100 best ideas for a kitchen with a living room: interior and design, rules for combining

Many families follow the usual traditions when all households get together for breakfast, dinner or Sunday lunch. It will be even better if there are places for guests at the table, even if they come unexpectedly. Indeed, with all the overabundance of modern communications, today many of us clearly lack communication with our relatives and friends. And often it is the small space of the living space that is often the main obstacle to translating all this into real life.

Alas, a typical apartment of a multi-storey building, which was made according to the standard project of the Soviet era, does not provide for spacious apartments in principle. But it is precisely such houses and apartments that still dominate almost the entire post-Soviet space. In this case, the expansion of the kitchen can be achieved only due to part of the usable area of other rooms. The most rational, proven method, and therefore a common technique, is to remove the partition between the living room and the kitchen.

Such a redevelopment gives rise not only to an open space with more comfortable conditions for culinary creations - combining two rooms greatly simplifies any movement, eliminates unnecessary movements when setting the table, changing dishes, etc. The united space is even visually perceived in a completely different way, and you need to try to design it in the best way. Without a thorough and competent design refinement, there is no need to rush with the final decision to reorganize.

Combined kitchen: pros and cons

The idea to equip part of a single spacious room with a kitchen in its modern form appeared in post-industrial countries. But there it is generally customary to make simple snacks, drinks, warm up ready meals or carry out simple operations with convenience foods. In the West, a daily multi-hour stay at the stove is an exception.

In our conditions, the reverse situation is traditionally widespread: most of the dishes eaten in home kitchens are created, as they say, “from” and “to”. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that a variety of culinary smells will constantly remain in the rest of the territory that is not fenced off. The persistent aroma of borsch or fried meat will be difficult to handle with a simple classic range hood.

It is also important to realize the need to constantly keep the combined kitchen in perfect cleanliness. After all, unwashed utensils, scattered utensils, scruffy stoves will be constantly in sight, and accidentally dropped crumbs will force the entire floor to be cleaned. One must also be prepared for this.

But all these nuances are just petty concerns for a real hostess, in comparison with the advantages and benefits that such a layout can give us.

The indisputable advantage of merging the kitchen with the living room is the expansion of the area for general household meetings at the dining table. Now in the living room there is much more daylight due to the kitchen window, and the hostess can freely communicate with home, guests, constantly in sight, while changing meals on the table without unnecessary walks.

In combination with a successful design, the unity of the kitchen and the living room is able to qualitatively transform the interior, fill the apartment with comfort, and update its functionality. The feeling of pleasant novelty in everyday conditions will add positive impressions to the established routine of everyday existence.

We comply with the rules and regulations

Of course, the idea of combining the kitchen with the living room requires the mandatory permission of the city administration. According to all building rules and regulations, it is forbidden to combine the kitchen area with the living room in apartments equipped with gas stoves in multi-storey residential buildings. Another thing is when your kitchen is equipped with an electric stove. In addition, the supporting wall separating the living room with the kitchen is also indestructible. But with a great desire, a neat opening is allowed. It remains only to obtain special permission, after which you can order a project.

Before deciding to redevelop, keep in mind - every thoughtless little thing is fraught with grave consequences. In any case, all the nuances and issues must be discussed with highly qualified specialists.

Varieties of layout: combining two spaces for different purposes

The unity of completely different purpose rooms, kitchens and living rooms is relevant not only for the "Khrushchevs", but also for luxurious cottages, spacious studio apartments, where the idea of an open space in itself is already very attractive. But in what cases is it better to combine two radically different functions of the room?

Most often, the following options for such design are found:

1. One-room small-sized studio apartments, where there is nothing superfluous in the interior of the room, but only objects necessary for life;

2. Luxury three-room or two-room apartments, pompous cottages and country houses. Here the idea of combining spaces is exclusively the taste preferences of the owners themselves, the desire for wide open spaces and freedom of movement;

3. Dwellings with a small kitchen and a huge adjacent living room. Perhaps this is the most popular option when households decide to redevelop. In this case, the wall is transferred, while reducing the area of the room, thereby increasing the kitchen area. A small space serves as a living room - whether it be a nursery or a bedroom - and the resulting free zone favorably combines a kitchen and a living room.

I must say, the last option is the most optimal solution with a lack of square meters. Often they resort to it in order to increase the living room, and not the kitchen: in one way or another, the combined rooms turn into a convenient free space.

Zoning methods - harmony of two interiors

When combining a kitchen with a living room, it is not at all necessary that they completely merge styles, textures and design techniques. On the contrary, here we should strive for harmony of two different interiors, which naturally blend into each other. Therefore, the border separating the kitchen should be indicated one way or another. To implement this rule, there are several basic techniques.

Bar counter

The main and often used method is the erection of a bar counter. Partially left partitions, which previously separated the kitchen volume, can act as the latter. They make out such a peculiar barrier with wood, facing stone in combination with plastic fragments.

