Trend alert: The ‘broken-plan’ kitchen

The ‘broken-plan’ kitchen is essentially a modern take on today’s open-plan kitchen. It features all the things we love about open-plan living while leaving out the aspects that turn others away from the popular trend.

Instead of offering a completely open-plan space, which is criticised by some as lacking privacy, intimacy and looking a little messy, the new ‘broken-plan’ plan design features half walls and other design ideas to help maintain a feel of distinct living spaces.

Tips for styling your ‘broken-plan’ kitchen

Divide with a window

A half window, or window that scales the length of your kitchen, is a great way to keep the fluidity of an open living space while ensuring privacy. Another advantage of a window, rather than another solid structure like a wall, is that it keeps light consistent throughout the whole space.

Go chic with a mezzanine

Ideal for larger kitchens, the mezzanine offers a great way to keep things sociable while ensuring two completely distinct spaces. Cook and dine on the ground level and socialise with friends and family above. The mezzanine level needn’t sit high above your kitchen space either; just a metre or so would work.

Insert a half-wall

Open-plan living saw us knocking down walls, so it would be silly to do at 360 and put them back up. To divide your ‘broken-plan’ living space, why not play with the shape and style of your kitchen space with the insertion of half walls? Pop one between the cooking area and the sociable dining space to clearly separate work and pleasure. A half-wall also allows you to join in with the conversation when guests are sat in the more sociable area.

The ‘broken-plan’ kitchen: How does it function?

Despite the addition of these new design features, the ‘broken-plan’ kitchen still ticks all of those boxes of open-plan living. It’s still really sociable, making it ideal for families and those that like to entertain, and it’s still spacious, light, and bright while being bang on trend. Your living area feels more like a living space, rather than a sofa thrown into a kitchen. And a work space offers a better environment for structure and focus, rather than just a space full of distractions in the kitchen.

‘Broken-plan’ kitchen inspiration

Despite having only recently emerged as a trend, we’ve been creating and designing ‘broken-plan’ kitchens for years.

In this space-saving kitchen, we knocked down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to enhance the light and fluidity of the space. The dining area was positioned just around the corner from the kitchen work space though, to identify two very distinct areas.

For this super stylish kitchen, designed with social soirees in mind, we implemented a bubble wall to create the feeling of two very distinct spaces. The colour changing LED light wall helped separate the catering area of the kitchen from the chillout part, without the need for a solid block of structure.

If you like the sound of the new ‘broken-plan’ kitchen, why not get to work on a brand new designer living space today? At Kitchen Design Centre, we can help turn your designs and dreams into a reality with top materials, finishes, appliances, and design features. Drop into your nearest kitchen showroom today to browse some of our recent work or talk to one of our designers.

What do you think about this latest trend? Do you love it or loathe it? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ModernKitchens