Open Kitchen: Tips and Tricks for a Layout that Works

The kitchen opens to the living room is the trend of the moment! What layout, what plans for this type of room? Should you opt for a kitchen bar or an island? Another solution to open this room is the semi-open kitchen with a glass roof. Complete file to help you in the arrangement and decoration of this type of kitchen.

In the open kitchen (or living kitchen ), the partitions are completely or partially knocked down. This living room therefore becomes open to the rest of the habitat, most often the living room or the dining room. It is in this aspect that its strength lies in the face of closed kitchens. As the term suggests, the open kitchen abolishes separations with the rest of the house.  The open kitchen, overlooking the living room or the entrance, in addition to being friendly, is also a guarantee of rediscovered brightness. The absence of walls allows a diffusion of light which can completely change the appearance of your home. Sometimes equipped with a central island, the open kitchen makes it easy to optimize space. Because it is an integral part of the rest of the house, its layout must be perfectly thought out to avoid nuisance and make it a decorative asset. Need some inspiration? Here are the models and plans that will give you ideas for creating your open kitchen: 

Is an open kitchen for you? Advantages and disadvantages

A kitchen where the preparation of the meal and the continuation of a discussion would no longer be a dilemma, it is often a desire! However, should you really give up your good old cuisine?

Come on, let’s go, the open kitchen is made for you if:

• The preparation of meals is for you a moment of conviviality and exchange. The open kitchen has therefore been designed for you. The absence of partitions guarantees you long hours of debate spared by the dazzling arrival of this unbearable parasitic thought: “Mince, le roast!”. The promise of the open kitchen is that: everything within reach, everything within sight.
• You like the American show. For you, cooking is not just about meeting your basic needs. Cooking is an art you are good at and you want to bring this talent to the public. The open kitchen guarantees you “Oh!” and “Ah!” to each slice of expertly browned salmon on the baking sheet of your central island.
• Parent hen, you like to keep an eye on what your children are doing and also prefer a family dynamic during meal preparation.

On the other hand, forget about the open kitchen if:

• You consider that what happens in the kitchen should stay in the kitchen. For you, this is a sacred place where everything happens and nothing comes out. Apart from the meal, of course!
• Cooking smells scare you. The fumes of vegetable soup retained by the living room curtains: very little for you!
• You like the element of surprise. Your secret recipes should stay that way, and the idea of ​​sharing the tip of your must-have bouillabaisse with anyone makes you sweat cold.
• The open kitchen often overlooks the living room, but not only. The breakthrough it allows to other parts could annoy some.

You should also know that an open kitchen, American style, requires great attention to storage, cleanliness, good odor management with an efficient extractor hood … Where possible, invest in quality household appliances and which, above all, do not make noise! We must avoid at all costs transforming the living room into a kitchen! Say goodbye to the pan displays, the packets of noodles or the multifunction robot visible from the sofa. These are the mistakes most often made.

Even though the open kitchen is all the rage, it is not suitable for all configurations. To know if a partial or total opening is possible, it is better to seek advice from an architect. This professional will study the structure of the house and detect the load-bearing walls, before knocking down anything. And if the project is feasible, you still have to ask for the co-ownership agreement when necessary. At this stage, make sure that the architect is aware of your needs: installation of a central island, a bar and integrated appliances in the cupboards.

How to organize the plan of an open kitchen?

We must respect the functional triangle around which revolves the use of the kitchen: food preparation, cooking, washing. Leave enough space for good working comfort and store in a practical way. The crockery cupboard will be close to the washing and condiment area, next to the cooking zone. In short, you have to organize the kitchen to have on hand what you use most often and store what is only used occasionally. Avoid, for example, the multifunction robot which takes up all the space on the worktop when you only grate carrots once a month!

How to create an open kitchen with separation?

Do you want to visually delimit the kitchen space without partitioning it? The bar will be your ally to separate the kitchen from the living room. Whether it’s an L or I plan, or just a bar you add, you’ll get a smooth transition between the two spaces while providing a practical element. The bar can serve as an additional work surface or even a convivial dining area. Note that a central island can also serve as a visual separation.

The fully open kitchen does not totally convince you? Nothing prevents you from opting for an in-between with a separate kitchen but which remains open! The solution? A glass roof that separates the room while allowing light to pass through. It will reduce the noises emanating from the kitchen but also protect the living room from odors while guaranteeing the cook less insulation than with a partition. The glass roof is also a real decorative asset with many finishes available to suit your style: black, white, wood … It can close the entire kitchen with a glass door as well or a sliding door on one side. simply or even sit above a kitchen cabinet. Something to meet all your needs!

How to arrange a small open kitchen?

When the kitchen is small, opening it to the living room can be very practical! The kitchen will be less cramped and more pleasant. On the other hand, it will have to be all the more organized to prevent it from invading the rest of the room. Furniture with plenty of storage space (using the wall surface up to the ceiling for example), preferably closed, should be preferred. It will also be preferable to adopt an appliance integrated into the kitchen to gain space and functionality. Do you need a dining area? Adopt a bar that will serve as both a space separation, a work plan and a table for meals. Ditch the kitchen island which requires more circulation space.

The kitchen opens to the living room: how to harmonize these two spaces?

Make sure that the kitchen manages to be forgotten and that it is not the “focus” point of the living room. Use light and mobile partitioning (sliding or folding panel, curtain, blind, Japanese wall) to be able to modulate the visibility of the kitchen and think about colors and light management.

In case of disorder, think of the multiple camouflage tricks such as the bar plan behind which we hide the sink, the countertop furniture closing with a metal curtain, which allows a simple gesture to conceal the household appliances or the small cupboard. lunch with the kettle, toaster and coffee machine.

Finally, avoiding clear ruptures in the coating ensures visual unity between the kitchen space and the rest of the living room. Ideally, ceramic floors should be reserved for the space likely to receive water or grease splashes: around the sink and the hotplates/oven area. If there is a parquet in the kitchen area, it is preferable to opt for a slightly messy finish, such as varnish. If you choose to tile, make sure it goes well with the living room covering, both in color and in geometry and texture. An Epoxy floor (in resin), for example, has a very contemporary feel and can be installed in the living room as well as in the kitchen. It is, moreover, very easy to maintain.