Open Plan Kitchen Ideas and Designs

The bulthaup kitchen in this open-plan living space needed to effortlessly link the different zones. This is a space where communication is easy, with less formal bar seating connecting the sunken lounge and outdoor entertaining, whilst the prep and cooking areas make it easy for the cook to entertain guests at the dining table.

Finsbury Park - Full House Renovation

Varisco Stone Ltd

Kitchen worktops and full height splashback in Calacatta Borghini
Design ideas for a contemporary grey and white single-wall open plan kitchen in London with marble worktops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, an island and multicoloured worktops.

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.

Hotham Road, Putney

Interior Design Concepts ltd

A book-matched matt Tineo wood veneer with smooth ‘opaque’ white lacquer kitchen doors.
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in London with stainless steel appliances, an island, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey floors and white worktops.

Longmead, Guildford

Saffron Interiors Ltd

Saffron Interiors Project - Longmead Guildford. Taransey smooth painted shaker in 'Sumburgh Midnight' with Carrara Extra white quartz worktops, splashback and shelving.

Studio Green

Snug Kitchens

Our Snug Kitchens showroom display combines bespoke traditional joinery, seamless modern appliances and a touch of art deco from the fluted glass walk in larder. The 'Studio Green' painted cabinetry creates a bold background that highlights the kitchens brass accents. Including Armac Martin Sparkbrook brass handles and patinated brass Quooker fusion tap. The Neolith Calacatta Luxe worktop uniquely combines deep grey tones, browns and subtle golds on a pure white base. The veneered oak cabinet internals and breakfast bar are stained in a dark wash to compliment the dark green door and drawer fronts. As part of this display we included a double depth walk-in larder, complete with suspended open shelving, u-shaped worktop slab and fluted glass paneling. We hand finished the support rods to patina the brass ensuring they matched the other antique brass accents in the kitchen. The decadent fluted glass panels draw you into the space, obscuring the view into the larder, creating intrigue to see what is hidden behind the door.

Mr & Mrs M, Pyrford, Surrey

Vita Nova Interiors Ltd

By keeping the cabinetry around the perimeter of the room in Dove Grey, gave the room a crisp, light feel to it but we wanted to add some depth and the contrast of the island is Charcoal gave us exactly that. The space flows effortlessly from kitchen to garden, perfect for BBQ's in the summer evenings. The positioning of the bar stools on the island works well not only for casual socialising but also just enjoying a coffee in this fabulous new space overlooking the garden.

Golders Green Inset Handle Kitchen

Higham Furniture

With its painted shaker-style cabinets featuring our bespoke inset handles, this kitchen is a visual delight. The island stands out in a captivating dark green tone (Pompeian Ash by Little Greene) while the main cabinetry is graced with a lighter shade (Little Greene's Slaked Lime Deep). Embracing functionality, the pantry to the right of the kitchen is a storage haven, ensuring a tidy kitchen by concealing any chaos.

Ashbury Road

Todi and Boys

Photo of a large traditional galley open plan kitchen in London with a built-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, white worktops, a vaulted ceiling and feature lighting.

Clerkenwell Kitchen

piqu

This stunning handcrafted provenance by piqu kitchen brings together a beautiful mix of colours, materials, and textures to create a warm and contemporary open plan living space. The decorative panels on the curved feature island have been painted in Hopper Head from Farrow & Ball and the other oak units have been left in their natural state and simply stained. Blue Fusion quartzite work surfaces and a full height splashback along with the reeded glass doors, a pantry unit and beautiful bar area complete this very bespoke and luxurious kitchen.

Spacious Barn Conversion Classic In-Frame Kitchen

Handmade Kitchen Co

A beautiful barn conversion that underwent a major renovation to be completed with a bespoke handmade kitchen. What we have here is our Classic In-Frame Shaker filling up one wall where the exposed beams are in prime position. This is where the storage is mainly and the sink area with some cooking appliances. The island is very large in size, an L-shape with plenty of storage, worktop space, a seating area, open shelves and a drinks area. A very multi-functional hub of the home perfect for all the family. We hand-painted the cabinets in F&B Down Pipe & F&B Shaded White for a stunning two-tone combination.

Contemporary Kitchen

Photo of a medium sized contemporary grey and white l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, a breakfast bar, grey floors, white worktops, a drop ceiling and feature lighting.

