Affordable Open Plan Kitchen Ideas and Designs

A SLEEK & STYLISH DARK GREY KITCHEN WITH CONTEMPORARY DESIGN ELEMENTS, MADE FOR FAMILY LIVING. Our clients were transforming their home into a sociable space for their family of five, so they wanted their kitchen to fit seamlessly into this plan. They socialise often so it was important to create a large open plan kitchen, and a showstopping island was a must! To create this contemporary kitchen we used the Soft Lack design from our German Nolte range, in the colour Graphite. We chose two worksurfaces; Classic Quartz in Alaska Bianca and Caesarstone in Flannel Grey. The concrete effect wrap around worksurface on the island end creates a focal point from the garden and allows for some additional storage. The sleek black top-trim handles and Oak detailing add a real sense of luxury to this design. Storage solutions such as the pantry-style larder and drawer units make the kitchen user-friendly for daily family life.

City of Westminster London - Contemporary 2 Bedroom Apartment

Homeconcepts

Contemporary Apartment Renovation in Westminster, London - Matt Finish Kitchen Silestone Worktops

Mosaic House

RDA Architects

The Deerings – Harpenden

Audus Kitchens

Great family open space, with that wow factor. Wanted a tall block of units with super-high storage- mainly for affect, but also back up storage. Island had to be a real show-stopper, so we designed a wraparound brushed stainless steel section over matt black units.

Lydia Allen Interiors

The Goat Shed - Devon

TFQ Architects

Jurassic Kitchens worked closely with TFQ to ensure the kitchen fit into the building beautifully and with a solid worktop, white faced cabinetry and feature lighting, the kitchen is a showpiece and a fantastic space to congregate.

Hoop Lane

A M P U E R O Y U T R O N I C

Industrial Kitchen: Natural Oak and Timeless Hardware

Plank Hardware

Natural materials in interior design are here to stay for 2023, but mix and match them with industrial finishes for a look that's reminiscent of a renovated warehouse apartment. Panelled cabinets in natural oak offer a soft foundation for which to dial-up your hardware details. Industrial textures — knurled swirling and grooving — add moments of visual intrigue and ruggedness, to offer balance to your kitchen scheme. You heard it here first, but Stainless Steel is having a resurgence in popularity. A cooler-toned alternative to brass hardware, steel is also corrosion-resistant and recycling-friendly. Win win? Style our SWIRLED SEARLE T-Bar Handles and SWIFT Knobs in Stainless Steel against neutral cabinets, adding tactile touch points that will elevate your functional kitchen space.

Contemporary Kitchen

Brighton | Open Plan Kitchen

Design Interiors Ltd

Our client tells us: "I cannot recommend Design Interiors enough. Tim has an exceptional eye for design, instinctively knowing what works & striking the perfect balance between incorporating our design pre-requisites & ideas & making has own suggestions. Every design detail has been spot on. His plan was creative, making the best use of space, practical - & the finished result has more than lived up to expectations. The leicht product is excellent – classic German quality & although a little more expensive than some other kitchens , the difference is streets ahead – and pound for pound exceptional value. But its not just design. We were lucky enough to work with the in house project manager Stuart who led our build & trades for our whole project, & was absolute fantastic. Ditto the in house fitters, whose attention to detail & perfectionism was impressive. With fantastic communication,, reliability & downright lovely to work with – we are SO pleased we went to Design Interiors. If you’re looking for great service, high end design & quality product from a company big enough to be super professional but small enough to care – look no further!" Our clients had previously carried out a lot of work on their old warehouse building to create an industrial feel. They always disliked having the kitchen & living room as separate rooms so, wanted to open up the space. It was important to them to have 1 company that could carry out all of the required works. Design Interiors own team removed the separating wall & flooring along with extending the entrance to the kitchen & under stair cupboards for extra storage. All plumbing & electrical works along with plastering & decorating were carried out by Design Interiors along with the supply & installation of the polished concrete floor & works to the existing windows to achieve a floor to ceiling aesthetic. Tim designed the kitchen in a bespoke texture lacquer door to match the ironmongery throughout the building. Our clients who are keen cooks wanted to have a good surface space to prep whilst keeping the industrial look but, it was a priority for the work surface to be hardwearing. Tim incorporated Dekton worktops to meet this brief & to enhance the industrial look carried the worktop up to provide the splashback. The contemporary design without being a handless look enhances the clients’ own appliances with stainless steel handles to match. The open plan space has a social breakfast bar area which also incorporate’s a clever bifold unit to house the boiler system which was unable to be moved.

Hotham Road, Putney

Interior Design Concepts ltd

A book-matched matt Tineo wood veneer with smooth ‘opaque’ white lacquer kitchen doors.

A splash of pink

Kettle Co. Kitchens

60's Townhouse - Open plan living

Jackson Merrick Designs

Open-plan kitchen dining room with seamless transition to outdoor living space

Wandsworth Bridge Road

GOATER JONES London Ltd

Kitchen

Modern Rustic Black Kitchen in Wendover

Ridgeway Interiors

With a striking, bold design that's both sleek and warm, this modern rustic black kitchen is a beautiful example of the best of both worlds. When our client from Wendover approached us to re-design their kitchen, they wanted something sleek and sophisticated but also comfortable and warm. We knew just what to do — design and build a contemporary yet cosy kitchen. This space is about clean, sleek lines. We've chosen Hacker Systemat cabinetry — sleek and sophisticated — in the colours Black and Oak. A touch of warm wood enhances the black units in the form of oak shelves and backsplash. The wooden accents also perfectly match the exposed ceiling trusses, creating a cohesive space. This modern, inviting space opens up to the garden through glass folding doors, allowing a seamless transition between indoors and out. The area has ample lighting from the garden coming through the glass doors, while the under-cabinet lighting adds to the overall ambience. The island is built with two types of worksurface: Dekton Laurent (a striking dark surface with gold veins) for cooking and Corian Designer White for eating. Lastly, the space is furnished with black Siemens appliances, which fit perfectly into the dark colour palette of the space.

Acton Family Home

Lomax & Chi

James & Anna - Holbrook, Horsham

The Kitchen Store

SOMETIMES, A CLASSIC DESIGN IS ALL YOU NEED FOR AN OPEN-PLAN SPACE THAT WORKS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. This client wanted to extend their existing space to create an open plan kitchen where the whole family could spend time together. To meet this brief, we used the beautiful Shelford from our British kitchen range, with shaker doors in Inkwell Blue and Light Grey. The stunning kitchen island added the wow factor to this design, where the sink was located and also some beautiful oak shelving to house books and accessories. We used quartz composite worktops in Ice Branco throughout, Blanco sink and taps, and completed the space with AEG built-in and integrated appliances. We also created a functional utility room, which complemented the main kitchen design.

Ultra Modern Steel Kitchen in St Albans

Audus Kitchens

This stunning modern kitchen on Sandridgebury Lane, St Albans is the perfect example of form meeting function. The client wanted an ultra-modern kitchen that would be able to accommodate their large family and their love of entertaining. They wanted an almost commercial and industrial feel to the space, and they definitely achieved that goal with this striking scheme. The sleek lines and monochromatic palette create a chic and elegant aesthetic, while the brushed steel surfaces and high-end appliances give the space a contemporary feel. We used a combination of brushed steel reproduction and lacquered laminate for the cabinets and a Dekton Domoos in matt graphite. The luxury appliances are from Siemens, Blanco, and Quooker, and they were chosen for their quality and ability to meet a busy family's demands. This kitchen is truly a work of art and is sure to be the centre of many happy memories for years to come.

Affordable Open Plan Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

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Ireland

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