Case Study 1; Open Plan Kitchen/Dining Room
Introduction
The goal of this project was to update a kitchen/dining room to add more storage and to make adding additional seating at the dining table a little easier. The client wanted to feel inspired to cook and entertain.
specifics
- The kitchen, which, used daily for family cooking, had to be able to accommodate at least 2 to 3 people working in it at the same time.
- The client’s oak table would, ideally, be incorporated into the design. Used daily for family meals it occasionally needed to be able to seat an extra 2 to 3 guests.
- The client wanted to be able to use the dining area as a place where she could sit and chat with a friend or read a book or magazine.
- Both the kitchen and dining area overlooked the south facing garden.
Step 1 – Concept
The concept I developed was based on the client’s love of the outdoors, and in particular her love of the Portuguese Algarve. When at home, in the UK, she spent time walking her dog in local country parks and on the beach.
She expressed a preference for the use of wood, natural materials and tactile fabrics.
Step 2 – Colour Palette
Drawing on the client’s desire for a relaxed nordic/scandi vibe I drew inspiration from the tones of the sandy beaches, bleached wood, natural foliage, warm sunshine, and the sea.
Having selected six colours from my chosen images I considered how they might be used to create a successful scheme for the kitchen/dining room.
notes on colour palette
Step 3 – Floor Plan
The key features that needed to be considered when reviewing the kitchen/dining room layout were:
kitchen
- to add more storage
- to inspire the client to cook and entertain more
- to be able to accommodate at least 2 to 3 people working in it at the same time
- to swap the cooker hood for a clever extractor
- to be able to enjoy the view of the garden uninhibited by fussy window dressings
dining area
- to make adding 2 to 3 additional seats at the dining table a little easier
- to be able to use the dining area as a place where the client could sit and chat with a friend or read a book or magazine
- to utilise the client’s Neptune oak table
- to be able to enjoy the view of the garden uninhibited by fussy window dressings
my initial notes
TECHNICAL DRAWINGS
Below is a drawing of the original layout of the kitchen/dining room. The dining area is to the right-hand side of the plan whilst the kitchen is to the left. My immediate thought was to ‘flip’ the layout so that the dining area would open out onto the garden.
After much deliberation I came up with a revised scheme that did, indeed, position the dining area to the left-hand side of the plan. By doing so I was able to specify a corner bench and adequate seating for family and guests.
This revised layout also presented the opportunity to incorporate a run of floor to ceiling cabinets that would house all of the everyday peripherals such as a toaster, kettle, and coffee machine and still provide plenty of room for a built-in fridge/freezer and larder.
I relocated the sink to be below the bay window thus providing views of the garden whilst in use. The hob remained in the centre of the room but with the cooker hood removed and a down-draught extractor installed.
Step 4 – Key Purchases
My proposed scheme would necessitate a number of key purchases, not least, the bespoke cabinetry. I opted for a calm grey/green colour for the backdrop against which I chose to use yellow, grey, blue, and white fabrics for the window dressings and soft-furnishings.
I was particularly inspired by an image of a set of a set of roller blinds with contrasting pelmets and a gathered curtain below the sink. A similar arrangement would work well in this particular kitchen. Adding a pair of full length curtains in the dining area would provide the desired level of privacy without obstructing the view, or access, to the sunny garden.
Step 5 – Client Presentation
The final presentation took the form of carefully curated selection of items that were clearly documented.
Summary
This exercise was set by The Interior Designers’ Hub of which I am a professional member. It was completed over a period of five days and was designed to provide the client with a broad scope of entries from which to choose a design.
See below for useful links to similar projects and suppliers.