Altrincham County House Kitchen - Bespoke Shaker Kitchen, Hand-crafted Kitchen

Drew Forsyth & co

We are proud to present this breath-taking kitchen design that blends traditional and modern elements to create a truly unique and personal space. Upon entering, the Crittal-style doors reveal the beautiful interior of the kitchen, complete with a bespoke island that boasts a curved bench seat that can comfortably seat four people. The island also features seating for three, a Quooker tap, AGA oven, and a rounded oak table top, making it the perfect space for entertaining guests. The mirror splashback adds a touch of elegance and luxury, while the traditional high ceilings and bi-fold doors allow plenty of natural light to flood the room. The island is not just a functional space, but a stunning piece of design as well. The curved cupboards and round oak butchers block are beautifully complemented by the quartz worktops and worktop break-front. The traditional pilasters, nickel handles, and cup pulls add to the timeless feel of the space, while the bespoke serving tray in oak, integrated into the island, is a delightful touch. Designing for large spaces is always a challenge, as you don't want to overwhelm or underwhelm the space. This kitchen is no exception, but the designers have successfully created a space that is both functional and beautiful. Each drawer and cabinet has its own designated use, and the dovetail solid oak draw boxes add an elegant touch to the overall bespoke kitchen. Each design is tailored to the household, as the designers aim to recreate the period property's individual character whilst mixing traditional and modern kitchen design principles. Whether you're a home cook or a professional chef, this kitchen has everything you need to create your culinary masterpieces. This kitchen truly is a work of art, and I can't wait for you to see it for yourself! Get ready to be inspired by the beauty, functionality, and timeless style of this bespoke kitchen, designed specifically for your household.

West Dulwich Family Home

Imperfect Interiors

This detached home in West Dulwich was opened up & extended across the back to create a large open plan kitchen diner & seating area for the family to enjoy together. We added oak herringbone parquet in the main living area, a large dark green and wood kitchen and a generous dining & seating area. A cinema room was also tucked behind the kitchen

Project 42

The Main Company

This is an example of a rustic l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, orange cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, integrated appliances, dark hardwood flooring, no island, brown floors, beige worktops, exposed beams, a vaulted ceiling and a wood ceiling.

Bells Yew Green

Alistair Fleming Design

Inspiration for an expansive traditional open plan kitchen in Sussex with shaker cabinets and marble splashback.

A colourful London flat - All For Romeo project

Mon Concept Habitation - London

The kitchen is appreciated for its fresh, bright look, achieved with olive-green cupboard fronts that contrast with the white marble effect worktops and splashback. The adjacent dining area is airy yet ultra-cosy. The empty space above the existing boiler has been used to install an adjustable shelf system that serves as Romeo's playground.

Suburban Family Home Rejuvenated By The Addition Of A Modern Orangery

Westbury Garden Rooms

The original space was a long, narrow room, with a tv and sofa on one end, and a dining table on the other. Both zones felt completely disjointed and at loggerheads with one another. Attached to the space, through glazed double doors, was a small kitchen area, illuminated in borrowed light from the conservatory and an uninspiring roof light in a connecting space. But our designers knew exactly what to do with this home that had so much untapped potential. Starting by moving the kitchen into the generously sized orangery space, with informal seating around a breakfast bar. Creating a bright, welcoming, and social environment to prepare family meals and relax together in close proximity. In the warmer months the French doors, positioned within this kitchen zone, open out to a comfortable outdoor living space where the family can enjoy a chilled glass of wine and a BBQ on a cool summers evening.

Brighton | Traditional Blue Black Davonport

Design Interiors Ltd

This young family wanted to create an open plan, social space that had plenty of room for their energetic children. It was important to them that they had good visibility from the kitchen through to the snug area where they could see what the kids were up-to whilst they were cooking & entertaining. The 5 panel shaker door is completed with contrasting & simplistic brass handles & painted in Farrow & Ball ‘Black Blue’ to give a contemporary accent to this traditional design. To present a sleek & relaxing element to the design Tim incorporated a BORA pure extractor hob, SIEMENS studio line appliances in graphite grey, black Quooker hot tap & 20ml ‘Cloudburst’ concrete worktops. The island worktop over hang allows for comfortable family dining.

Open Plan Kitchen, Living and Dining Room

Heather Kealey Interiors

Kitchen island.
Inspiration for a medium sized classic open plan kitchen in Other with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl flooring, an island, beige floors, white worktops and a chimney breast.

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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