Open-Plan Kitchens
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Open-Plan Kitchens: Designed for Living, Cooking, and Entertaining
An open-plan kitchen offers the perfect balance of style and sociability. Whether you’re preparing a family meal or hosting friends, you can stay connected with the action while showing off your culinary skills. But with the kitchen always in view—whether to guests or simply your own daily routine—it’s important that the space is as beautiful as it is practical.
Every detail matters in an open-plan layout, from the cabinetry and appliances to lighting and materials. The kitchen becomes the heart of the home in the most visible and functional way. Whether you’re working with a spacious layout or something more compact, we have designed open-plan kitchens in a wide variety of styles, from island-centred arrangements to galley and U-shaped formats. A tailored consultation with our expert design team will help ensure your space is both seamless and stunning.
Creating Islands in Open-Plan Kitchens
Islands and peninsulas are popular features in open-plan kitchens, offering a natural focal point and often a useful seating area. They can help define the kitchen within a larger living space while maintaining an open flow.
However, adding an island does impact the rest of your floorplan, so careful planning is essential. For example, adding storage on the living room-facing side of the island is a great way to tuck away items you don’t use often in the kitchen—but doing so adds depth, which affects walkways and seating arrangements.
If you’re incorporating seating, consider the height of your worktop. Standard counters are too tall for chairs and too low for bar stools, so you may want to introduce a split-level surface or a raised bar area. Balancing this with the rest of your kitchen design is key to achieving a cohesive and comfortable space. Our designers will help you find the right proportions and style to suit your needs.
Blending Spaces for a Unified Look
One of the biggest design decisions in an open-plan kitchen is whether to unify or contrast the kitchen and living zones. Some homeowners want a clear distinction between the two, while others prefer a seamless flow.
For those looking to connect the spaces, continuity can be created through flooring, colour schemes, or consistent use of finishes across different areas. A continuous run of shelving or cabinetry can bridge the gap between rooms, creating a visual and functional link.
We also offer a range of living area furniture designed to match kitchen finishes—such as sideboards and custom-built audio/visual units. These elements not only enhance the cohesion of your space but also offer smart storage and technology integration. All can be designed and installed as part of your kitchen project, making it easy to achieve a complete and harmonious look.
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