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Thinking of making an open plan kitchen, please give me your thoughts (plan view attached)

13 replies

Redboxyellowbox · 10/03/2019 13:26

Hi, sorry about the rough sketch - it’s clearly not to scale but I’m wondering about the possibility of opening up the kitchen and lounge to make a large open plan room.
Issue one - the walls I’d need to remove (between the kitchen and lounge) are the existing old boundary walls of the house (the kitchen was added about 30 years ago). So, could these be removed?

Also I’d like large bifold doors where the two kitchen windows currently are but I’m nervous about losing all that wall as currently most of my storage cupboards, work surface s and sink is - I think I’d lose so much usable space. I could have an island in between I guess.

Also, what about kitchen noise when your trying to watch TV? At the moment the dishwasher is banging away along with the dishwasher washing machine and tumble dryer at times so how practical are these spaces really? I know they look fabulous but how do they work really?

Any ideas or thoughts would be gratefully recieved

Thinking of making an open plan kitchen, please give me your thoughts (plan view attached)
OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 10/03/2019 18:34

You are going to need a lot of steel and a structural engineer, you may potential end up with a column where the old corner of the house was, unless they can create some incredibly clever (extensive) cantilever solution.

soakedat3 · 10/03/2019 19:53

When we knocked through to make an open plan area I did find that noise from all the white goods was quite annoying in the evening! I'm not sure I'd go for that kind of space again without some kind of living area separate from it. Your plan does show a front room lounge so you can escape there.

We also found it hard to heat.

Also, I've heard new dishwashers are quiet - mine is def not new and not at all quiet :(

WishIwas19again · 13/03/2019 09:42

If you can fit a utility space/room in (and looks like you have plenty of space to play with?) the noise issue should be resolved, apart from the cooker fan. I don't like completely open plan spaces but you have the separate lounge. I have seen a couple of really gigantic kitchen/living type extensions recently though and just thought they were too big with lots of dead space so would carefully plan what you'll use the space for

Youseethethingis · 13/03/2019 10:09

I can’t see how cooking smells/mess and appliance noises in your living area is all that desireable. It’s bad enough having the kitchen through a door off the living room.

longearedbat · 13/03/2019 10:30

It looks complex structurally, with the need for a lot of steel, and it would be expensive.
I am not convinced about the practicality of open plan kitchen living. Put it this way, I wouldn't buy a house set up like this for the reasons stated - noise, cooking smells, a large space to heat and just the general lack of cosiness by being surrounded by white goods and hard surfaces.

Ariela · 13/03/2019 18:50

I think the practicalities of these vast open plan spaces have largely been exaggerated by the designers, they're noisy, difficult to heat and I believe going out of fashion.

Nodancingshoes · 13/03/2019 18:57

We have a completely open plan ground floor - kitchen, dining and lounge. I like it, it feels very homely but we can't put the dishwasher on until we go to bed! Too noisy. Luckily our washing machine is in the garage

AlexaAmbidextra · 14/03/2019 16:28

I don’t know why anyone would want white goods with all their noise and cooking smells and mess in their living areas tbh. Added to the cost and hassle of removing load-bearing walls, I just wouldn’t bother tbh.

MrsMoastyToasty · 14/03/2019 17:41

I would be concerned about grease getting on soft furnishings.

superram · 14/03/2019 17:56

To not have a ‘pole’ keeping up the original back of the house you will need to dig down at least a metre and concrete in a steel frame. It’s a big job and the steel will be st least £5000. I am assuming you have another lounge at the front of the house if not don’t do anything. Rather than making it completely open plan I would square off the lounge and make a small den or office (I would put in the middle of the house where ‘front’ of kitchen is but would be cheaper to put in current lounge).

scaryteacher · 15/03/2019 16:32

We rented a house with an open plan kitchen into living rooms with a separate utility. I hated it, as I am an untidy cook. I would never do that again.

There was no way I could listen to the radio whilst cooking, if dh was watching the TV, and I never felt that I could just leave the dishes piled in the sink as they were looking at me all evening!

Baxdream · 15/03/2019 18:07

We have an open plan family room but we have a utility room and a separate lounge. This was a must for us

NotAnotherNameChange99 · 15/03/2019 19:12

If money's not tight, I'd do this (see pic). Nice bright kitchen-diner, utility room for noisy machines but with access to garden for washing line, and a quiet lounge for TV and peace. Only needs one hole in wall (for lounge door) and a bit of wall to form the utility. And a whole new kitchen obvs Grin

We have a huge open plan space but it's divisible into 3 rooms with wooden concertina folding doors. Would that be an option?

Thinking of making an open plan kitchen, please give me your thoughts (plan view attached)
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