Skip to main content

Sharing some of the most inspiring projects from around the world…

Mediterranean inspired interior design of Hotel CalifornianIn Volume 7 Issue 1 of eSociety we highlighted the launch of the newest edition of our SBID International Design Awards which is officially open and accepting project entries for 2018. Our Awards receive the highest calibre of interior design projects year-on-year for the chance to be recognised for interior design excellence.

However, even if you don’t enter your project for an Award, we’re always interested in sharing and celebrating impressive design projects from around the world. So much so that in every issue of our eSociety magazine we take a look at some of the most inspiring projects, from large-scale retail designs and global hotel projects to high-end luxury residential developments, to see how creativity in interior design is transforming the way we work and live our lives.

Mediterranean inspired interior design of Hotel CalifornianIn this issue, we explored a new luxury destination nestled between Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The Hotel Californian is idyllically placed in the Santa Barbara, coined the American Riviera for it’s picturesque landscapes and Mediterranean climate. Designed by LA-based interior designer, Martyn Lawrence Bullard sensitively retained the façade of the original 1925 Hotel Californian, whilst incorporating the rich, eclectic vibrancy of traditional Mediterranean designs.

This 121 room seaside destination comprises of a rooftop pool, featuring panoramic views of the coastline. Brimming with Mediterranean influences and sultry Moroccan details, this project included the hotel’s two restaurants and spa; the hotel’s signature restaurant, Blackbird; the more casual dining option, the Goat Tree Cafe; and Spa Marjorelle, the hotel’s resident luxury spa. Discover more about how Martyn Lawrence Bullard captured the authentic Moroccan character and imbued the essence of Marrakech throughout this stunning hotel design.

Read this feature →

Mediterranean inspired interior design of Hotel Californian

This feature originally appeared in the Portfolio section within Volume 7 Issue 1 of the official SBID interior design magazine, eSociety.

Click here to read the full issue or see more inspiring projects in the Portfolio section, here.

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features London-based design and build company Oktra who took on the challenge of transforming a Victorian building at King’s Cross Station into a remarkable ultra-modern workspace for 300 people. The brief was to create a forwarding-thinking collaborative workplace without affecting the original architecture of the building. The Oktra team inserted contemporary design using intriguing landscapes and modern shapes into the industrial period building. The space includes 300 fixed workstations, open plan desking and several meeting pods over an expansive café area. Biophilia is used throughout to create a relaxing natural environment and bring a sense of the outdoors in. The space allows NewDay to choose how, when and where they work by offering a range of work settings. Each area is designed for a different type of task. 

Company: Oktra

Project: NewDay

Project Location: London, United Kingdom

Interior design of a modern office space in Kings Cross, London by Oktra

What was the client’s brief? 

NewDay appointed our team to design a bold and modern 30,000 sq ft workspace in a magnificent Victorian building. They required a design which would grant more working space to help promote collaboration. NewDay wanted a mixture of formal and informal meeting places, including 300 fixed workstations to encourage productivity and communication.

Interior design of a modern office space in Kings Cross, London by Oktra

What inspired the design of the Project?

Our vision was to achieve a contemporary design whilst retaining the building’s original mid-18th century features. To achieve this we inserted intriguing landscapes and modern shapes against the period brickwork backdrop to create an interesting and engaging juxtaposition which created a complimentary contrast between modern features and the characterful components of the previous architectural structure. We therefore had to come up with a design which was sympathetic to the buildings original features but also able to inject a lively and contemporary spirit into the property.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Working with and around the Grade II Listed building, and connecting the 2 parts of the building together visually was definitely the most challenging aspect of the project. The site has close proximity to rail tunnels below the ground floor and an acoustic floor separates the demise at first floor level so there were various reasons to tread carefully which we had to navigate as the project developed in order to complete the work without compromising on our original vision.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The project’s most remarkable feature is a floating 60m long mezzanine suspended over an acoustic floor, leaving a striking impression on everyone who enters the space. This complex piece of engineering is completely independent of the existing building fabric, and maximises use of the space while offering a different perspective. This involved lengthy coordination of services from our team alongside a series of structural gymnastics within the raised floor.

Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?

Being one of the most prestigious awards in the design industry, we were honoured to be finalists in the 2017 SBID International Design Awards. To be recognised by SBID is a true testament to the work we do as leading design and build specialists.

