Open plan kitchen design

2 months ago

We are planning to create an open-plan kitchen in our newly purchased home. The current layout (floor plan and pics below) has a separate kitchen (12'5"x14'6") and dining room (12'5"x9'11").

We'd like to remove the separating wall and have a large area with kitchen, dining area, as well as a sofa with TV on the far right wall. The idea is that whoever is in the kitchen can also chit-chat with guests and watch the TV. At the same time, we don't want too much congestion and want a free passage to the back garden from the lounge.

Seems like a tough challenge for us! Currently, we are thinking we'll move the cooker to the corner next to the utility, then have kitchen and counter space running to where the wall currently is, put a refrigerator and storage cabinets on the opposite wall, put the dining table where the cooker currently is, and have a sofa next to it looking at the right-side wall. We'll also have sliding doors to the utility and lounge, to save space. Roughly, like below:

But I'm afraid it's a bit cluttered, and it feels like we're not making the best use of all the space. Do you have better ideas for the re-design? I'm really looking forward to receiving any advice on this.

Featured Answer

CWD

2 months ago

Sofa on the back wall, facing the kitchen. TV on a moveable arm on the wall between kitchen window and bifolds, so you can position it where you need it.

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Comments (8)

katlucy
2 months ago
Have you considered moving your utility to the rear of the garage and pushing the kitchen into old utility space, perhaps in a u shape with peninsula island?
Arnab B thanked katlucy
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Arnab B
Original Author
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
@CWD: Thanks, I hadn't considered this possibility at all! This would really open up a lot of space. I'm also considering putting the dining table in front of the bifolds. This would block the passage to the garden but would also create more open space in the middle.

@katlucy: Thanks! Actually, we wanted to put a toilet with shower in the rear of the garage and convert the existing toilet to be an annex to the entrance hallway for shoe racks, coat hangers, etc...but this is a separate project. I agree, having a bigger kitchen would make this much easier, but this is what we have to work with.

I'm attaching the redesigned floorplan, going with what @CWD suggested. Any suggestions would be more than welcome!!
Arnab B
Original Author
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
We are also a bit confused about how to do the lighting. Any interesting ideas there would be appreciated!
PRO
Devyra Atelier
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
I would suggest to add window on utillity room to make it bright.

If it were me i will move the sliding door to the left and make it smaller to give room for placing couch in the back and move the door that leads tot he garden adjacent so theres room to mount a TV.

I will design the bathroom like this and separate the coat and shoe storage to not making too many hallway, if you dont have lot of shoes you can use low shoe cabinet and open up the wall on the side of front door to make hallway bigger

Make the storage door open to outside of the room so you can fill the storage full without getting hard at opening the door

The back room feel cluttered because the table choice also flip the sofa on living as it will not obstruct people walking to sit
Arnab B thanked Devyra Atelier
Arnab B
Original Author
2 months ago
@Devyra Atelier Thanks, this is also a nice idea. The only issue is the rising cost with each change to walls etc. I really like the change to the bathroom layout! For the utility, there's already a door to the garden, so it has some light. I added a window to the bathroom instead.

Do you suggest a pendant light above the dinner table?
PRO
Devyra Atelier
2 months ago
yes you are right, probably something that doesnt too big
minnie101
2 months ago
I would consider a single wall kitchen on the long dining room wall with your fridge and oven at either end and bin, sink and dw in the middle. Have a 180cm island in front of that run with the hob on so you’re facing people.

Lose the sofa and have a comfy dining banquette on the kitchen window wall with a tv on the short wall opposite. Use the store as a pantry