HOW TO DESIGN AN OPEN-PLAN SETTING

The whole point of an open-plan layout is for people to gather together and socialise. It is a place with a split personality. On the one hand, it is designed for cooking and food preparation, on the other, it is meant for relaxation so you need to include a lounging corner and a table for guests to sit around at lunchtime or dinner. And if there isn't much space? There are plenty of Cucina solutions for anyone who wants an open-plan kitchen/living room that will provide you with all the basic functions while leaving enough space for entertaining. For instance, an extendable table is definitely an idea to be taken into consideration. In its short version, it serves as a practical surface in the kitchen, but, whenever you need, it can be pulled out to become a comfortable table with room for all your guests to sit around and eat.

Whenever there is an abundance of space, there really is only one option for a characterful open-plan layout — an island kitchen. Multifunctional, majestic and highly practical: the island becomes the natural hub of a living area that is meant to be shared with others and encourages communication. The cooktop takes pride of place in the middle of the room and has been integrated into the countertop because it is meant for two chefs to work together; if you add a breakfast bar, the island is not only destined for food preparation, but also ideal for eating meals together. A composition like this lends itself to mixing & matching finishes and materials. It will be fun and easy to play with different styles, link and contrast colours and find combinations that brighten the whole place, including the lounging zone.

Regardless of whether you are working with a large room or a small setting, don't underestimate the space-enhancing value of vertical surfaces because they will come in extremely handy from many points of view. Walls can be exploited almost up to ceiling height for storage systems, shelving, tall units or standalone elements. This will prevent a small open-plan setting from being too cluttered without any loss of space for stowing objects. The right mixture of closed cabinets and open shelving on walls will also be a clever choice in large open-plan environments because they create a sensation of breeziness and also serve as strategic containers for showcasing art objects.

An open-plan layout is a single environment, but it can be organised into distinct areas that preserve the practicality of a kitchen and the mellowness of a lounge. A visual partition — a change of material on the floor, a half-wall, a bookcase or a breakfast bar — can define zones without closing them off. With Cucina compositions you can coordinate finishes between kitchen and living so the whole daytime area feels coherent; it will stylishly demarcate the eating zone and the relaxation area.