Entertaining in an open plan kitchen affords you the opportunity to still join in the fun whilst preparing dinner for yourself and your guests- allowing you to show off your culinary skills in style! However, an open plan arrangement also means that your kitchen is always on show, even if just to you and your family. With this in mind the space must be beautifully designed and diligently crafted, as every detail will be under your continuous scrutiny. It is often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home and never is this truer than in an open plan kitchen. LWK Kitchens have designed and installed many open plan kitchens, some featuring islands, some in galley kitchens, and others to accommodate a U-shaped layout. Whether for a large area or more compact space, if an open plan kitchen is a design you are seriously considering, then a chat with one of our designers will be well worth your time.
Islands And Peninsulas In Open Plan Kitchens
Open plan designs often (but not always) incorporate islands or peninsulas. These features can be designed to generate a new seating area within your kitchen, although their presence also creates a physical limit to the remaining space available. It is worthwhile considering whether or not you require storage on the side of the island that faces into your living space; if you do, this can afford you somewhere to store items not needed in the kitchen - but be mindful that this can also increase the depth of the island. If you intend to have seating here then careful thought must be given to the work surface height as the standard worktop height is too high to sit on a chair at, and too low for a stool. The work surface height can of course be varied, but managing the difference in height between this and the rest of your kitchen is key to ensuring this type of design doesn't feel disjointed. LWK Kitchens are familiar with all of these considerations and experienced in pre-empting/overcoming any potential obstacles. Our expert designers will always be on hand to guide you through the design process and ensure you achieve your desired outcome.
Continuity between spaces in open plan kitchens
Firstly, it's worth stating that continuity between spaces isn't something you have to achieve- some clients specifically want to accentuate the contrast between the spaces. However, it is fair to say that most people do wish to achieve a feeling of continuity between their lounge and their open plan kitchen/ kitchen diner and Contemporary Kitchens have devised several different solutions for implementing and accomplishing this. Firstly, a very subtle approach would be through the continuation of wall coverings and flooring between spaces, or through the continuous run of shelving units. At Contemporary Kitchens we also offer a range of 'comfortable living' furniture which has been especially designed for storage and display outside of the kitchen, but which matches the kitchen furniture. This can take the form of side boards, or now more commonly Audio/ Visual display units for mounting flat screen televisions, concealing cables and 'black boxes' etc. These can be designed, supplied and installed at the same time as your kitchen.
Important considerations for open plan kitchens
Cooking:
The opening up/development of a kitchen space can enable cooking odours to travel further and condensation created from boiling pots and pans can sometimes form on larger areas of glass. Of course, if you are aware of these risks then you can install a higher-powered extractor, or if necessary secondary extraction.
Storage:
As your kitchen is permanently on show, it is probably going to be important to you for your kitchen to have a place for everything and everything within its place! We have a wide range of storage solutions that easily enable you to keep what you do not need out-of-sight, yet still within easy reach.
Lighting:
It is well worth giving careful thought to the type and control of the lighting in open plan kitchen spaces. You may well want good task lighting in the kitchen for when preparing food, but perhaps gentler atmospheric lighting for when you are sitting down to eat. Similarly you probably would not want all of your lighting for the kitchen space wired into one switch, and Contemporary Kitchens can design and supply a wide range of lighting solutions and zonal lighting.
Multi purpose spaces:
If you look at some of our recent installation photos you will see we have on a few occasions installed small desk areas in the kitchen to accommodate a laptop or computer. If you site an area like this in the kitchen, it does of course mean this space is not used elsewhere. Ensure you are aware of just what is possible and you may find a solution you had not previously considered!
