Kitchen transition: How to make your open floor plan look great

by | Dec 1, 2008 | 2, Articles

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Kitchen transition: How to make your open floor plan look great</font></h2><p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">(ARA) – More homeowners are merging living and family spaces with the kitchen in an open floor plan.</span></p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">This kind of floor plan is not only family-friendly and perfect for entertaining, it will actually sell better if you ever decide to put your home on the market. An open floor plan makes your space seem bigger and more up to date. However, rooms with competing decor, such as a contemporary family room versus a traditionally styled kitchen, can make blending the space difficult.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The best way to make an open floor plan a success is to create a seamless transition from the kitchen to the other living spaces. "A homeowner can bring family spaces and the kitchen together by blending design periods to create a unique style," says Connie Edwards, certified kitchen and bathroom designer and director of design for American Woodmark cabinetry. "There are ways to thoughtfully combine traditional and contemporary elements. The end result is a very warm, casual, comfortable feeling – with an air of sophistication that flows throughout the home." </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Edwards offers some useful tips on creating a harmonious open floor plan:</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Incorporate small contemporary touches that make a big impact, such as a stainless steel range hood and a glass mosaic tile backsplash. Just make sure that the colors and textures are compatible with each other and the adjoining room.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Select a cabinet door in a rich brown finish that complements living and dining room furniture. American Woodmark, sold exclusively at Home Depot, offers an Auburn Glaze on 11 different maple door styles. The deep brown glaze over a Cognac finish settles into the corners and grooves, giving the cabinets a traditional, vintage look. Pairing this with modern hardware completes the transitional design. </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Display contemporary decorative objects on open shelving in the kitchen island. Selecting objects that complement the decor of the adjoining room is a subtle way to make the kitchen flow nicely with the open space.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">* Consider a farmhouse sink that has been redesigned with a contemporary finish, such as stainless steel. Stainless steel acts as a neutral, so it will not detract from more elaborate home decorations.<span>  </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div></span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">To create that perfect open space, you’ll want to work with a designer at your local home center to help the remodeling process run smoothly — from product decision-making to installation. For additional design ideas and information, visit <a href="http://www.woodmark-homedepot.com" target="_blank">www.woodmark-homedepot.com</a> . </p>  <p><span style="line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt; font-size: 10pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>