By Pocyline Karani

An open plan kitchen-diner is everybody’s dream. If you are faced with a dingy looking kitchen, it may be time you rip it out and start all over again. Open space kitchen plans are a plus for anyone wishing to sell their home at a good price. They create a sociable yet calming indoor space.

Here’s how to create a stylish look in a big space and on a moderate budget: 

1. Whether family sized or petite, a dining area is highly practical, hence knocking down the dining room wall to make an open plan kitchen is worth the investment. Let the eating area be near the garden for those living in a bungalow. If living in a flat, place the table near the windows.

A dining room built in an open-plan design. Notice the seating area is adjacent to the kitchen.

READ MORE

 Sakaja says Dishi na County has served 30 million meals to 310,000 students

2. If you have a garden, install concertina doors, which opens your kitchen to the outside space. Placement of the table is influenced by the configuration of your units. For instance, in a large rectangular room place your units down two adjacent sides and the table just off centre. Ensure you don’t buy a table that will be too big for the room. Often think adequate moving space between the units and the chairs. Usually oval and circular tables take up less space.

3. While thinking of furniture type, think colours as well. Do not be limited to light shades even if your space is small. Dark woods such as wenge give a formal feel and are ideal if you are into posh dinner parties. Alternatively lighter woods have rustic charm, while bright coloured units give your kitchen diner a vibrant modern look.

4. When it comes to lighting, remember you will require task lighting for your cooking and food preparation areas. It is, however, recommended that you go for low level lighting over the dining area so you can play around with the mood. Work also with dimmer switches.

5. Since you are working with an open plan, ventilation is key. It is annoying to have the smell of frying onions engulf your dining and living areas. Therefore, invest in a good-looking kitchen hood or a concealed one.

6. Personalise the space by either bringing in an armchair, sofa, pictures, wall hangings or even a low table with a lamp. Ensure at the same time that the fabrics used here are removable and easily washable considering they will be used a lot.

7. If you have truly saved for this project, rip off the outdated units or the badly laid out units such as those blocking the garden view and revamp the area with new stylish units. To cater for shortage of space, add extra working tops. Install waist-high cabinets in the space linking the kitchen and the dining area.

8. Keep the entire scheme modern and streamlined. For instance red cabinet unit will flow to match with the red upholstery on the dining chairs and red leather coaches in the living room.