Interior design of a modern office space in Kings Cross, London by Oktra

Questions answered by David Bishop, Senior Designer at Oktra 

To ensure you are kept up to date with the latest design inspiration sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @sbiduk 

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with a sleek and faceted interior concept, inspired by the striking linear architecture of the Dollar Bay development in Canary Wharf, click here to see more.

The 2018 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is now officially open for entries!

Click here to register or enter your project!

We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

Oktra | SBID International Design Awards 2018

Interior design of a modern office space in Kings Cross, London by Oktra

Interior design of a modern office space in Kings Cross, London by Oktra

Interior design of a modern office space in Kings Cross, London by Oktra

In the latest edition of eSociety, Volume 7 Issue 1, SBID conducted a Special Report on two integral areas of interior design. We spoke with Craig & Rose, Philips Lighting and energy company, innogy, to help to shed some light on the latest industry trends in the field of Lighting & Surfaces. 

 

Colour Trends from Craig & Rose: 

Established in 1829 by two young Scottish entrepreneurs James Craig & Hugh Rose, Craig & Rose built a long established reputation as specialist paint providers in their field. This reputation spread swiftly throughout the UK, enabling Craig & Rose to become the paint of choice for the professional painter and decorator. Edward Brown, the Technical Director at Craig & Rose, gives us his informed insight on which colour palette the Spring season is set to usher in to the market and where the trend for paint finishes will lead in the coming months.

To find out more about Edward Brown’s forecast for paint colours and finishes, read his feature here.

Bright Solutions 

The Czech Republic headquarters of energy company, innogy, is using a new LED lighting system to support the circadian rhythms of the people who work there.

Installed by Philips Lighting, the system is tuned to stimulate the energy levels of the 550 staff at set times in the day. According to Philips, “the stimulus from the ‘human centric lighting’ fixtures is likened to a strong cup of coffee”.

Tomas Michna, Senior Manager for Facility and Services at innogy Czech Republic explains how the system works and why this new innovation in using responsive lighting technology in the workplace can help to improve operational efficiency through remote monitoring and maintenance.

Learn more about this revolutionary lighting system, the effects of using advanced lighting technology on psychological patterns and behaviours and how this can be implemented in interior design, here.

innogy table and seats interior design layout

This Special Report Case Study originally appeared in the Volume 7 Issue 1 edition of the official SBID interior design magazine, eSociety.

Click here to read the full issue or see the full Special Report on Lighting and Surface, here.

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series features the interior specification design for the Dollar Bay Penthouses located in Canary Wharf, London. Suna Interior Design was selected by Mount Anvil and Citystyle (One Housing) to translate the faceted and linear qualities of this unique building in different ways throughout the property. Complimenting the striking architecture and creating a harmony between the exterior and interior elements were integral to the style and design of this luxury residential development. Dollar Bay sits in a glamorous enclave where elite fashion brands, high-end dining, leisure and charismatic nightlife come together to offer a cultured and cosmopolitan lifestyle. Suna Interior Design carefully considered every design decision to reflect this aura of affluence and style, typified by the building’s opulent surroundings.   

Company: Suna Interior Design

Project: Dollar Bay Penthouse

Project Location: London, United Kingdom

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

What was the client’s brief? 

When we work with developers on any specification work, we take into account many contributory factors.

  • The clients brief, brand identity and desire for the development.
  • The potential market for the product, in this case looking to the local and oversea purchasers.
  • The architecture of the development, we are keen to make sure there is a harmony between the exterior and interior of the development.

In this instance, we were working on only two apartments but they were the jewel in the crown of this development as they were the triplex penthouse units atop the striking Dollar Bay development for Mount Anvil. The penthouse apartments offered a truly unique space as the interior was spread across four floors finishing with an impressive multifunctional area consisting of a spa, dining and lounge area with triple height glazing and views across the docklands landscape.

As with all penthouse designs, the client needed us to come up with a design for the interior which would impress their potential buyers and maximise the space within. When specifying interiors that need to stand the test of time it is important to select finishes that will not date and choose products that have a long aesthetic lifespan. We combine this with adding in individual design details to add some identity to the interior and touch points to link it to the architecture.

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

What inspired the design of the Project?

The fundamental starting point for all of the design was the architecture of the building. The external glazing facets in and out which ran all the way up the structure created a truly impressive and dramatic design aesthetic. This influenced many key features of the interior design. Specifically the internal doors and ironmongery were bespoke, designed to incorporate the same faceted and angled designs to mirror the rest of the property. Having a direct correlation between the interior and the exterior creates an intelligently curated overall aesthetic with synergy between all areas.

