Opinion
kbb Birmingham 2018 Show Special
How to… make the most of open-plan living
Two leading designers give their views on how you can gain from the open-plan trend by getting the space just right. First up is Graham Robinson, showroom manager of Halcyon Interiors in Wigmore Street
E
veryone is different, so it’s important to tailor an open-plan kitchen to suit a client and their family’s needs. Making sure the space is multifunctional and flexible for all scenarios – whether a quiet breakfast, homework with the children or a large family gathering – is very important for the overall success of the space. Generally, clients don’t want the kitchen element
to overwhelm the room, and often want us to create a ‘kitchen that doesn’t look like a kitchen’. This can be achieved by using colours that match the overall space, by hiding appliances or simply by using appliances with finishes that blend in with the surrounding units. Specifying ceiling extractors that don’t obscure the eyeline is also a good trick (see image 1).
1.
Choosing quiet appliances is also important in an open-plan space. Activity in the kitchen shouldn’t interfere with what people in the adjacent area are doing. Removing laundry appliances, choosing a quiet dishwasher and using an extractor with an external motor are all ways to create calm. As with any kitchen design, layout is really important to ensure that there is a flow when in use. With that in mind, it’s good to hide the sink away from view as you walk in and it’s great to design the hob so that it faces out towards the rest of the room. In this way, whoever is cooking can entertain at the same time. In a large open-plan space, island units can help link areas of the kitchen together and ensure a good workflow. As the kitchen in an open-plan room is part of a larger space, as a designer you need to broaden your skills and look at the whole space, to ensure all areas work together seamlessly. So, as well as the main components of a kitchen, attention to the finer details is also essential. These details include lighting, wall coverings, wall colours and even art. Using tones of similar colours creates a harmony without any singular element jumping out. As with the kitchen itself, the lighting scheme needs to create interest, yet remain flexible. It should include atmospheric, statement and task lighting. If pillars are necessary, it sometimes works well
to hide them within an island to make a feature with, for example, a fireplace.
2. Social hub
The positioning of the rest of the furniture in the room is also something you should consider getting involved with. Historically, this was based around a TV screen but, fortunately, as open-plan living has become more about socialising, people now prefer to keep it as a space that allows connection with family and friends. As you are considering the whole space, the design can, and should, include things that aren’t kitchen- specific. For example, I have sometimes included a
98 kbbreview kbb Birmingham Special Edition March 2018
Attention to the finer details is really key – including lighting, wall coverings and even art. Using tones of similar colours creates a harmony without any singular element jumping out
space for coats and shoes and even a place for skis and suitcases above tall units.
When the room is a multifunctional space, it may even mean a home office area is included within the kitchen element of a room – a pair of pocket doors is a great way to conceal this function.
Open-plan spaces are often next to a garden, so
it’s good to think about how they work together (see image 2). Running the same flooring throughout, without interruption, is a good starting point, and adding some kind of heating or seating area outside are all things to talk about.
Involving specialists in some of these areas isn’t a bad thing, so as to get the best overall result for the client. But the focus will always come back to the kitchen in the end, as this is the focal point, although having consideration for the rest of the areas is key.
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