A Bluelime Designed Open
Plan Kitchen/Diner

Try to add some dropped pendant feature lights where you can. You need to think about where fixtures and furniture is going early on so you can get your feature lights planned in position. We recommend putting two or three dropped pendant feature lights which can work really well in small kitchens.

This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but if you like cooking mixed with entertaining move the hob to the island unit. You can then talk to your guests while you cook. The cooking itself can become a great talking point and interactive. Remember though the mess tends to be on show. Not a problem if you’re a tidy cooker!

Why not partly open the Kitchen/Diner area into an informal living space or family room where you have sofas and TV etc. This creates a totally flexible area where you and your guests can easily spill in and out from one area to the other. If you have the space create another more private Living Room somewhere else. Just bear in mind if you don’t put doors on cooking smells will spread throughout the house.

Nearly every Kitchen/Diner we create we are adding Bifold doors. Bifolds open up the area to the outside space and bring in more natural light. But think about adding Bifolds to the Kitchen too not just the Diner. Preferably open up the whole area with one large set of Bifolds throughout the Kitchen/Diner. Skylights in Pitched roofs bring in maximum natural light.

Adding sliding doors to a Kitchen/Diner while not as flexible as Bifolds, they still bring the outside in and bathes the whole area in natural light. Design in false walls so that the sliding doors can slide away into the walls, becoming completely invisible.

Every week it seems there is a new piece of kit that is the next must have in the Kitchen. But actually most of it is really good. I’m still mesmerised by induction hobs, they are truly incredible being able to instantly boil water within seconds. How about making it the centre piece of the Kitchen just make sure you do give it a few seconds before doing the hand on trick!

The modern Kitchen now has all the appliances discreetly tucked away inset into wall units and worktops. Kitchen Colours are so important to get right and are down to personal preference. But if you like a modern design with white gloss maybe try and break it up with some black or grey

Grey is the new black and definitely the colour of choice in todays modern Kitchen. Trends change of course but a nice light shade of grey works really well. We have also done grey hand painted units which give a more old worldly, traditional look and feel.

Even if you are only going out 1-2m from the rear wall this small extension can make a huge difference and get you more cupboard space. Stick a roof window in the new roof to maximise natural light. Its also good for ventilation

By using the same floor tiles inside and out and inset bifold doors with drainage channel you will hardly notice whether you are inside or outside. All of a sudden this makes your Kitchen/Diner feel enormous in Summer when the Bifolds are open. Also makes the whole area much more flexible and usable.