Advice re: blind design for open plan kitchen/diner
muttleyz
9 years ago
Considering the geometric design to pick out the colours in the abstract. White gloss kitchen with oak worktop and chrome accessories. What do people think? Concerned it's moving away from my minimalist intention!
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muttleyz
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoThis is the terrible light from the current pendent light! Also some examples of the very pale duck egg silk blinds (if you can see the colour at all with this camera!) I've put them next to the teal and on white for comparison. Taa!
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Help layout & plans of my open plan kitchen diner & side extension
Comments (13)Thanks for these. Im not sure if we can do the extra corner bit for number five, but I do like the layout, it will depend on cost, also don't need two tv areas, as we have a front lounge in the house anyway. the office was supposed to be a mixed use room, as a playroom with kids storage and also an occasional bedroom, so sofa bed In there. I know many people have hobs and sinks on islands, but I just think i'll end up dumping things on there.. I have four in the family, two adults, two kids, but we have a lot of people round for entertaining and parties, so space is what I'm after, but was also looking for somewhere the kids can go out of the way from adults if need be. As for kitchen, the reason for having large larder is to put not only food/drink spare fridge in there, but also things we don't use all that often in the kitchen, equipment etc.. I like everything clean and hidden away. The office on number 5 would be separate anyway as this concept includes sliding doors, which fold into the wall, so only entrance would be from outside, not sure if I can afford these yet though. Please keep suggestions coming, or alternatives, all welcome as I can't visualise.. thanks...See MoreOpen plan kitchen layout for kitchen diner/playroom.
Comments (16)An L shaped design sounds fine to me and I think it's practicality will outweigh concerns about it dominating. I agree a soft white is nicer in an older property and a more modern look than gloss but I don't agree that a painted finish is better with young ones as it can chip- I would look for a laminate door which despite being perceived to be lower quality will likely stand up to rough treatment...See MoreLighting Plan for Open Plan Kitchen / Diner / Lounge
Comments (4)If it were me firstly I would have one switch for task lighting- I think your planned 4 spots in the island boxing is enough but would have them in a row. I would have an additional 4 in a row in the ceiling above the walkway between the island and the main run of kitchen cabinets plus an additional two behind the sofa (but put a softer bulb in these). I would have two in the ceiling above the sink as I think it is tidier than having a wall light. Don’t forget to put a few in the laundry cupboard too. Since your extension ceiling is sloped I would have inset spots that you can angle. Personally I think that when you use the desk you switch on a desk light. I would have a ring of 3amp sockets so that you can switch on two table lights in the sitting area and two standard lamps in the dining area (or two table lights on a console table) and the LEDs above the bookcases. In my opinion you specify more than you need as you don’t have to plug something into every socket but the flexibility is useful. Personally I don’t think you need the coving light in the sitting area and think the idea is odd in an area with sloping ceilings. Next I would have additional kitchen lighting - I would have a run of LEDs under the base cabinets near the plinth and around the base of the island- these are nice to have on at night when watching TV as the kitchen is not fully lit but is light enough to navigate. Additionally I would have lights above and below the wall cabinets. I also like your idea of the boxing above the island having a shadow gap to conceal further LED strip lighting. Pendant lights- I agree that you won’t want one in the sitting area. I think it is messy to have pendants over the island with the additional boxing. I would have one over the dining table and choose an oversized fixture later- ensure that this lighting flex is near somewhere strong enough to mount a ceiling light of some size. Additionally I would have walk over lights in the floor near the garden doors. Remember these will reduce the focus of the garden at night- you might prefer to put these on the outside of the door to reverse the effect. Don’t forget to specify at least one socket behind the cabinets/ under island should any of the kitchen cabinets include lighting- this is especially useful in pantry cabinets. Don’t forget that you will likely need additional sockets in the laundry cupboard as you might well have a charger in there for a vacuum or drill. Personally I would have extra sockets around the desk and contain the router, you home answer phone, etc etc all in the same place. Don’t forget you can also get sockets that include a USB charger inlet. Since you are doing a plan for electrics don’t forget tv/ satellite aerial points. You should also take this opportunity to consider outside lights and power- consider sockets outside for garden lights, outdoor heaters, awnings, water features, mowing the lawn etc. LEDs unless you like decorating in very dark colours choose warm white lighting- a lot of strip LEDs can be adjusted to color match other lights in the room. LEDs- Last time I sourced these I was disappointed with the quoted costs from the electrician- do your own research online about price. Pay attention to the lumen levels and consider if you want disable LEDs. Boxing over the island. Choose your extractor before specifying the size of the boxing- I think the shallower extractors are deeper than the 20cm you stated....See MoreThe reality of a family living in open plan living room/diner/ kitchen
Comments (28)I agree with everyone saying that open plan is good if you have a dedicated enclosed space for a snug or second living room. My son is an architect and he has seen a major change with people requesting ways to separate spaces to revert back to a more traditional layout. What about privacy for those moments when kids bring their friends over, they really do not want parents listening and being in their space! Designing a space for a growing family means trying to future proof the footprint. No matter how quiet appliances are meant to be, they will end up irritating you. We have a coffee machine, extractor fan, washing machine, tumble dryer, microwave, kettle in our current kitchen and are lucky enough to be able to move the kitchen into a 10sqm study to create a separate utility and then build a rear extension with a kitchen / diner / snug. We also have a ground floor loo and living room on the other side of the house. The noise of appliances we find exceptionally intrusive, partitions and half height walls may help reduce the noise but won’t eliminate them. Have you also thought about where you will store the kids toys, books etc and how easily you will be able to hide food preparation and washing etc from visitor? I do like the idea of having sliding doors if that is at all possible to zone off spaces when you do want a quiet area....See Moreboundsgreener
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agominnie101
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoBarcelona chair and cushion insitu! Chair is slightly off white in comparison to the walls, which is disappointing. But hopefully ok with cushion which is pale blue, pale green & taupe.
