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Open Plan Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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La Belle
La Belle
Phil Kean Design GroupPhil Kean Design Group
This is a French West Indies-inspired home with contemporary interiors. The floor plan was designed to provide lake views from every living area excluding the Media Room and 2nd story street-facing bedroom. Taking aging in place into consideration, there are master suites on both levels, elevator, and garage entrance. The three steps down at the entry were designed to get extra front footage while accommodating city height restrictions since the front of the lot is higher than the rear. The family business is run out of the home so a separate entrance to the office/conference room is off the front courtyard. Built on a lakefront lot, the home, its pool, and pool deck were all built on 138 pilings. The home boasts indoor/outdoor living spaces on both levels and uses retractable screens concealed in the 1st floor lanai and master bedroom sliding door opening. The screens hold up to 90% of the home’s conditioned air, serve as a shield to the western sun’s glare, and keep out insects. The 2nd floor master and exercise rooms open to the balcony and there is a window in the 2nd floor shower which frames the breathtaking lake view. This home maximizes its view! Photos by Harvey Smith Photography
Spur Road - Edina, MN
Spur Road - Edina, MN
Schrader & CompaniesSchrader & Companies
An abundance of living space is only part of the appeal of this traditional French county home. Strong architectural elements and a lavish interior design, including cathedral-arched beamed ceilings, hand-scraped and French bleed-edged walnut floors, faux finished ceilings, and custom tile inlays add to the home's charm. This home features heated floors in the basement, a mirrored flat screen television in the kitchen/family room, an expansive master closet, and a large laundry/crafts room with Romeo & Juliet balcony to the front yard. The gourmet kitchen features a custom range hood in limestone, inspired by Romanesque architecture, a custom panel French armoire refrigerator, and a 12 foot antiqued granite island. Every child needs his or her personal space, offered via a large secret kids room and a hidden passageway between the kids' bedrooms. A 1,000 square foot concrete sport court under the garage creates a fun environment for staying active year-round. The fun continues in the sunken media area featuring a game room, 110-inch screen, and 14-foot granite bar. Story - Midwest Home Magazine Photos - Todd Buchanan Interior Designer - Anita Sullivan
Deluxe in Alexandria
Deluxe in Alexandria
Erin HoopesErin Hoopes
This whole house renovation done by Harry Braswell Inc. used Virginia Kitchen's design services (Erin Hoopes) and materials for the bathrooms, laundry and kitchens. The custom millwork was done to replicate the look of the cabinetry in the open concept family room. This completely custom renovation was eco-friend and is obtaining leed certification. Photo's courtesy Greg Hadley Construction: Harry Braswell Inc. Kitchen Design: Erin Hoopes under Virginia Kitchens
Modern Farmhouse
Modern Farmhouse
UserUser
Casey Fry
Inspiration for a country open plan kitchen in Austin with a belfast sink, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and grey splashback.
Kitchen Addition
Kitchen Addition
Stephens & Company, Inc.Stephens & Company, Inc.
Roe Osborn
Inspiration for a classic open plan kitchen in Boston with stainless steel appliances, metro tiled splashback and grey splashback.
Modern White Kitchen
Modern White Kitchen
Croma Design Inc.Croma Design Inc.
Canada's Style at Home magazine describes this streamlined kitchen as "industrial meets elegant". Photo by Virginia Macdonald Photographer Inc. http://www.virginiamacdonald.com/
Fairfax Station Kitchen - Corner Window
Fairfax Station Kitchen - Corner Window
Synergy Design & ConstructionSynergy Design & Construction
Metal base cabinetry, industrial-style pendant lighting, and a grey granite countertop give the kitchen a commercial feel. Warm wood and display cabinetry makes it feel homey.
Lubbock Parade 2011 Kitchen
Lubbock Parade 2011 Kitchen
B&S Woodworking Inc.B&S Woodworking Inc.
Modern kitchen in Lubbock, TX parade home. Coffered ceiling & antiqued cabinets.
Large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with integrated appliances, white cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback, a submerged sink, recessed-panel cabinets, marble worktops, dark hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and grey worktops.
Breakfast Area/Kitchen/Family Room Custom Home Scottsdale
Breakfast Area/Kitchen/Family Room Custom Home Scottsdale
Lili Fleming-Nieri, ASIDLili Fleming-Nieri, ASID
This custom home has an open rambling floor plan where the Living Room flows into Dining Room which flows into the Kitchen, Breakfast Room and Family Room in a "stairstep" floor plan layout. One room melds into another all adjacent to the large patio view to create a continuity of style and grace.
In The Spotlight
In The Spotlight
Morrison InteriorsMorrison Interiors
The mix of stain finishes and style was intentfully done. Photo Credit: Rod Foster
Design ideas for a medium sized traditional galley open plan kitchen in Orange County with a belfast sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite worktops, blue splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island, ceramic flooring, beige floors and black worktops.
Cozy Country Reno
Cozy Country Reno
Soda Pop Design Inc.Soda Pop Design Inc.
Custom design by Cynthia Soda of Soda Pop Design Inc. in Toronto, Canada. Photography by Stephani Buchman Photography.
Large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with white cabinets, an island, recessed-panel cabinets, beige splashback, stone tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood flooring.
Mid Century Modern Sea Pearl House
Mid Century Modern Sea Pearl House
Aria Stone GalleryAria Stone Gallery
Needless to say, this kitchen is a cook’s dream. With an oversized peninsula, there is plenty of space to create tasteful confections. They added another element of interest to their design by mitering the edges of their countertop, creating the look of a thicker slab and adding a nice focal point to the space. Pulling the whole look together, they complemented the sea pearl quartzite countertop beautifully with the use of grey subway tile. Cabinets were custom built by Chandler in a shaker style with narrow 2" recessed panel and painted in a sherwin williams paint called silverplate in eggshell finish. The hardware was ordered through topknobs in the pennington style, various sizes used.
Interieurfotografie
Interieurfotografie
Rainer Taepper // ArchitekturfotografieRainer Taepper // Architekturfotografie
Design ideas for a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an island, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood flooring.
Palo Alto Upgrade
Palo Alto Upgrade
Pamela Pennington StudiosPamela Pennington Studios
Interior Design: Pamela Pennington Studios. Photo Credit: Eric Zepeda
Inspiration for a medium sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, integrated appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island and beige floors.
Beach Style Kitchen
Beach Style Kitchen
Inspiration for a large beach style open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a belfast sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, metro tiled splashback and stainless steel appliances.
Greenwich Residence - Magazine Spread
Greenwich Residence - Magazine Spread
Tiffany Eastman Interiors, LLCTiffany Eastman Interiors, LLC
Hulya Kolabas
Photo of a large classic l-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a belfast sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, engineered stone countertops, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring and an island.
1780 Ridgecrest Drive
1780 Ridgecrest Drive
Stoneridge Custom DevelopmentStoneridge Custom Development
Spin Photography
Photo of a medium sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, a submerged sink, composite countertops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island and brown floors.
Poolhouse
Poolhouse
Wellen ConstructionWellen Construction
This is an example of a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Boston with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback and metro tiled splashback.
Transitional Kitchen
Transitional Kitchen
Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, a submerged sink and granite worktops.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.
Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.
Urban open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a belfast sink.

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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