We all desire a home tailored to our unique lifestyle needs. For many homeowners, this means creating wide open spaces for entertaining and family living. Combining your kitchen, dining, and living areas into one spacious “great room” layout allows you to entertain with ease while keeping connected to loved ones. The key is thoughtfully planning the floor plan. By opening walls and mindfully arranging key details, you can custom-design a kitchen great room bringing all your wish list ideas to life.
Great rooms promote togetherness by removing barriers between spaces. No longer will you need doors to separate you from guests and family members! This airy, free-flowing design encourages meaningful interactions. Now loved ones can chat from across the room while you prepare dinner. With smart prep zone placement, you can cook and socialize simultaneously.
Plan for an Open and Spacious Layout
Remove Walls for an Airy, Free-Flowing Floor Plan
Great rooms begin by opening walls between rooms. Eliminate unnecessary architecture blocking views and traffic flow. Creating physical and visual continuity crafts the feeling of expanded space. with fewer walls, beautiful finishes and views become prominent design elements.
Strategically place load-bearing architecture to define functional zones. For example, an island can separate kitchen and living areas while allowing visibility between them. Vary ceiling heights to distinguish spaces, drawing eyes to important fixtures like a statement light over the island.
Incorporate Island and Peninsulas for Dividers
Islands and peninsulas act as room dividers in great room designs. Not only do they maximize storage and surface area, but they also add visual interest. When planning kitchen islands, consider the best shape and dimensions to balance division of space with openness. Add eclectic bar stools to create casual dining nooks.
Use Varied Ceiling Heights to Define Spaces
Strategically altering ceiling heights helps distinguish functional zones without using walls. Lower ceilings over dining spaces create intimate gathering areas. Meanwhile, cathedral heights in living rooms feel airy and free. Drawing the eye upwards, statement light fixtures become dramatic focal points.
Focus on the All-Important Kitchen Work Triangle
Optimal Placement of Fridge, Stove, and Sink
The work triangle connecting the refrigerator, stove, and sink is the engine powering kitchen functionality. Carefully plan appliance placement based on steps in food preparation workflow. Position the refrigerator near entertaining zones for easy drink access. Place cooktops viewable from living areas for conversation between tasks.
Allow for Multiple Cooks with Extra Counterspace
Great room kitchens are built for togetherness, including group cooking! When designing, ensure adequate counterspace for multiple people to prep and plate side-by-side. Incorporate extra sinks to wash produce, clean dishes, and more. Islands tend to have the most usable area for concurrent tasks.
Ensure Visibility from Entertaining Areas
Prepping appetizers while mingling is easier when kitchen zones stay connected to living spaces. Make sure key appliances are visible from conversation areas. Place ovens facing dining nooks so hosts can monitor cooking progress. Islands with bar stool seating keep guests and family closeby.
Select Stunning Focal Points
Focal points attract attention while accentuating design themes. These eye-catching elements help distinguish individual spaces within the free-flowing great room. Using lighting, color, texture, and more, integrate artistic focal points reflecting personal taste.
Statement Lighting Over the Island
Nothing animates a kitchen like gorgeous pendant lighting over the island. Choose fixtures complementing your design style, from elegant chandeliers to modern geometric formations. Position statement lights centered over islands and peninsulas to spotlight these areas.
Bold Backsplashes as Artistic Accents
Backsplashes protecting the wall behind sinks and stoves now steal the show. Use tile, metal, or glass to inject color, shape, and sheen. Multi-tone geometric designs and nature-inspired textures make stunning focal points. Allow backsplash treatments to fluidly continue into nearby spaces.
Luxurious Materials on Cupboards
Cabinetry comprises ample real estate for catching eyes in any kitchen. Select rich woods, like walnut or cherry, for warm and welcoming accents. Alternatively, painted finishes in deep hues make cabinets focal features. Upgrade hardware and integrate lighting to highlight cupboards.