Blinds to be ordered in pale a duck egg silk.
Tv, mirrored clock and canvas to be put up as soon as I have mastered the drill!
Now to find a floor lamp and main light. Any ideas appreciated. I'm thinking a small chrome arc lamp, behind and over the chair? A white paper like minimal main light?
muttleyz
9 years agoI'm going to see if there is space for a small side table in blue or green with oak legs. What do people think?
minnie101
9 years agoLooks good! I would personally wait until everything is on the wall and you have a new main light before buying anything else to be honest.Sometimes less can be more. I agree they look good against the artwork but the chair is making the statement (would move the footstool in front). In terms of the light, any of the design classics pictured above would look good or contemporary paper or wire in white. I would just ensure the main light is hung at a different level to the kitchen lights and that it's not too big for the area (like the one I have attached!). I may just not have seen small sized arc lamps but the normal size ones need a good bit of space to look effective.
muttleyz
9 years agoHi! Thank you! I think you're right, I'm lacking space! I won't order a table just yet, I'll wait until everything is up. Also the chair is very low, so most tables will be too high.
I think the main light needs to be quite flush to the ceiling, so not to detract from bar lights. Perhaps the pic I have is again too big!
I love your pic, I've actually already been taking ideas from it! I didn't find it till half way through the project though, so Strayed a little.. :-) Here's some pics of the smaller arc lamps...
boundsgreener
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years ago
LTS
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoI think white wood blinds would look nice, however I feel the room needs softening a little. I'm considering ordering these very pale duck egg silk Roman blinds. What do you think? The pictures are somewhat darker than the sample and have an iridescence to them. They offer some colour without distracting from the canvas painting.
LTS
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agoLTS
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoSome dining light ideas... Thoughts? I want it to be quite minimalist really, so the bar lights are the main attraction...
minnie101
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoNew light fitting is up now, please see pics. Thoughts? It might take me a little while to get used to before I make a decision.
The blinds have arrived, I'll post when they're fitted.
boundsgreener
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoI think the dining light looks great in the day, it would look better at night if the flex was shortened so it's much higher up than the bar lights. Been busy this weekend! TV, blinds and art work up! It's all coming together now!
muttleyz
9 years agoNext project, picking the best coloured splash back. I want something which won't date to much. Think I'll go with glass splashback and upstands in "Ice". Thoughts?! The last two pics are ideas...
Oh and thanks BoundsGreener! As always for your support and ideas! I will consider the chain to make the light above the chair...
minnie101
9 years agoWell done on putting everything up! Did you do it yourself? It's looking really good. Did you think about boundsgreeners suggestion to reposition the light over the chair? It's difficult to tell from photos but could your bar lights go any lower so you don't need to shorten the flex of the other light?
muttleyz
9 years agoI also need some tips for privacy at the dining window, that will work with the Roman blinds. I'm considering film which you can see out of from the inside (on bottom window pains) which appear mirror from the outside or film which appears opaque...
I had voiles up before, but they don't work with my scheme. I'm keen to let as much light in as possible and not obscure my view too much. The pavement is very close to my house!
muttleyz
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years ago
PROOnePlan
9 years ago
purplelore15
9 years agominnie101
9 years agoLTS
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agoboundsgreener
9 years agominnie101
9 years agomuttleyz
9 years agominnie101
9 years agostrawberry47
7 years ago
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