Pleasant to live in and friendly, the open kitchen has it all. But for it to retain its warm side and for its airy volumes not to become uncomfortable, it is essential to arrange it well. Here are the mistakes, not to make.
It is appreciated for its convivial side, which makes it a living room in its own right. Very trendy in recent years, the open kitchen appeals to lovers of large volumes and those who want to ventilate their interior. But so that its advantages do not become disadvantages, it is important to think carefully about its layout, from the different elements that make it up to the decoration.
'The kitchen should be seen as an extension of the living room. Whether you want a kitchen that blends in with the décor or, on the contrary, stands out, you shouldn't rush to be able to make the right choices,' insists interior designer Eline Sango. Beware of fashion effects, which you can quickly get tired of and that you will find difficult to forget from your sofa, the kitchen in your sights. To keep your open kitchen pleasant to live in, here are a few points that should not be overlooked.
Evacuate cooking odours
With an open kitchen, the risk is that odors will spread throughout the house. Depending on your habits, the installation of a hood will therefore be essential. 'If you don't cook much, and the home has a good ventilation system and several windows, including one near the kitchen, the CMV can be enough to evacuate cooking odors,' says Eline Sango.
On the other hand, if you like to cook, it's better to invest in an extractor hood to avoid inconvenience. To ensure that it doesn't attract too much attention from the living room, opt for a discreet model, such as a built-in hood or one that is directly integrated into the cooking point. Also pay attention to the power of the device, as it can quickly become noisy.
Protect yourself from noise in the kitchen
With an open-plan kitchen, living room occupants can quickly find themselves bothered by noise coming from the room. Dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, and of course, extractor hoods are all noise pollution to be taken into account. 'It's best to choose the right appliances here,' says Eline Sango. 'From this point of view, the latest models have been significantly improved and are extremely quiet. You can hardly hear them anymore,' adds the interior designer.
For example, a typical dishwasher has an average temperature of between 45 and 60 decibels. The so-called silent models barely reach 40 dB. Performances to watch closely, then, when you're hunting for noise. 'It only takes 3 decibels less to see the impression that there is half as much noise,' confirms Quentin Deschamps, Falmec product manager at Eberhardt.
A tidy kitchen at all times
This is a point that should not be overlooked. With an open kitchen, you have to take care of the aesthetics. This includes the décor, of course, but above all a tidy kitchen. 'You have to remember that the kitchen is part of the living room and that it will be visible from your sofa. So don't forget the different elements that come into the field of vision,' explains Eline Sango.
Storage to hide everything. For a tidy kitchen, provide a sufficient number of closed storage spaces, to avoid unnecessarily cluttering worktops and furniture tops. 'For the same reason, it's best to avoid glass cupboard doors, but also shelves or shelves, which are rarely tidy,' adds the interior designer.
Appliances that are forgotten. For a visually harmonious kitchen, you can also opt for appliances with integrated fronts, that match the cupboard doors. 'Also pay attention to the handles, and to all those little details that you will see every day and that are worth being forgotten'.
Quality materials and meticulous finishes
A beautiful kitchen also requires meticulous finishes, which resist time and wear and tear. So be careful with the choice of materials. If you opt for paint, be sure to choose a suitable wall covering that can be washed. 'Pay attention to the space around the sink and the cooking point,' warns Eline Sango. 'It's better to have a splashback because paint, even if it's suitable, won't last as well. In the long run, the partition may soak, warp and the paint may peel. It is preferable to lay a glass plate or earthenware to avoid this kind of problem'.
Also, think about the worktop. Poor-quality materials can quickly wear out and become dirty or unkempt. As the open kitchen is exposed to prying eyes, choose a worktop that is not likely to be damaged too quickly. 'Wood, stone, or Corian are necessarily more expensive than a laminate worktop, but they are much more resistant. In the end, it's a better investment,' says the interior designer.
A well-appointed kitchen
An open-plan kitchen is a kitchen with airy volumes, a room that breathes. So be careful not to overload it and not to multiply the elements. 'It's hard to walk around in a kitchen where everything is tight,' says Eline Sango. So remember to provide sufficiently comfortable circulation spaces. Ideally, you should have 1.20 meters between each element. This allows you to move smoothly, without getting in the way or being hindered, but also to be able to open the dishwasher door without hitting the back of the chair for example.
As in all kitchens, the ideal is to arrange it around the activity triangle so that it is as functional as possible. Also, be careful if you dream of an island. 'Not all room configurations are suitable for this' warns the interior designer. Massive and very voluminous, this trendy element does not always have a place in the kitchen. 'To prevent it from eating up the entire space, we can adapt it, with a bar side that will then serve as a dining area for example'.
Adequate lighting
This is another point that should not be overlooked. A kitchen, open or not, should be well-lit. The light sources in the living room are therefore not enough to illuminate the kitchen. 'The places where we spend time need the right lighting. It's important to see clearly when cooking, for example. The worktop and hob must therefore be properly equipped,' says Eline Sango.
In the same way, the dining area, or the island, must have a well-oriented light source. For tailor-made lighting, you can also opt for dimmers that allow you to modulate the light according to your needs, but also to create lighting atmospheres adapted to the different times of the day.
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