Embrace Continuity in Finishes and Materials
Carry Main Flooring Materials Throughout
Hardwood planks or natural stone tiles make fabulous flooring options carrying visually throughout the great room. Lay flooring on the same plane with no dividing trim strips between rooms. This makes spaces flow together seamlessly. Consistent floors feel stable underfoot when moving between zones barefoot.
Repeat Countertop Finishes to Tie Rooms Together
Countertops represent important surface area in kitchens and frequently reappear in nearby spaces. Select a premium material like quartz, granite or marble and use it throughout the kitchen, island, wet bar, etc. Matching counters create visual harmony while tolerating heavy usage.
Use Cohesive Colors and Textures
Color and texture continuity promotes flow in open concept designs. Employ a carefully curated palette of wall paints, textiles, materials and decor pieces consistently. Ensure colors remain cohesive between functional areas. Repeat tactile elements like throw pillows and window treatments to tie spaces together.
Find Unique Storage Solutions
Minus dividing walls, great room designs may lack sufficient closed storage. Compensate creatively with multi-use pieces offering hidden storage. Optimize vertical real estate to tuck items out of sight. Approach storage needs innovatively.
Hidden Storage in Island Base Cabinets and Hutches
Islands easily conceal storage without feeling bulky. Opt for base cabinets and include pull-out drawers, shelves and racks. Repurpose furniture like hutches and sideboards to stash serving wear in style. Close items when not in use to keep spaces tidy.
Install Floor-to-Ceiling Pantry Cabinets
Pantry cabinets maximizing vertical space prevent supplies from cluttering counters. Construct organized floor-to-ceiling storage with adjustable shelves, racks and drawers customizing to your needs. Ensure full accessibility – slide-out racks and lazy drawer designs improve ergonomics.
Place Ottomans and Benches with Hidden Storage Inside
Repurpose furniture doing double duty as secret storage solutions. Lift lids on bench seats to reveal contained catch-alls. Look for rectangular ottomans with hinged tops opening to deep interiors. Use these attractive pieces instead of utilitarian shelving.
Design for Seamless Entertaining
Great room floor plans privilege entertaining. Provide amenities facilitating hosting guests and bringing people together. Include built-in features accommodating frequent gatherings without cluttering common spaces.
Include Bar Area and Wine Fridge Near Dining
Designing a dedicated bar area prevents hosting messes. Incorporate cabinets storing glassware and spirits out of sight. Nearby undercounter wine fridges keep bottles chilled. Place the bar strategically to allow mingling between this area, kitchen and dining spaces.
Allow Space for Multiple Seating Areas
Great rooms envelop communal areas for gathering, conversing, playing games and more. Zone spaces for particular activities – a lounge zone centered around the fireplace, a casual dining area near the kitchen, etc. Include adequate flexible seating facilitating both small and large groups.
Ensure Party Visibility from Kitchen Prep Zones
Entertaining is effortless when cooks remain visible and connected to guests. Ensure sightlines between stove, sinks and nearby conversational areas like islands. Place ovens facing toward dining spaces to easily monitor cooking food.
Add Special Touches for Family Living
Great rooms promote togetherness by removing barriers between family members. Include extra features enhancing everyday home life and child-friendly spaces encouraging discovery.
Craft Kid-Friendly Spaces for Arts and Homework
Carve out zones catering to kids for learning, play and creation. Add a desk or banquette seating for doing homework under supervision. Multi-height islands work great for arts and crafts projects. Ensure finishes withstand childhood antics!
Display Family Photos on Gallery Walls
Personalize great rooms with gallery walls showcasing treasured family memories. Mount a cluster of framed photos, children’s artwork and decorative items. Place compelling arrangements drawing eyes and sparking storytelling.
Give kids special retreats for reading, dreaming and unwinding. Custom window seats with storage bring nature views indoors. Reading nooks tucked away stimulate imagination and learning through literature. These cozy spots encourage self-development.
