If you’re planning some home improvements in 2024 and considering an open plan lifestyle, take a look at some of the pros and cons, and be inspired by some of these Master Builder projects.
If you're thinking about how to make the most of your home's floorplan, a big open plan living room and kitchen is on the wish list for many of us. But the practicalities of living, cooking and often working in one space need quite a bit of thought before you commit to the open plan dream.
Let’s take a look at some of the considerations, with some inspiration from some of the projects our FMB members have worked on.
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FMB members Bridgehurst Builders undertook a full renovation of this oast house in Kent. They removed an existing extension and building new extensions to the front, rear and sides of the house creating an open plan kitchen, dining and living room. The photos speak for themselves – quality work that will last another hundred years or more!
Speak to your architect or designer about how you will use the space and create zones for cooking, dining, working or watching TV. Make sure these are delineated in some way in the design – for example, by the position of a window framing a quiet reading spot.
Creating zones can be easier if your space isn’t completely open plan or if the layout of the original building can still be referenced in your design. For example, by opening up a Victorian terraced property from front to back you will create a series of interlinked rooms which are still hinted at and defined by structural supports and the position of chimneybreasts and fireplaces.
FMB members Applefields Ltd built this single storey rear extension – offering their clients a blank canvas to put their stamp on. The new extension opens up rooms from the existing house in a dogleg footprint. Would you create a family snug, generous home office or cosy dining area?
Want three quotes for your new kitchen as soon as possible? Use our search to find vetted and inspected Master Builders in your area.
You can further define these with your choice of décor and lighting. By controlling the lighting in different zones you can help living areas feel more cosy and get bright task-lighting where you need it.
FMB member CHI Homes Ltd created four thermally efficient detached timber frame homes on this site in North Bristol, with inspiring elements such as floor to ceiling windows, flexible spacious living areas and home working areas. Lighting is used to create zones in the open plan ground floor. The living area is defined by the use of warmer lighting, cosy textiles and a glimpse of a warm, honey coloured wooden beam. Dining is grouped under a skylight making the most of the spectacular sea view.
For all the talk of defining spaces, it’s worth remembering that you need to link them too – though use of colour and interior design choices. One trick we see our members’ clients use time and again with their open plan spaces, is to cleverly opt for a kitchen that isn’t too ‘kitchen-like’ in its appearance.
Choosing large-scale slab cabinets, for example, is visual slight of hand and can fool the eye into thinking your kitchen looks more like a piece of furniture than somewhere that’s hiding your pots and pans. Avoiding kitchen wall units altogether can help, substituting them for styled shelves of beautiful kitchen objects, cookbooks, or art.
FMB member Concierge Property Maintenance show that it’s possible to completely transform an apartment, working with the existing floorspace to bring the client’s modern vision alive. They enlarged the living space and increasing the height of the doorways, adding floor-to-ceiling doors and opening up the entrance to the kitchen. The client set them a challenge to increase storage significantly, but not add any structures that were imposing or decreased living space, so they built seamless built-in cupboards that were innovative, elegant, and functional.
When it comes to flooring options – it pays to do your research. Using a different flooring for your kitchen area can work, but think carefully about the transition between the two finishes. Or use a hardwearing product throughout, softening it with rugs (you could even go for a washable or outdoor rug in the kitchen).
Creating an open plan living space doesn’t mean adding to your home’s footprint necessarily. The feeling of more space can often be achieved withouth the need to build a big extension or go through planning permission. Work with what you’ve got and you could save thousands by taking out walls, moving the kitchen to another position.
You could also consider extending on a much smaller scale – it doesn't have to run the full width of your property. A small extension can either square off a space or create a useful nook that extends into the garden, and can often be achieved under permitted development rules.
If you’ve pored over your designs and defined your living zones however, make sure your builder is onboard and understands your ideas. They may need to move a fixture for technical reasons but be unaware that this impacts on your other spaces. For instance, a kitchen cabinet might need to move to accommodate structural steel.
When it's time to get work underway, take a look at our guide to choosing the right builder for the job for some helpful guidance on getting quotes, building contracts and paying your builder. Or if you're ready to get going, hop over to our Find a Builder search where you can look for trusted tradespeople in your area. All our members are vetted and their work is inspected before they can join, so you can build with confidence.
Want three quotes for your new kitchen as soon as possible? Use our search to find vetted and inspected Master Builders in your area.
Read our complete guide for advice on everything from planning, to costs and some great ideas to inspire your project.
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