How to go about designing an Open kitchen/dining area.

[Gaz3376]

We bought our house 2 years ago with the idea of building an extension and creating a brand new open kitchen/dining area.

We are now in a financial position to get started but other than seeing a few kitchen styles we like the look of we are a bit stuck as how to get cracking with the design etc.

Ideally id like someone whos experienced in this sort of thing to give me some ideas as im not the most imaginative of people, would an architect give me some ideas or best sticking to kitchen companys?

[Muncher]

I suspect if you post up a decent plan of what you have now there will be several people who will be able to suggest something.

[B17NNS]

My old place. We extended out and build a flat roofed extension with a lantern roof.

[Gaz3376]

So here we go, this is the existing kitchen and the top right are is the extension which will be built to give us a large square area/blank canvess to to work with. The wall seperating utility and kitchen can be removed but some of the wall utility room/dining will have to remain I believe.

[fatboy b]

If you go to any of the decent kitchen shops, they do a free design service. We used InToto last year.

[Risotto]

The idea of open plan living has its place but people can go too far. Personally i would leave the utility room alone. Given that kitchens are now essentially reception rooms, it wouldn't do to have anything as noisy and utilitarian as a washing machine in there . Having somewhere separate for such things can be handy.

In terms of getting some design ideas, get the Houzz app - thousands of searchable professional photos of interior design. Save the ones you like via the idea book facility for future reference.

I don't know what sort of budget you have in mind but some of the mass market retailers have online planners available, I know Ikea have one for example.

Edited by Risotto on Wednesday 30th November 15:55

[B17NNS]

Are you keeping a formal dining room or having that wall away too?

[Gaz3376]

B17NNS said:

Are you keeping a formal dining room or having that wall away too?

The dining room space/kitchen/extension will be one large space.

[jmsgld]

It's a bit difficult to comment without any dimensions on the plan / knowing where windows etc will be.

Ikea's kitchen design tool is pretty easy to use and you can add dining tables etc.

If you do a basic plan and then post up a picture of it I'm sure you'll get plenty of comments...

[V8RX7]

I found this free tool superb:

http://www.easyplanner3d.com/