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

One of the hardest areas to design was the master ensuite due to the layout of the room and the desire to create an impressive addition to the master bedroom. The area we were working with reflected the angled features of the architecture. The unusual space with large glazing panels displayed incredible views across Canary Wharf and linked the ensuite to the generous winter garden which wrapped around the perimeter of the rooms. The angled shape of the space ended up working to our advantage, allowing us to position the shower enclosure to the rear, hiding the WC between the smoked shower screen and a bespoke slatted divider beside the vanity unit. The double basin vanity was a truly impressive feature with a bespoke marble vanity unit and shelf that bisected a full height mirror with integrated Led lighting. We used the Agape Sen range of brassware that followed the linear lines of the vanity and finished off this area perfectly. We sourced a unique slash sided freestanding bath that butted to the angled wall and provided a luxurious bathing area with fantastic views.

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The most impressive area within the apartment is the last one you come across. At the top of the building there is a 3 storey open spa which links the dining room and an upper open floor as a second lounge. We knew when we started looking at this impressive space that the large wall that forms the backdrop to the spa area needed to have impact. As it is such a large wall area we wanted to add product which would break it up and add interest. We selected a tile product that was available in multiple sizes and surface finishes so that each one would catch the light differently. In addition we added in recess strip lighting to the wall in specific areas so that the whole area would transform from day to night.

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?

We hold the opinions of those at SBID very high as we know they have high expectations and broad industry experience. Achieving success at these awards would be an accolade we would be immensely proud off and a testament to the work we have produced.

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

Questions answered by Helen Fewster, Director at Suna Interior Design 

To ensure you are kept up to date with the latest design inspiration sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @sbiduk 

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with the virtual reality theme park inspired by the vibrant cityscape of Dubai, click here to see more.

The 2018 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is now officially open for entries! Click here to register or enter your project!

We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

Suna Interior Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

Specification of kitchen and bathroom interior design in london penthouse

In the current issue of eSociety, SBID talks to Carolina Calzada, co-chair of SBID’s recently launched Colour Council, about the council’s purpose and aims for the interior design industry. Here is what she had to say: 

 

Why is the Colour Council relevant for interior designers?

I think the Colour Council is very relevant to the creative industry in general. With any subject it’s important to have access to a reliable source of information. SBID’s Colour Council initiative not only allows the organisation to share information on colour knowledge but also to set standards in the way we work with colour. It’s also an opportunity to create a permanent knowledge resource for using colour successfully. We will be looking into colour theory, working with colour in space and colour forecasting as well as looking to colour combinations for inspiration; this will enable interior designers to connect with colour experts and establish a reliable information source.

What’s your own experience of working with colour?

For the past 11 years I have worked with many brands, helping them with product development and marketing strategies. I have built a broad knowledge in colour nuances and how different cultures react to colour by working with paint companies around the world. I have also worked with materials manufacturers as Finsa, Formica, DuPont, Ceasarstone and LG Haus as well as companies as Kimberley Clarks, Samsung, Logitech or Panasonic. I would say that this experience has really helped me to understand how consumers think.

Do you think designers understand the importance of colour choices?

I think designers are fully aware of the need to have the right information. We are a savvy industry and understand that having the right knowledge helps us create customer satisfaction. Right now, you need to search the internet to find colour information which is time consuming. Also because data comes from different sources, how can you be sure it’s reliable?  Getting good data on colour is also a challenge for students and anyone else who works in design. Colour is a fabulous tool for creativity but a lack of knowledge in this area can hold you back creatively. That’s why I am strong believer in making information available from a reliable source as SBID.

Carolina Calzada, Co-Founder at Calzada Fox

Co-chair of the SBID Colour Council & SBID East Anglia Regional Director 

This interview originally appeared in the Volume 7 Issue 1 edition of the official SBID interior design magazine, eSociety.

Click here to read the full issue or see the rest of the interview with Carolina, here.

 

This week’s instalment of the #SBIDinspire interior design series introduces a new age of theme park with a thought-provoking and awe-inspiring dimension that Dubai has never seen before. The design concept pays a very unique homage to the vibrant city that is Dubai, featuring a life-like replica of the infamous skyscraper, Burj Khalifa, from an entirely new perspective. 4SPACE Design took the brief of bringing the Dubai cityscape to life for this innovative theme park and made it a virtual reality to amaze and inspire the imagination of all its visitors!

Company: 4SPACE Design

Project: VR Park, Dubai

Project Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

What was the client’s brief? 

