Kitchen Design

Like decades ago, the kitchen occupies an honorable place in our apartments and houses, it is here that families gather every day for lunch and dinner, communicate, relax and taste the culinary masterpieces prepared by the hostesses. However, in our time, the kitchen, in addition to its main function, also bears aesthetic value, great attention is paid to its functionality, ergonomics and interior design. What kitchen style is current? How to make the most of a small space? What features do the majority face when combining and zoning? We will try to talk about all this in the article.

Design styles for the kitchen

Design any room, including the kitchen, is a matter of taste, if you wish, you can beat any space, while it will be not only functional, but also pleasing to the eye. The style can be either "pure" or created on the basis of several style directions. It is better to entrust eclectic design and a mixture of styles to designers, we also note that, for example, pretentious baroque or rococo is not suitable for kitchen decoration, so you should not set yourself impossible tasks if you do not have serious finances.

The main style directions of kitchen design:

• Classics for that and classics that will always be relevant. It is characterized by the clarity of lines, the absence of unnecessary decorative elements, restraint. Most often, expensive natural materials are used, high-quality flooring, most often laminate or parquet board, light-colored wallpaper, without a pattern.
• The modern style is no less popular today, it is much closer to the modern realities of life, asymmetry and clarity of lines are rare here, but the rational placement of furniture and the functionality of the room come to the fore. There is a great variety of materials used (plastic, glass, metal) and all kinds of colors, including bright ones.
• High-tech style and minimalism is suitable for advanced residents of megacities. In such a kitchen, everything is subject to a single direction. High-tech is characterized by restraint and clarity of lines, geometric shapes, and the absence of decorative elements. In minimalism, emphasis is placed on functionality and ergonomics, and metal, plastic and glass fittings serve as a kind of decoration of the space. The kitchen is often subdivided into zones, the presence of bright color accents is encouraged, but more often it is gray, black, silver.
• Ethnic kitchen design includes several directions, the overall atmosphere and stylistic accents will depend on its choice. Country means the use of natural wood and light warm shades. Provence is created from a large number of decorative shelves, floral textiles, delicate shades of blue, olive, beige and lilac. It is in the ethno-style that it is important to maintain its purity so that the interior looks harmonious.
• One of the brave design solutions- creating a kitchen in the Loft style, this is the most popular example of eclecticism, that is, mixing several styles at once. As a rule, rough forms and materials are taken as a basis - a plaster wall or deliberately careless brickwork, modern household appliances here successfully coexist with antiques, antique furniture and textiles of poisonous colors.

Small kitchen design

Small kitchens are a real scourge and a problem for the owners of small apartments, however, you can cope with this task successfully if you know a few tricks and design tricks.

A small square kitchen is the most optimal option; a corner kitchen set, a work area with a stove, refrigerator and sink will fit perfectly in it, while they are located side by side, forming a triangle. It is better to delimit the dining area and the cooking area. If space permits, you can put an oval or round table, at which several people can fit, otherwise it would be a good decision to purchase a transforming table, if necessary, you can push it. In a small kitchen, it is important to use every centimeter profitably, for example, a window with a window sill can easily turn into a bar counter.

In a small rectangular kitchen, all furniture is usually installed along the walls, and the dining table will be replaced with a bar counter or a transforming table. The kitchen-pencil case is not the most convenient room in order to somehow visually expand it, use design tricks: hang mirrors or choose a mirror apron for the kitchen unit, it is better to buy curtains with a large pattern, the doors take up extra space, get rid of them or make them sliding ...

In modern apartments, kitchens of a non-standard shape are often found, for example, with niches in the wall. They ideally fit household appliances or pieces of furniture - built-in wardrobe, refrigerator, dining table, bar counter.

Other tricks for renovating small kitchens:

• for a small room, select light shades, plain wallpaper;
• to visually expand the space, combine the colors of the kitchen and the corridor;
• do not abuse contrasting, flashy colors, only a warm palette, calm tones - no more than 2-3;
• the color scheme of the furniture should match the color of the walls;
• transparent glass furniture will create an atmosphere of lightness, weightlessness;
• heavy curtains in a small kitchen are inappropriate, hang light curtains, roman blinds or blinds.

Large kitchen design

It would seem that the owners of spacious kitchens should be happy, because in a large room it is much easier to realize their design fantasies, however, this must be done competently, having studied all sorts of layout options.

First, figure out how you want to arrange the furniture. A huge advantage in a large kitchen is the ability to make different types of layouts. Depending on the shape of the room, you can install the headset linearly, L-shaped, U-shaped or islands. Provide the proximity of the main working area - the refrigerator, stove and sink, so that the hostess does not have to rush from one corner to another.

Use the linear layout option in an elongated room, then the kitchen set can be installed along one wall, and the dining area along the other, while the stove and refrigerator should be located nearby. In a two-row arrangement, furniture is placed along both walls. For a square kitchen-dining room, an L-shaped layout is suitable, when the working area is located along two adjacent walls, forming a triangle, while the dining area looks good in the other corner.

Combined kitchen design

Combining two or more rooms is no longer an unusual design solution. Most often, they combine the kitchen and living room in order to increase the area, if they are not satisfied with their size. But in order to feel as comfortable as possible, you need to take into account many nuances, weighing the advantages and disadvantages of such a technique.

The main advantage, as already mentioned, is the acquisition of additional square meters. If you remove the wall between the kitchen and the living room, then a place will automatically appear for installing furniture or household appliances. Now you can create several zones, including work, dining and for receiving guests, relaxing and socializing.

