Closed or open kitchen?

Hello, Danton,

the view into the (not tidied up) kitchen would probably bother me myself from time to time, because it then gives the entire room a somewhat untidy, messy impression (which it actually is, but you don’t have to see it so obviously ) We both work, and the evening routine sometimes includes tidying up properly only shortly before going to bed or even the next morning, because you just have to unwind in the evening.

It would be even more uncomfortable for me if we have guests who can have a perfect view from the dining table into the devastated kitchen In principle, something like a curtain or so would be enough (no idea how that would look), because the smells or the noise of appliances would hardly bother us.

The (interior) dimensions in the current design (everything still changeable, but we don’t want the house to become too big overall, nor should it become "cramped"):
Kitchen: 3.50m x 3.50m
Dining area (west of the kitchen): 3.50m x 3.70m
Living area (open, adjoining to the south, all together thus forming an L): 4.40 x 5.60 (to the S)
The passage to the living area is only 3m wide due to a slight offset.

The kitchen would thus have about 12 sqm, the living/dining area 40 sqm.

Thanks for the tips,
Christiane

Hi Azalee,

if the new kitchen is modern, a kind of venetian blind might help here, which is mounted on the ceiling and can be simply lowered to the countertop (separating the dining area) when needed (preferably made of aluminum, not plastic).
When you pull it back up, the large open space is restored.
You can get these in many different colors.

Could this be a solution? But it probably wouldn’t fit with a rustic kitchen.

Has your architect not made any suggestions regarding this yet?

Best, Danton

Hi,

hihi, we mainly plan ourselves *g* For the first meeting, we brought our (amateurish) drafts, then the architect (but we are building with a timber builder who offers us a complete package including an architect) created a first rough version, which he essentially based on our - quite intensively thought out - ideas and concepts. We then changed small details here and there and gave this draft to the timber builder so that he could inquire about the trades for an initial price offer and give us a ballpark figure. Once that is done, the details come, such as moving windows or changing their height, exact measurements for the room transitions, and all sorts of other things.

This "Rollo" might already be an option. The kitchen will be rather modern, definitely not rustic. The passage (approx. door width or how wide should it be?) would then be open, but you wouldn’t see the entire kitchen anymore. I would like it if the rear part of the countertop could then be raised a bit, so that from the dining side it looks more like a bar, e.g. with bowls of fruit on it and so on.

Regards,
Christiane

Hi Azalee,

that could look very nice.
If it should be a bit more elegant, a venetian blind would be suitable. This system can also be operated electrically and disappears in a box under the ceiling.
Just check with the company Roma. I think: Roma / venetian blind / gates.

The passage width should be about one meter, but it results from the dimensions of the base cabinets next to the passage.

When it is finished, I would like to see a photo.

Regards Danton

We have also planned an open kitchen

I know from other houses and I find open kitchens nice. Towards the living area, we have also planned a bar counter. Guests can have an aperitif there while you finish preparing things.
Cooking is usually not a particularly noisy affair. I think a good quiet extractor hood and a quiet dishwasher are important.

I also like to chat while cooking and I actually enjoy having guests cook along – chopping etc.

But Danton is absolutely right. It is a matter of attitude and habit. But I would either make it open or not open. Blinds and such always feel to me like "garage doors" in the living area.

Well, I worked for one of the biggest kitchen manufacturers in Germany...

High-quality kitchens, not Alno or even cheaper...

And I can only say one thing: I keep hearing about that smell...

So I can only say you did something wrong if the whole apartment or house smells like food.
Because with a proper extractor hood, there is no smell at all, and if it is naturally underdimensioned, which is usually the reason, then that's no wonder...