open plan kitchen ideas include large amounts of glass to let in the light and have easy access to garden, which vastly expands living and entertaining space.

Open plan kitchen ideas

1. Make a statement with an island

It's likely that an island is going to be the social hub of your kitchen when guests come over, so there's every reason to make it stand out.

A kitchen island idea that's cropping up more and more is making the feature contrast to the rest of the room, usually with color. Giving the island a twist to the rest of your color scheme will draw attention to it and make it a unique feature within your open plan space.

2. Let there be light

A minimalist white open plan kitchen idea with large windows and black chairs.

Most of us spend a lot of time in our kitchens – so, when we are eating with our family or hosting guests, it's important the space is as light and bright as possible.

It's a good idea to design your open plan kitchen to let in lots of natural light – it's also more economical, as you won't have to spend money lighting the space with electricity.

Crittall-style windows and doors are a popular choice at the moment, as their floor to ceiling style adds a real sense of drama. These full-height sliding doors also help to make the space look and feel even bigger, by making it seem like the room stretches out to the garden.

3. Incorporate original features

Open plan kitchen ideas in a tall beamed space with exposed brick wall, pale gray cabinetry and a kitchen island.

If you're blessed with original features, then be sure to include them in your open plan kitchen design.

Wooden beams, exposed bricks and original fireplaces are all incredible elements that will give the space its own unique feel, and offer a subtle nod to a house's history.

These old-school features look particularly great if you're opting for more traditional kitchen ideas within your open plan space - and sit nicely next to butler or Belfast sinks, ornate faucets and range ovens.

4. Take a vertical adventure

A white and gray open plan kitchen idea with double height ceiling.

Take your open plan kitchen to the next level, quite literally, by venturing up to another storey. This room features a tall, dramatic dining space that stretches up to the top of the house.

5. Go sky high

Open plan kitchen ideas in a room with white walls, skylights, a large wooden table and dark blue cabinetry.

A skylight is a simple open plan kitchen idea that can really make all the difference. Not only will it usher in more natural light, but it'll also make the room feel bigger and more spacious.

This kitchen features two skylights, one above the kitchen area and one in the dining space – which creates a spotlight effect over the key entertaining spots.

6. Add more seating with an L-shaped breakfast bar

An L-shaped breakfast bar in an open plan kitchen idea with rattan pendant lighting and rugs.

Perhaps you've considered L-shaped kitchen ideas, but have you thought about how it might work for an island?

Creating a breakfast bar in an L-shape offers more seating on either side and gives the kitchen its own zone within an open plan space, by semi-sectioning it off.

It also works well if you have bar features built into your kitchen, as you can play bartender and serve drinks to your seated guests.

The breakfast bar pictured also features a stylish kitchen island lighting idea in the form of incredible rattan lights.

7. Get the layout right first time

An example of open plan kitchen ideas with large windows, marble counters and dark blue cabinetry.

The rise of open plan kitchen ideas has had a huge impact on kitchen furniture design. What used to be a simple choice of base cupboards and wall units has exploded into hundreds of permutations.

Paradoxically, layout seems to have got simpler. The old stalwarts of galley kitchens, double galley, L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens were designed to get the maximum storage into the room and to cut down on the distance travelled to get from sink to fridge to hob – the work triangle.

These days we are used to seeing huge banks of storage, with a parallel island not only defining the zone of the kitchen but, essentially, creating a double galley and maintaining that triangle, as shown above.

8. Use furnishings to create balance

Neutral open plan kitchen ideas with a pop of red in the drapes and chairs.

The very nature of open plan kitchen furniture – kitchen cabinetry, table and chairs, and sofa – denotes the use of an area, but each area needs to feel comfortable, have it's own identity and be an integrated part of the whole. It can be a tricky balancing act to pull off.

Good kitchen lighting ideas, as seen here, will let you move the focus from zone to zone. Build up layers of light, including separate pendants in the living/dining area, and make it all fully dimmable so you can change the mood on demand.

Also – don't stint on soft furnishings and window treatments, matching drapes or blinds to an accent color in the kitchen or dining area.

9. Extend into a side return

A blue and white open plan kitchen idea with skylights over the side return.

One of the most popular kitchen extension ideas is the side return, which steals little-used alley space from the side of Victorian semi-detached and terraced housing.

These are rarely more than a few feet wide, but the resulting kitchen will be bright and airy. It's a great way to gain space in small kitchen layouts without encroaching on the garden, especially in cities where outdoor space is at a premium.

10. Make space for entertaining

Open plan kitchen ideas illustrated in a large room with exposed brick wall and built-in dining room seating around a large table.

This spacious kitchen is part of a larger living area that was made by extending and combining the ground floor rooms at the back of house.

A huge pivot door and windows offer views of the backyard, while light streams in through the skylight above. Don't get too matchy-matchy with the furniture in open plan kitchen ideas, but make sure the overall look is cohesive.

11. Create zones but also a sense of unity

Traditional open plan kitchen ideas with rustic stone flooring and a vintage range oven.

An open plan kitchen and living space depends on a combination of form and function. Before you plan your layout, think about exactly how you may use the space and how to define specific zones.

Clever use of lighting, kitchen color ideas, where you position your cooking appliances and introducing a central island are all factors that will help you distinguish cooking and dining zones in a social kitchen.

Complete the look with splashes of color, as they lead the eye around the room and make this space flow, creating a sense of unity.

A sleek open plan kitchen with marble island and midnight blue cabinetry.

