How to Make Open Kitchens Work in Indian Homes

Defy conventional boundaries with open-plan kitchen designs that work for our kind of homes

Rashmi Haralalka 22 February 2017

Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about not just home decor but little things around that to the aesthetic appeal. It could be your own kitchen garden or even just sprucing up the lights in the doorway. And it's amazing how these minuscule items add up to the bigger picture. Writing and sharing these is my idea of rejuvenation therapy!

Houzz India Contributor. I am a blogger who's passionate about not just home decor... More

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Want an open-plan kitchen but feel that the nothing-to-hide kitchen design would intrude on your privacy? Or are you worried that our cooking styles (and spices and tadkas) are not conducive to such a layout? Here are some trendy and practical modulations to sort out these concerns.

Design Arc Interiors Bangalore

Go for half and half
The half-and-half layout can work in many homes. The kitchen area can be open to the dining space yet it can be kept enclosed with a bit of privacy. A half-wall or a counter deftly sections off the cooking part of the kitchen while leaving the rest open. In this kitchen by Design Arc Interiors Bangalore, the prepping counters and gas cooking stove are placed inside while the refrigerator and serving area are outside. A win-win situation!

Rebecca James studio

Plan a corner kitchen
If you’d like to have an open-style kitchen but prefer a bit of privacy, then you can plan a corner kitchen. With a hallway or narrow passage leading to this zone, you can still incorporate the idea – but take care to chalk out a well-planned design. This way you also optimise space without boundaries and doors.

Moriq

Create invisible boundaries
The rule of thumb with an open kitchen design is not to let your kitchen stuff (and zone) cross over to the living room and vice versa. Set up countertops to create a kind of invisible boundary for the kitchen area. The black-and-white L-shaped counter in this kitchen by Moriq Interiors forms a neat boundary on two sides of the kitchen, with storage cabinets to prevent overlapping and cluttering. So, even without walls, you are setting up some off-limits areas.

Design Arc Interiors Bangalore

The designer smartly uses the elongated passage to create an open kitchen. The wooden tiling flows to the living area and creates uniformity and continuity, connecting the kitchen with the rest of the house.

Allen Construction

Add a sliding/folding window or door
If keeping your kitchen dust-free seems to be a problem or you still want a bit more privacy, you can always add a set of sliding or folding doors and windows as shown in this image. Made of opaque glass framed with wooden panelling, these can be folded up and don’t get in the way, unlike regular doors.

Allen Construction

And just unfold the doors and windows to get a closed kitchen in no time.

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w.b. builders

Focus on cabinetry
Open kitchens are all about the happy co-existence between the living and the dining areas. Enhance the aesthetics by adding closed shelves, cabinets and drawers. The durable wood construction by W.B. Builders is contrasted with classic tiles. Thanks to the smart storage, there is no cluttering in this open kitchen.

Kitchen Storage: How to Pack a Punch

SEA Group Germany

Tip: A pantry is a must-have for any open kitchen as it allows you to organise food storage in a restricted space.

How to Bring a Pantry Into Your Kitchen

A360 a r c h i t e c t s

Let the chimney vent the fumes
A chimney prevents the entire area from becoming too smokey or claustrophobic because of pungent smells. With its sleek design, it will also enhance the decorative value of your open kitchen. A chimney right atop the stove effectively absorbs fumes, preventing them from exiting the kitchen. This kitchen from A360 Architects is a practical example of infusing the open kitchen style in your contemporary home, using a sleek steel chimney.

Abc Abc Design

Draw the curtain
Most open kitchen areas also have a dining space. Curtains work as a sensible and affordable division in the space shown. Maybe they can work in your home, too! The white, almost translucent ones here don’t block out the sunlight or air circulation, but give just the right amount of privacy. The breezy drapes can be looped back with elegant ties when not in use.

Read more:
How to Ace Open Plan Living in India
10 Indian Kitchens on Houzz That Evoke Envy

Tell us:
What are the challenges open kitchens face in Indian homes? Share in Comments below.