Ideabook Steve+Gina
If you open the stair to the living area we could form storage underneath...
If we were to have a decluttered open plan kitchen for instance - it might be a good idea to have a traditional 'pantry' tucked around the corner...
storage within the enlarged hall reception - colourful option!
at the proposed entrance hall we can have an enlarged footprint that can house storage - cloaks, shoes etc...
here is an example where the kitchen and the furniture blend into one open plan space...
when we think about the entrance area - potentially an extension to form a porch at the front... we can think about seating, storage and how the space will work for the family...
great island...
when thinking about the utility area - we should consider what and how the space will be used...
here is an example of a kitchen dining and living area all set out formally within a single space... it's not perhaps right for you as it's not an exact match of what you are looking for - however it shows what can be achieved within a tight footprint... I think we can create a more 'open feel' space for your project yet still locate various functions specific to your growing family...
just an early work in progress sketch, taking some of the ideas tabled for discussion and isolating some of them and grouping for further focus...
storage wall using the wall depth - closed and open shelving... this can be bespoke joinery or 'plug and play' Ikea units for instance...
I include this image because it is an example of how a 'corridor' between areas can be visually controlled with different materials, colours and lighting... it's not directly applicable perhaps to your project - however if we think about how you will be moving through a space we might think about specific, lighting, colours and finishes which augment the overall space in terms of look and feel...
ideally when planning the kitchen - every drawer or cupboard has a specific place and use - a sink drawer under the sink etc...
very strong framed opening to the garden...
pantry storage tucked away...
shelving with room/area behind...
I've included this one because of the very strong recess to the ceiling - when we are creating an open plan space we can also think about dividing the space into areas using lighting and recessed work to the ceilings...
kitchen island and storage wall with bench seating... accent colour for the fronts of the units - simple white elsewhere...
here within the wall depth are hidden storage areas for TV's, books etc...
Here is a storage wall with irregular shaped door panels... a relatively simple concept with a twist...
this is a little 'off the wall' granted - however there are some interesting ideas here - the painted storage and the wood effect storage etc... Note the LED lighting strip around a ceiling edge...
this is an interesting image in that the kitchen space is a space within an overall space - open plan but also controlled as a room...
here is an example of a kitchen/bar area within a central core...
here is an example of a storage wall as an open display - it's a bedroom in this case - however it could be a division wall in the open plan space of your living area...
here is an example of a central core feature... the overall space is open however their is still a core retained - storage, fireplace, TV, WC etc...
If you opened the current living room 'front to back' within your house and had glazing to the garden you could create a look and feel for this kind of open 'big' room... the kitchen, utility and snug would be to the right - the party wall to your neighbour would be to the left... we cannot easily make this height in your house but the 'open feel' could be achieved...
I really like this translucent sliding screen - it's an interesting thing to consider if you want the best of both worlds - an open multi use 'party' and family space, yet something that can close down a little if you wanted a 'snug' for instance...
looking past the sofa you can see the kitchen area - however the design of the kitchen fits the look and feel of the overall open plan space...
this example I find interesting as the formal seating is placed carefully towards a feature wall and also sits beside a dining area - the corridor is central and overall the space is open plan...
...this example is interesting because they have linked a table with an island in a 'tee' shape... also the form of the kitchen itself looks more like room furniture rather than a fitted kitchen typically 'country' style etc...
strong island feature - view through to the next part of the house - which for your home might be the garden or an extension...
cool kitchen - we could consider where a strong design like this one fits into the overall space...
island's also do not have be very big - this one is pretty compact...
this example is where an island has a direct relationship to the dining area table...
when you are thinking about an island it's a good idea to think about what you would want in the island in terms of use and storage... plate warmers, pan storage etc...
cool functional kitchen wall
I think this is lovely - but it's all down to personal taste - I just included it for ideas and discussion... for instance if an island was located between you current living area and kitchen the grey painted walls would be the area where your current back door and fridge freezer is sitting at the moment...
There are some aspects of this photo that I don't like - however it does show that you can mix and match styles within a space - if you were extending to the rear you could add a lantern roof light feature and have less glazing on the walls...
If you are opening the rear wall to the garden or forming an extension - careful consideration of the glazing system and overall opening size makes a big difference...
vertical pantry stores slide away into the wall - with double ovens within an overall storage wall...
I like the multi height island with the breakfast bar... different uses and activities can be considered - home office use or homework desking etc...
what I like about this island is that is has a drop ceiling over the footprint for the extract and lighting... the position of the island itself is at right angles to a view through to the garden...
...if you compress or focus the kitchen area within a defined wall or footprint it would allow best use of the overall space for other activities... with this photo there is a lot happening in a relatively small area...
big american style fridge freezer built into the storage wall depth...
something different...
Q