After collaborating together nearly 20 years ago, this lovely couple contacted us to renovate their kitchen and family room. As empty nesters, their Itasca, IL, residence is the home base for family gatherings. To facilitate easier entertaining, we improved traffic flow with an open concept kitchen and family room design that cleared sightlines between the two rooms.
Open Concept Design: What Is It & Why Choose It
Open concept or open plan refer to a style of design that eliminates barriers like walls and doors that traditionally separated distinct functional areas. The most common utilization of open concept design is combining the kitchen, living room, and dining room into a single great room.
Benefits of an open concept kitchen and family room include:
- Better traffic flow
- Improved social interactions during gatherings
- Increased flexibility for furniture arrangement and layout
- Potential for an increase in home value
- Spaces can be multifunctional
- Enhanced natural light without walls to block light
Our Approach to an Open Concept Kitchen and Family Room
To help our clients achieve the perfect open concept kitchen and family room for entertaining, we made several key changes. First, we replaced an L-shaped island and small prep island in the kitchen with one large rectangular unit. This gives them comfortable island seating for five as well as plenty of cooking and serving surface. We also opened sight lines between the kitchen to the family room to their beautiful outdoor pool and the golf course next door to enhance natural light in the space.
In the family room, we reupholstered and refinished several existing pieces for a familiar, yet refreshed look. We also designed new custom rugs and window treatments to finish the space. The geometric pattern for the curtains and shades add just the right amount of visual interest to the family room. Plus, they’re designed to allow maximum light into the space during the day for a bright, cheerful atmosphere.
Adjacent to the family room is a small four-person game table that doubles as an extra dining table. Similar to the furniture in the family room, we opted to reupholster and refinish the table and chairs here for a fresh new look that still feels familiar.
Interested in an Open Concept Design?
Open concept designs have many benefits and are a great choice for families that do a lot of entertaining. If you’re considering an open concept kitchen and family room or dining room, contact our expert interior designers today to discuss your project. We look forward to working with you!