However, combining rooms has its drawbacks, because now the smells of their kitchen will spread to the living room, be sure to take care of installing an exhaust and ventilation system. In addition, the sounds of household appliances sometimes disturb those who are resting in another zone. In this case, there is only one way out - purchase a silent technique. And in order to preserve the functionality of the rooms, follow the rules for zoning rooms.

Kitchen design with zoning

Usually, we use the kitchen area not only as a workplace for cooking, but also as a dining area and even living room... You can simply combine this functionality - demolish the wall separating the room and the kitchen, in the case when it is not a carrier. It can be removed partially, completely or leaving the arch. Abroad, the option of redeveloping an apartment into a studio is also often used, when it turns into one large room, divided into zones.

Visual zoning methods:

• The simplest and most common way is to use different floor coverings, not only in color, but also in texture. This will be quite logical, given that tiles are most often laid in the kitchen, and carpet or laminate in the living room. The delimitation of lines between zones can be straight and curved.
• The first option can be combined with another method - zoning using several finishing materials for the walls.
• The separation can be done using different types of lighting.
• One of the most popular ways is to install a bar counter between the kitchen and living room.

Design of curtains for the kitchen

When creating your dream kitchen, don't forget about the decor. An important element of the interior is the curtains, it is they who can transform the entire space, hiding some of the shortcomings of the window opening, creating coziness and emphasizing the style.

Give preference to natural fabrics that transmit light and air well and do not require special care.

How to choose curtains to the kitchen:

• The Art Nouveau kitchen allows for a variety of decor options. Curtains can be of a standard length, made of synthetic and natural fabrics, glossy, plain, ornamented. Roman and Japanese curtains will also look advantageous, and translucent curtains in light shades will add airiness to the interior. The mood will be created by blinds or roller blinds with all kinds of patterns.
• The classics strive for the severity of lines, grace and nobility, therefore the task of decorative elements is to emphasize the rich decoration, without introducing bright accents.
• But the oriental style, on the contrary, requires a bright palette, multicolor, which will complement the oriental chic. Don't be afraid of ornaments, gold piping and fringes.
• The Provence style kitchen creates an atmosphere of lightness, so do not seek to "come off" on the curtains. It is better to choose flying, sheer and translucent fabrics, plain or floral and tie it with strings.
• A high-tech room can do without curtains at all. If you are not ready to give up on them, opt for functionality and convenience by choosing roller blinds and blinds.

Ceiling design for the kitchen

In interior design, any detail plays a role in creating a harmonious and stylish room, while the ceiling is an important component in the decoration, the choice of material and color here influences the overall perception.

Types of ceilings for the kitchen:

• Plasterboard structures do not require intensive preparatory work in the form of alignment, they will easily hide all communications and wiring. In addition, when installing it, you can fantasize with lighting by installing various sources - chandeliers, spotlights, etc. With the help of multi-level ceilings, the room can be easily divided into zones. At the same time, it is worth knowing that the installation of a suspended plasterboard ceiling is quite laborious.
• Stretch ceiling very popular in modern apartments due to its pleasant appearance, practicality and ease of maintenance, moisture resistance, it hides all defects, installation takes a couple of hours. The market offers many options for different textures and colors - glossy, matte and photo-printed ceilings. However, this option has its drawbacks, because the stretch ceiling is very easy to damage, puncture or flood with water.
• Ceiling tiles are the easiest way to hide ceiling imperfections, they are cheap and do not require surface preparation. The main disadvantage is its unpresentable appearance.
• Paint and whitewash are still used as materials for ceiling decoration. The painting process is laborious and requires preparation - leveling the surface, filling and priming.
• Decorative plaster is a relatively new way to decorate indoor ceiling. With it, you can create an original drawing and hide defects.
• A slatted ceiling made of steel, plastic or aluminum does not require special maintenance, is durable, the only drawback is that during its installation it will be necessary to reduce the ceiling height by 7-10 cm.

Kitchen floor design

Competent selection of floor coverings has one of the key roles when it comes to the interior of the kitchen, because it is on this part of the room that almost the greatest load falls. We are constantly moving around the kitchen, especially in the area of ​​the working triangle, various factors negatively affect the floor covering, including high humidity and temperature, the influence of liquids and dirt. It is worth excluding some materials, for example, laminate or carpet, and preferring more durable ones.

Types of flooring for the kitchen:

• Ceramic tiles are more often than other materials used in the kitchen, hallway and bathroom. In private houses, such a floor is often made heated, because the tile itself is a cold material, but has a high thermal conductivity. An excellent alternative to tiles can be porcelain stoneware, it is covered with enamel, has high strength and imitates natural stone.
• Natural wooden floor is not cheap pleasure, but it looks very presentable, the material is environmentally friendly, but difficult to maintain, especially in a kitchen. Exposure to water can permanently ruin your beautiful and expensive floor.
• Laminate is a cheaper substitute for wood flooring. A huge variety of colors and textures allows you to implement any idea, however, it is not considered durable either, it is afraid of water and mechanical damage.
• Linoleum is still used as a single piece or tile flooring, and can mimic wood or any other material. It is not afraid of exposure to water, it is easily cleaned of dirt. Linoleum is inexpensive, even a beginner can perform its installation, but this coating is considered short-lived.
• The self-leveling floor is created using the latest technologies, while the room will have a perfectly flat horizontal surface, strong and durable.

Kitchen design ideas