ᐅ Open-Plan Kitchen Layout with Large Dining Area – Detailed Questions

Hi, we are planning a single-family home (urban villa), about 158 m² (1700 sq ft), with 5 rooms, no basement, and a double garage/workshop. We are quite clear about what we want and don’t want. However, we are especially thinking hard about the kitchen. More on that below.

Development plan/restrictions
--> In my opinion, these don’t really play a role here.

Homeowners’ requirements
1.) Semi-open kitchen without an island. Semi-open means open to the dining/living area, but not fully visible to guests sitting at the dining table. One corner should remain where dirty dishes or similar unattractive items can be stacked.
2.) In the living room, we would like to occasionally (about 4 times a year) set up a long dining table to host around 16 people. The couch area can serve as a table for seniors or children. So there is basically enough space; it’s about the finer details of the floor plan design.
3.) Two adults and two children live in the house. Meals are eaten at the dining table near the kitchen. Usually, about 8 seats are needed (rarely more).

House design
--> Design by the builder after consultations with us.

Specific questions/notes:
1.) The design shows a U-shaped kitchen. Our current kitchen furniture is already too small for an L-shape. Even with an L-kitchen, we would have more work surface and cabinet space than we do now. On the other hand, due to the windows, we would have to give up a 90 cm (36 inch) wall cabinet (a hanging cabinet where glasses are kept).
2.) The short wall section between the kitchen and living room (opposite the stairs) is too short for us. We want it longer so the kitchen isn’t so directly visible.
3.) The upper wall section… no idea.

The top of the floor plan faces west. The terrace is located there.

Do you have any ideas or other helpful advice?

What would the short walls be for? No door... No privacy screen, so those at the dining area can always have a clear view of the person in the kitchen’s backside. For me, that’s a no-go—turning your back to the enemy completely unprotected.

ypg schrieb:
What are the short walls for?

They are probably meant to define the kitchen area, giving the countertop a clear edge. I tend to extend the lower short wall significantly while leaving out the upper one. You can also imagine moving the dining area a bit to the right in the sketch. That changes the overall impression.

There is another short wall (near the coat closet). I might leave that one out as well...

Our backsides are definitely presentable, but I understand what you mean. That's why it's "semi-open/partially open" rather than completely open.

Isn’t the kitchen a bit large? You will need the cabinet space, but the distances might be quite long.
By the way, we have (almost) the same floor plan, although it looks completely different.
You can take a look at my profile for the building blog...

I would remove the short wall in the cloakroom (unless you are planning a built-in wardrobe).
Maybe a wall panel would be useful in the kitchen... unfortunately, I can’t see the measurements clearly...

The kitchen is 3.20 m (10.5 ft) wide and 4.20 m (13.8 ft) long. What exactly is a wall panel? How would that look?

Wow, I quickly checked out your blog, great house! I actually see a certain similarity.

For the kitchen size, I would first plan a direct access from the kitchen to the terrace. Then there is no apparent reason not to have an island.

Take some time to study other planning threads and maybe look through your old kitchen purchase documents to see what could be reused, and so on.

Your space planning definitely has a lot of potential.