Designing the Open-Plan Kitchen of your Dreams

Designing the Open-Plan Kitchen of your Dreams

An open-plan kitchen is more than the sum of its parts; it can be part kitchen, part living space and the perfect part of the home for dining and entertaining.

But coming up with inspiration and practical open-plan ideas is not always easy.

Designing a space which integrates easily with other areas of the home and still excels at what you need it to do takes imagination, skill and more than a little planning.

This is especially the case in apartments and smaller homes, where sound control, cohesive decorating and clever zoning are all important factors.

Open-plan living is now a part of everyday life, with spaces that are versatile as well as inspiring.

But how can you blend the separate with the seamless?

Here are some of our favourite open-plan kitchen design ideas:

PLANNING FOR PEACE

Every kitchen needs appliances, but not all of them are quiet.

Washers, dryers, extractors and dishwashers can all cause considerable noise, and if you’re planning to use your open-plan kitchen in a multitude of ways, then that can pose serious problems.

Think now about low-noise appliances and the availability of small utility rooms to house noisier appliances out of sight (and earshot).

ISLAND LIVING

Freestanding kitchen islands represent a great way to break up a larger open-plan space or create a natural division between ‘zones’.

Think about positioning your island where it directs footfall away from the kitchen’s busier areas, such as preparation counters, hobs and ovens and more towards areas designed for relaxing.

They can be incredibly useful for storage too!

CONTRASTING FLOORS FOR DEFINED SPACE

Open plan means versatility, but remember, when it comes to flooring, that can mean a need for functionality in some places and aesthetics elsewhere. For many people, that can mean compromise, but it doesn’t have to…

Two different zones in an open plan space can be kept distinct by using two (or more) complementing flooring surfaces. Options could include combining easy-to-clean vinyl with rustic wood or contrasting ceramics.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUNCTIONALITY

Modern kitchens are used for more than cooking, a lot more in fact!

Think carefully about how you want to use your space, and future-proof your design too; by thinking about how you might use it in the future.

One of the key selling points of open-plan living is the ability to socialise and come together while cooking, working or eating. You might also want to keep an eye on children and homework.

Plan for these different aspects of your kitchen space and incorporate specific zones for dining, entertaining or just enjoying a mid-morning break!

THINK AND THINK AGAIN ABOUT YOUR LAYOUT

Don’t set anything in stone until you are sure about your open-plan layout.

Ask yourself: Do you see yourself cooking while your guests sit and chat? Would you like to eat in a cosy corner or by a window? Do you love to spend time preparing culinary wonders, or do you mostly grab and go?

Many short-stay eaters prefer breakfast bars. Some families head down the farmhouse-style dining table route. Others combine elements of both. Why not?

Remember, there are no strict rules for designing the open-plan kitchen of your dreams, but there is good advice to be had, and it can save you time, stress and money!

If you’d like to seek some of that advice, along with more than a little inspiration, get in touch with the Mihaus design team or drop by one of their showrooms. They’d love to help.

Are you excited, thrilled and more than a little intimidated by the prospect of designing your new-build kitchen? If you are, call Mihaus on 0845 982 5486

Mihaus are bathroom and kitchen design experts and will help you to choose the right solution for your needs. Alternatively, visit their showroom or contact Mihaus via their website.