Monday, August 3, 2015

Open Versus Closed Kitchens

Regardless of their intended purpose, kitchens today are often one of the centerpieces of a home. Indeed, kitchen redesign is one of the most popular home renovations, and recent design trends focus on making your kitchen both more attractive and more functional. One of the great debates when it comes to kitchen design is whether to have an open or closed kitchen. Traditionally, the kitchen is a separate room in the house, but many homeowners today want to incorporate their kitchens into the overall design of their home and the open kitchen is gaining favour. So what are the pros and cons of an open versus closed kitchen?

Kitchen Trends and the Open Design

Your home is your refuge and you spend a lot of time here. Traditional kitchens were a closed-off space, mostly seen as a functional room that served a dedicated but singular purpose: food preparation. However, as families began spending more time in the home, the open-concept kitchen allowed families to engage and socialize more while preparing food. Essentially, our busy lives gave rise to a kitchen design that encouraged familiar interaction while still providing a functional space - you could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Homes today often feature this open design, especially for family homes. The open layout allows multitasking (preparing dinner, watching TV, or spending time with the kids can all be done simultaneously), so the open kitchen is an ideal solution for hectic lives.

Benefits of a Closed Kitchen

The increasing popularity of open kitchens notwithstanding, there are still distinct benefits to a closed design. The kitchen is the most expensive room in your home to remodel, so home owners may not be motivated to convert a closed design into an open design. Moreover, if you're planning a kitchen renovation, you may want to focus your budget on other aspects of your kitchen like appliances and cabinetry. But beyond the cost of a remodel, some homeowners will prefer the privacy offered by a closed-kitchen design. After all, not everybody is willing to expose their kitchen mess to all their houseguests.

What's Right for You

Obviously, whether you remodel your kitchen with an open or closed design really comes down to your preferences and your budget. There's no right or wrong way to remodel your kitchen - if you're a socially open person and you want to improve the flow between your kitchen and other living spaces, an open design is a great choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a segregated kitchen where you can keep your food preparation separate from social spaces in the home, you may opt for a closed kitchen. Whichever you chose, be sure to discuss your options with a design expert - you'll likely find that one kitchen is a much better choice for you and your family.

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