When it’s time for your kitchen remodeling, going open plan might seem a wonderful idea. Is it? Or not? Well, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. It’s a matter of personal taste. It also has to do with your lifestyle, daily habits, family – or even the layout of the home.
You may hate the kitchen odors but still go for an open plan kitchen. Or you may not mind the odors but hate the idea of having people watching you as you cook. Or you might be in between – like the idea of going open plan and then not. Perhaps, you need some food for thought to evaluate the pros and cons in your case, to make your decision easier, to ensure your kitchen renovation is done to your maximum satisfaction.
The benefits of open plan kitchen designs
They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home. This is the place where the whole family gathers, and not just to eat. Now, with open plan kitchens, you simply invite more people to your company. Or the family can spread around the kitchen-dining-living room area and still be in immediate contact with each other. This is actually the main advantage of going open plan. The space becomes friendlier. You are not cut off the rest of the “world” when you are in the kitchen cooking. Your kitchen is right there, in the very heart of the living room.
Some other benefits? The home becomes much brighter, since walls are tumbled down. For the same reason, the space becomes a tad bigger – and surely, it gives the impression of being a lot larger than it really is. Instead of having two dining tables – one in the kitchen and one in the dining room, you now have only one and space for a kitchen island – hence, more work and storage space too. Plus, this is the ultimate way to make the home contemporary.
The benefits of closed kitchens
You can make a mess in your kitchen and don’t care at all; something that you won’t do with an open plan kitchen if you want the space to be neat. Even if you are a tidy person, it’s hard to keep the kitchen spotless at all times – even more, if you have children. With a closed kitchen, you are secluded but the noises coming from the appliances and dishes are isolated too. There’s no broccoli odor making your living room upholstery stinky.
How to make an open plan kitchen work
• Design
The living room, dining area, and kitchen design must be cohesive. Visually, there must be balance. So, you need to decide which style you like and stick to it, even if you bring in elements from other architectural worlds.
• Color
Cohesiveness applies to color as well. You don’t have to go strictly monochromatic, but there’ll be a better result with colors of the same family. Don’t forget that with open plan kitchens, more items (anything from furniture and kitchen cabinets to tiny objects) will be exposed, bringing color into your interior. So, it’s best to keep a neutral background with earthy tones and play with the colors of the accessories.
• Layout
When it comes to such projects, kitchen renovation contractors focus mainly on the layout. This is very important. You need to create zones, even if there are no walls. If not, there’ll be a small interior chaos. You certainly need a well-planned kitchen with the cooking area close to the fridge and stove, while the distances from the main countertop to the island and the fridge and all other storage spaces must be calculated down to the last detail.
Also, see where you will position the sofa in relation to the kitchen. You need to have immediate contact with your family or guests, but it would be smart to get a design that could hide the ugly. One thing that would help is the shape of the room. You can take advantage of an L shaped room to put the cluttered areas in the hidden space. Or you may raise one side of the kitchen island. Or just stop caring about such things. If you like open plan kitchens, you are friendly anyway.
• Stability
A major concern, when it comes to going open plan – one that kitchen remodeling companies truly give their utmost attention to, is stability. If you remove walls, you need to be sure that the stability – the structural integrity, of your home is not affected. You may need to add a column or I-beams. You may also need to get a permit. But if you have a kitchen remodeler by your side, you won’t worry about that either.