Two-level floor

Two-level flooring is also popular. The kitchen area can be raised or slightly deepened in relation to the level of the entire living room. The half-step raised podium serves as a good cover for all kitchen utilities. And if you do the opposite, it will be easier to monitor cleanliness and order. In any case, it is important that the original ceiling height is sufficient.

The combination of floor coverings that are different in texture, pattern and material is also able to definitely distinguish functional areas without additional tricks.

Isle

There is also a separation technique through the construction of a certain delimiting island, which can be represented either by a closed bar and an elongated bar, or by the dining table itself. The shape of the countertops here is usually performed according to the patterns to order for the most natural merger with the other decor, dimensions and aspect ratio of the living room-kitchen.

Figured opening

You can simply leave a part of the removed wall if the remaining opening will suit the size. You can design it in the form of an arch, and emphasize the transition from one room to another with miniature lamps located on it.

Partitions

Light stylized and translucent partitions are the best choice for those who still want to occasionally close the kitchen area from prying eyes. Such shutters can be folded accordion or simply slide if necessary. A small difference in ceiling height can also help zoning.

Living plants, aquariums, screens

Fans of an extraordinary design approach can choose a fence from living plants, narrow and elongated aquariums, original designs, unique screens and curtains of a certain style. If everything is selected with taste, done with love and diligence, then the result will undoubtedly please all the guests and owners of the house.

Convenience, color and style

When the decision to create a single kitchen-living room has been made, now it is up to a detailed study of the design. Here, first of all, it is necessary to identify the main accents. If the future kitchen is planned only for cooking, then it is enough to ensure its optimal functionality and design in a minimalist style. When you want to emphasize a bright personality, you cannot do without a detailed study of several options.

If the kitchen is seen as a whole with the living room, then it should be sustained in the same style and color scheme.

When there is an intention to emphasize a certain isolation of a place for cooking, contrasting color solutions, furniture from different materials, combinations of different styles will come to the rescue.

For example, wood and fabric in the living area can be contrasted with metal and plastic in the kitchen. To emphasize the necessary accents, the decor of the walls, floor and ceiling will help.

The design of the living room space is also done depending on the initially selected priorities. Decor can be contrasting or unifying. It is important as a result to get a consistent combination of styles, materials and colors.

Contrast differences should not tire, and even more annoy those who are in the combined living room-kitchen.

An abundance of bright colors with sharp borders is unlikely to be appropriate here. The decoration of different zones should ideally create a kind of holistic and complete picture of the common space.

Minimalist style in the design allows you to save and increase the spaciousness of the combined rooms. But this is precisely what caused the removal of the dividing wall. The absence of many optional items and accessories gives visual freedom and the best functionality. Significantly less often they resort to decorating separate spaces of combined volume in a deliberately contrasting style. Here clearly traced the desire of the owner of the home to claim shocking and some own unique significance.

Play of light: smooth transitions

When planning a kitchen-living room, special attention should be paid to lighting. After all, it is light that plays a significant role in the division of functional zones. And here it is very important to maintain the right balance between bright and softer light transitions. So, in the kitchen, an unusual elegant chandelier or a glamorous lamp that emits bright light will look very elegant, and in local places above the table, bar, stove, sink, work surface - spot lighting, which provides a smooth transition to a pleasant soft lighting.

In modern interiors, LED backlighting is often used to distinguish between functional areas.

The requirements for the living room are more loyal - here you can dream up and arrange everything to your taste. But experience shows that the most optimal option is spot lighting around the perimeter of a single-level or multi-level ceiling.

As for the workplace, it is best to place it near a window with good natural light and additionally hang a lamp for evening time here.

Freshness, cleanliness and comfort: ventilation and silent appliances in the kitchen combined with the living room

Such a layout primarily involves a high-quality and reliable ventilation system. After all, impeccable cleanliness and freshness in an open room is far from a luxury, but a vital necessity! Therefore, you do not need to save on hoods, otherwise you risk filling the house with all kinds of smells of cooked dishes and accumulated soot on the surfaces.

When choosing a hood, give preference to models equipped with a standard air vent function. Do not buy structures with a recirculation mode when the filtered air returns to the combined room. The cumbersome duct can be hidden behind the facade of the wall cabinet, covered with drywall imitating a decorative beam, or its contours can be decorated with elegant textured ornaments.

The main point that you need to pay attention to when buying household appliances for an open space is its maximum noiselessness. After all, few people will like to constantly flinch from the sudden rumble of the refrigerator or listen to the loud operation of the washing machine. Contact the consultants in the store who will tell you in detail about all the characteristics of the household appliance, including the noise level. As an alternative, you can independently install kitchen appliances in the cabinets, thereby reducing the volume and vibration of the working unit.

The merger of two different premises in their original sense and purpose made it inevitable to follow one rule - the unification of objects for the possibility of their use in the living room and in the kitchen. The bar counter, for example, can serve as a kind of addition to the dining table. And the latter, in turn, will be a great place to place a small winery.

In any case, the desire and determination will allow almost everyone to realize the dream of convenience, spaciousness and aesthetic appeal of the kitchen-living room in their own home.