Opt for an island that can function as a showpiece as well as a multi-functional space, with a breakfast bar, high-performance induction hob and integrated appliances. If there isn't room for an island, a peninsular will often create an area where people can gather round.

'Noise can also be an issue when family members are cooking and relaxing in the same room, so make sound-dampening choices such as wooden worktops and soft-close drawers, and choose appliances for their quiet operation. Ideally the washing machine should be in a separate utility space – with a door,' says Nick Clayton of Clayton Cabinets.

13. Pare back materials in small open plan kitchen ideas

Small open plan kitchen ideas illustrated in a pale gray scheme with herringbone wooden flooring and check drapes.

Not all open plan kitchens are huge, but even small spaces can shine. This compact open plan kitchen benefits from a neat layout with all mod cons close to hand.

Classic cabinetry painted in a dark shade is a sophisticated choice, especially when teamed with a beautiful wooden floor. The parquet running throughout gives this room the air of a Parisian apartment, and shows that small can indeed be beautiful.

If you're working with limited space, the right small kitchen ideas can help to turn a compact kitchen into a smart, organized area.

14. Create a pleasing backdrop for diners

Dark kitchen cabinetry with a large wooden dining table and chairs and an assortment of coordinating wooden chopping boards on display.

If you love to entertain, a kitchen-dining room is a practical solution, allowing you to be part of the action with your guests, not shut away in a cramped kitchen. Design your space accordingly.

Clever kitchen cabinet ideas can conceal most of the working elements of a kitchen, like the super-sleek units here that provide a smart and uncluttered backdrop to a modern rustic dining area.

15. Be influenced by your home's architecture

Gray open plan kitchen ideas example with a skylight and built in breakfast bar.

Modern warehouse spaces and loft apartments are ideal candidates for open plan kitchen ideas. Follow the lead of existing finishes, such as exposed-brick walls or vast utilitarian windows, choosing an oversized island in proportion to the space.

Blocky designs and work-like materials, such as stainless steel, can be softened with muted colors and touches of wood to create sensitive modern kitchens that can hold their own in the space and feel inviting.

16. Choose curves to improve circulation

A white open plan kitchen with wooden table, chairs and pendant light.

An important consideration in open plan kitchen ideas is flow.

Curves are great at subtly directing traffic, keeping children away from danger spots and stopping guests from getting under your feet. The curved end of this Shaker-style unit ensures there are no sharp corners to knock into.

Heating a large space can also be costly. The best solution is to install underfloor heating for all-round ambient warmth.

17. Provide a place for guests to perch

A large white open plan kitchen idea with breakfast bar and midnight blue cabinetry.

Think about where people will sit while you cook and where you would like to eat once the food is served.

'When considering short stay seating, such as breakfast bars, situate it away from the area where you will be working so that no one gets in the way, but close enough that conversation can flow easily,' says Stephanie Dedes, design and marketing manager of Charles Yorke.

Is an open plan kitchen a good idea?

An open plan kitchen is often considered a good idea, especially in a modern home.

One of the big surprises can be just how little space you need to add to gain enough useable room for a dining area in your existing kitchen – sometimes a mere matter of feet is all you need to fit a compact solution such as banquette or bench-style seating.

How do you make an open plan kitchen?

It is a lot easier than you think to make an open plan kitchen in your home.

An expensive extension is not the only option for gaining space. A first step should always be to see if there is more potential in the space you already have – for instance, a little-used dining room, part of a hallway, a garage. It's worth calling in the professionals at this early stage, as a trained eye will see solutions you simply won't, and will have the experience and know-how to get the very best from the space.

A hard-working space will need the right framework in place – again something that needs addressing at the start of the project and where a good designer can help.

'An interior designer is different from an interior decorator who chooses colors and cushions,' says designer John Osborn. 'A good designer should understand the technical aspects of drainage, electrics, water supply and waste, pipework, plumbing, cables and lighting circuits – all the structural elements required to realise the best design.

'An electrician will put sockets and switches wherever is easiest, not necessarily where they look most attractive, while an interior designer will create something that works functionally and aesthetically.' This is especially challenging in open plan kitchen ideas where a range of services are required.

Open plan kitchen ideas illustrated in a gray scheme with full length windows and herringbone wooden flooring.

Does an open plan kitchen add value?

In a nutshell, yes. One of the most popular home transformation projects to add value to a house is knocking through between an existing kitchen, dining and living room to create an open plan kitchen space.

Improving the spatial flow or maximising the views to the garden can add value if done right, but do take structural advice before you start. An architect or builder can offer suggestions for improving an open plan kitchen layout, or design useful kitchen storage ideas.

With so many owners reconfiguring space for the sole purpose of creating an open plan kitchen, many kitchen designers are very experienced at seeing the bigger picture and often have good contacts with local builders. 'Your kitchen designer may also know of an architect who has undertaken a similar project,' suggests says Katy Paul, designer at Richard Baker Furniture.

Does an open plan kitchen need planning permission?

While knocking down walls is relatively simple (rarely requiring planning permission but still needing building regulations), many extensions now qualify for permitted development, so there's no need for planning permission but there may be party wall issues.

Always check with your local planning office. Part of the big appeal of an extension lies in adding glass doors and skylights to flood the area with light, and these are subject to building regulations relating to thermal efficiency. Your glass supplier, builder or architect will be able to advise here.

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space.

Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

Open Kitchen Dining Room

Source: https://www.homesandgardens.com/spaces/decorating/open-plan-kitchen-ideas-208460

Open Kitchen Dining Room