EMAAR Entertainment wanted to create a one of a kind virtual reality theme park that has never been created in Dubai before. The design concept was to create a unique experience with a futuristic ambience which introduced visitors to the wonderful world of virtual reality. They were hoping for an innovative and thought-provoking design approach that would blow the minds of users visiting the space.

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

What inspired the design of the Project?

The project is inspired by Dubai city itself. The focal point of the entire theme park interior is a giant model of the Burj Khalifa hanging upside down from the ceiling to the floor. The initial concept sketch started with the upside down Burj Khalifa and we collaborated with the theming company to get the proper proportion, finish, look and feel of the real building.

The infrastructure of downtown Dubai is projected as a video map on the ceiling while the columns beside the Burj Khalifa are designed as building models to create the illusion of walking through the upside-down version of Dubai.

This reoccurring theme influences the design approach of the entire interior space. For example, the reflective blue epoxy flooring replicates the Dubai night sky while the handrails and staircase are designed to demonstrate the look and feel of Burj Khalifa itself.

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The biggest challenge was achieving an upside down cityscape of Dubai. The scheme was to replicate the city so we teamed up with a theming company that was able to execute the life-like details of the cityscape. ​

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The façade was the highlight of the project. It tells the entire story. We wanted to start the story from entrance which would be reinforced as you walked through the entire space. 4SPACE crafted an innovative, unique, and delightful design using modern technology. The large 90 degree curved LED display screen panel shows a complete cityscape of downtown Dubai bent upside down. It was designed with the intention of alluding to the user, the magnificent experience awaiting them inside. The LED screen showcases Dubai during the day and night with fascinating animations.

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

Why did you enter the SBID International Design Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards is one of the most prestigious, credible, and enjoyable events in the design industry calendar. It pays tribute to the projects and designers making their mark in the interior design industry. The awards attract the world’s top designers and potential clients around the globe.

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

Questions answered by Firas Alsahin, Interior Architect / Managing Director at 4SPACE Design 

To ensure you are kept up to date with the latest design inspiration sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram @sbiduk 

If you missed last week’s Project of the Week with the transformation of an uninspiring driveway into the ultimate luxury man cave, click here to see more.

The 2018 edition of the SBID International Design Awards is now officially open for entries! Click here to register or enter your project!

We hope you feel inspired! Let us know what inspired you #SBIDinspire

4SPACE Design | SBID International Design Awards 2018

Interior design of a virtual reality theme park in DubaiInterior design of a virtual reality theme park in DubaiInterior design of a virtual reality theme park in Dubai

 

In a new series we profiled the SBID Masters of Design to discover a new perspective on global interior design. We spoke with interior designer Liang Jianguo who attained degrees in Art and Architectural Design before launching his career in the 1980’s when he co-founded the Newsdays Design Studio. His award-winning projects have harnessed a design palate inspired by the contemporary dynamism of a young and rising generation, whilst capturing the essence of Chinese culture and remaining sympathetic to China’s traditions.

Designer: Liang Jianguo

Company:  Newsdays Design Ltd

When did you know you wanted to work in design? 

When I was five years old. I came across a picture by Qi Baishi, one of the most eminent Chinese artists and from that day, I decided to become immersed in art. In terms of my career, I officially became a designer when I established my own interior design company in 1984.

What has been the most career-changing moment for you? 

It all started in 2004 with my Beijing North Lake Number Nine Club & Restaurant project. From then I started to formalise my own style and design concept, fully-integrating elements of Chinoiserie, modernism and nature in an international way.

What advice do you have for design students? 

They should seek to understand more about life and society – and not be swayed by achievement or vanity. Don’t think too much of becoming a master designer; instead do more to solve the original needs of design.

How would you like to use your talent and work around the world? 

I’d like to present Oriental culture and the Chinese aesthetic on the international stage while introducing good Western design and ideas to China through collaborations. It would be great to work on international projects between foreign and Chinese designers.

The task of designers is to solve problems posed by human life and to address the practical and spiritual demand of the human condition. This is the common concern of all nations so really we can say that design is stateless, and not limited by geographical boundaries.

What does being a SBID Master of Design – CHINA mean to you? 

For me, it means we can collaborate internationally with some of the most inspiring international designers – this will allow us to expand each other’s horizons.

Questions answered by Liang Jianguo of Newsdays Design

To ensure you are kept up to date with the latest inspiration sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media.

Entries were received, finalists deliberated and the winners of the SBID International Design Awards 2017 have been announced! Click here to see the full list.

