Should I put folding glass doors between kitchen and living room?

last year

last modified: last year

Hello, I am looking for a bit of advice and inspiration please.

This is the floor plan of my house which I have been living in for just over a year. Its 1980's style interior decoration needs an update which I'll be doing in Autumn 2023.

One thing I can't make up my mind over is whether to put in glass doors between the kitchen and living room. The kitchen at the front of the house is pretty dark whereas the living room is flooded with light as it has floor to ceiling windows, So I think it would be nice to bring in some of the light into the kitchen.

I also want to remove the big store cupboard which is in the hallway and backs onto the kitchen. This would also give a little bit more space in the kitchen. I would have the original cupboard door closed off so it looks like the hall way wall. I'd like to keep the other cupboard as it is massive and great for coats/ vacuum cleaner etc.

Currently there are no cupboards on the wall between the kitchen and the living room - just the kitchen radiator.

The kitchen isn't that big. I was alternatively thinking of a very wide serving hatch with a glass window opening and having breakfast bar type seating beneath it on either side.

It's an ex-council house and feels really well planned out in terms of how the space flows and has a lovely cosy feel.

pics attached of either side of the wall.

I don't have the budget to start putting in steels etc as it needs rewiring, new boiler and I also need to save a bit of money to put a bath back into the bathroom - will be removing the massive cupboard in the front bedroom, blocking it off from the bedroom and opening up from the bathroom side to put a bath in.

Sorry about the long message - I'm not creative so would appreciate any advice or ideas that I may not have considered please.

Thank you.

Featured Answer

Sonia

last year

Saw this picture which shows how open plan can still be cosy.

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Comments (6)

Jonathan
last year
Personally I think you would get more bang for your buck by spending your money on kitchen improvements. A pale worktop, warm neutral colour on the walls, a pale floor and then lighting above and below your wall cabinets will transform your kitchen.
Lizzie C
Original Author
last year
Thank you for replying Jonathan.
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Vivid Doors
last year
last modified: last year
Hi Lizzie,

For us folding glass doors / bifold doors provide the flexibility to open up the space when desired, or close it off for privacy or separation. This can be particularly useful for multi-functional spaces like you have, where you may want to adapt the layout depending on the occasion (eating / dining / entertaining etc).

That said, the folding doors can help contain cooking noises and odours, which can be beneficial if you frequently entertain guests or enjoy quiet time in your living room. However, keep in mind that glass doors may not be as effective at soundproofing.

If your goal is to create a seamless transition between the two spaces and let the light flood in, glass doors may be an excellent choice.

Just as an FYI, we have a selection of internal bifold doors or internal french doors - with plenty of glazing options and styles.

Best of luck with the renovation.
Lizzie C thanked Vivid Doors
My Name
last year
Unless you are going to go all out open plan across the whole space (which I personally wouldn’t suggest here), although I love a glass door I think in your case what would work really well is something along the lines of the “very wide serving hatch” idea you had. It’s called a “pass through” and it’s open without any glass. Optional breakfast bar on the other side. I struggled to describe or find a name for it before, so use that to have a look at some ideas and see if you like it. In my opinion it provides the perfect balance between open connection to the living space without intruding too much, as you always need a quiet area away from it all. The cupboard can be a good pantry or large larder. All depends on budget but if it’s not a structural wall then the passthrough can be relatively inexpensive for what it achieves, in my view.
Lizzie C thanked My Name
Sonia
last year
Maybe I’m not getting it, but why not just remove the wall at the end of the kitchen? If you put doors in you may well need to put in a lintel anyway. It will give you a more open plan feel, but not too much and you may well be able to add a dining table into the living room. We knocked down a non load bearing kitchen wall into the dining area and it made such a difference as our kitchen was minuscule. Knocking down that wall, adding a steel if necessary would, I feel, be cheaper than making a hole and adding folding doors or a serving hatch. Is the sofa on the other side of the kitchen wall?
Lizzie C thanked Sonia

Should I put folding glass doors between kitchen and living room?

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