The UK’s market leader in luxury vinyl flooring Karndean Designflooring took centre stage at Molineux football stadium in Wolverhampton, on Tuesday (1st April) to present their ‘Social media for the Interior Design Profession’ in partnership with The Society of British and International Design (SBID).

With an impressive turnout of more than 40 attendees, the evening welcomed back Heather Horton, international head of digital from Karndean who led last year’s successful CPD on the ‘Social Media for Business’ as lead speaker, and Claire Ryan, Karndean’s newly appointed PR executive.

Of course, there were high expectations from the evening to match last year’s event. Kick-starting the seminar with SEO, often a confusing subject for non-techies, our speakers drilled down the most important things our designers needed to understand and presented it in a way that could be easily applied by all.

Acknowledging the ‘5,922,000,000 Google searches recorded per day last year’, Heather explained the importance of having a strategy in place to ensure your business is ranking well on search engines.

When asked for a quick show of hands for the number of people blogging in the room, we were surprised to see how many attendees were yet to start blogging. It brought the talk on to the importance of blogging and its power to help you enhance your current SEO strategy.

Highlighting engaging content, inspiring photography and videos and backlinks as the vital ingredients for a successful blog, our speakers explained from a practical point of view how to get started using their own blog – www.karndeanblog.com – as a prime example.

As busy designers, we often don’t have the time or manpower to do everything we need to do for our own online profile. This is something our speakers had clearly taken into account when addressing each subject.

There was an air of apprehension in the room on the subject of Google+. It was clear to see the change in opinion in the room as our speakers introduced this platform as the fastest growing social network at the moment with over 500 million users.  As well as giving us ideas to get creative, our social duo explained the pros and cons of this channel, concluding with the benefits far outweigh the negative of having to keep up with an extra social profile. It certainly gave us all food for thought.

To finish, we were given an insight into ‘community engagement’ and how to keep the conversation flowing. This led us to locating your social advocates and deciding the best way of engaging these audiences to talk about your brand.

Overall, I think the evening was summed up nicely by one of our designers in attendance – ‘it was refreshing to attend a talk on social media and not leave the room in a state of confusion’.

We wonder what they’ll have in store for us next time!

The latest Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event to be held by The Society of British and International Design in partnership with SBID  Partner Swedecor, explored an interesting subject; one that has no doubt been relevant, at some stage, during the careers of most Interior Designers and Architects. The event explored the benefits and challenges associated with running a multi-disciplinary practice, along with a look at where the roles of Architects, Decorators and Designers begin and end.

A packed crowd of SBID organisers and members gathered in the Saint Gobain Innovation Centre, a suitably chosen site dedicated to showcasing and promoting sustainable materials for the design and construction industries.

On the agenda were interesting talks from both Interior Designers and Architects, sharing some varying perspectives on the subject. First to open the discussion was Caroline Smith, Creative Director of Wish London Design. Caroline outlined the way the role of the Interior Designer has changed over the past few decades and how this has had a subsequent impact on the blurred boundaries between Designers and Architects today. She discussed the factors that have contributed to the growing success of Wish as an interior design practice, including the need to be commercially aware – knowing what elements to prioritise budget on to achieve the greatest project success. A relevant point she raised was the importance of a mutual respect between the Interior Designer and the Architect – each party being aware of their respective roles and responsibilities, to ensure both a professional and collaborative approach to a project. 

Penny Allen, Director of Penelope Allen Design, was second speaker of the evening who showcased one of their recent residential projects, winner of the SBID International Design Awards 2013. Her interior design practice, established in 2009, has seen a flourishing success over the year, partly due to Penny’s PR focus and her knack for networking. An interesting benefit she outlined of working with Architects was the exposure to a broader spectrum of clients and subsequently maximising income. Key challenges she raised were keeping abreast of legal responsibilities and ensuring sound knowledge of Health & Safety as the Interior Designer.

A common message that was emphasised by both Penny and Caroline was the importance of the early involvement of Interior Designers on a project. It’s all too common for assumptions to be made, whether from the client, that the Interior Designer need only be involved during the final, finishing stages of a project, or from the Architect, that there is perhaps no Interior Designer getting involved at all.

This in turn opened up a number of other important considerations to the discussion – educating the client on the specific role of the Interior Designer is crucial; ensuring they understand that the breadth of duties goes far beyond the finishing textiles and a lick of paint on the walls.

Communication, perhaps the most crucial element, is required on all levels between Client, Architect and Interior Designer throughout the entire project process. Vanessa Brady, Founder of SBID and Chair of the evening, provided additional context to these points, outlining the overall challenge of interior design being recognised as a credible industry.

Since the battle exists for governing bodies to recognise the difference between Decorators and Designers and to see the importance of the latter, it’s perhaps no wonder the challenge exists for Clients to understand this as well.

Third to share their views for the evening was Graham Harris, Managing Director of SHH Architects. SHH, an esteemed, full-service interior design and architecture firm, has been well established in the industry for over two decades. With a very approachable presence to the audience, Graham discussed the egoistic attitude often felt by many Architects towards Interior Designers and how SHH have developed a clear and respectful line between the two – “Architect: space, place, light. Interior design: colour, human scale, tactility”.

A valid benefit he outlined of working collaboratively was the commercial aspect, providing the client with a single cost upfront for both elements of the project, ensuring cost efficiency and transparency of financials, in turn, crucial to building solid relationships with the client and all parties.

As I sipped my wine, explored the centre and chatted with those in attendance, I grasped how much food for thought the evening and its discussions had provided me, a handful of ‘watch-outs’ when approached by a client on the overall collaboration process, the increased sense of determination I felt for raising awareness of interior design and all it entails, along with the desire for a potential Designer/Architect relationship to grow as organically and respectfully as it should.  

Author: Shanna Rogan, emerging Interior Designer and founder of interior-imagination

To see more pictures from the event, please visit our Facebook page here.

Photos provided by Rosangela Photography

Over the last thirty years or so, an interior design revolution has been sweeping the globe. Open-plan kitchens have become the new black of home design, at once fulfilling a desire for more space and uniting the two sacred family spheres of kitchen and living room. Indeed, according to a recent survey conducted by Houzz, only a third of homeowners considered increasing the size of their kitchens, but a whopping 77% intended to open them up to another room by knocking through a wall.

However, more recently, there has been a small backlash against the open plan system. Some feel that the idea is not without its drawbacks and that in fact, some of the very points listed as its advantages, actually detract from its appeal. So what’s the story? Here are some of the finer points of each side of the debate.

For Open-plan Kitchens

Entertaining others – Open-plan kitchens afford busy hosts the chance to put the finishing touches to their courses whilst still wowing their guests with amusing anecdotes and witty quips.

Parents of young children – Mums and Dads of young ones can now keep an eye on them when working in the kitchen to make sure they are not scrawling all over the walls or sticking their fingers into electrical sockets or other places they don’t belong.

Watching TV while cooking – You can now watch your favourite soap or sitcom whilst chopping parsley and prepping the salad.

Making smaller kitchens look larger – For those with space constraints, an open-plan kitchen can be the perfect solution in creating the illusion of spaciousness and alleviating a cramped or claustrophobic impression.

Against Open-plan Kitchens

Others can always see you entertain – With dinner parties, it is not always desirable to be in plain view of your guests. If disaster strikes in an open-plan kitchen and you drop a dish, everyone can see. Concealing mess, grabbing a breather or surprising guests with an unexpected addition to the menu is out of the question with an open-plan.

Your kids can see you, too – Which means no more surreptitious snacking or escaping their attention. Plus, they aren’t going to be young forever; and as they grow, you will probably find you naturally both need more time apart.

You don’t always want to watch or hear what’s on TV – Hate sports? Well forget about escaping into the kitchen to get away from the big game and the raucous revelry that normally accompanies it. The same applies with infuriatingly repetitive children’s programmes and teen shows.

Which Way Will You Go?

In the end, there are pros and cons to open-plan kitchens, which need to be considered when deciding whether or not to incorporate one into your home.

They can be great for those looking to expand a smaller kitchen and make it look more spacious, or for those more extroverted and comfortable constantly being in the presence of others. They are especially suited to couples who have no secrets from each other and can engender a shared sense of intimacy.

On the other hand, implementing an open-plan kitchen will drastically reduce the privacy in your home. An open-plan kitchen essentially means you have a kitchen with a blaring entertainment system in it, and a living room with a sink full of dirty dishes in it. As such, more introverted people may be happy with the traditionally closed kitchen.

Both approaches are not without merit, though you must decide which is right for you; taking into account your spatial, familial and personal circumstances.

Author: Rob Truslove, Owner of Pink Kitchen – the UK home of cute pink kitchen appliances and accessories.

Join SBID

Join SBID

Find out more about our flexible membership structure.

Apply Online