Combining kitchen and living room
If you paid attention to this, you probably noticed that the rooms there are large, including the kitchen.
This is one of the main features of the layout of American apartments, where the kitchen is often combined with the living room and dining room.
In our realities, similar design projects can be implemented either in a studio apartment or in a private house, since apartments with a typical kitchen layout are often not very large.
Before you start planning, make sure you have enough space - classic American style requires plenty of space and light.
We will talk about artificial lighting separately, but natural lighting should also be enough - ideally, you need a room with two or more windows.
An important nuance: In addition to the fact that a kitchen-dining room with a living room is not feasible in every home, you also need to take care of choosing a good hood (or even more than one). Keep this in mind when calculating your budget.
Room and layout
An American-style kitchen is always a spacious room with a minimum of partitions. Therefore, it is often an open space of a kitchen-living-dining room on the same area with conditional zoning.
You can make your dream of an American classic come true in the open spaces of a studio apartment or in your own home with a large kitchen space.
See also the real embodiment of American style in the kitchen in an ordinary kitchen in the video:
A characteristic and recognizable feature of American cuisine is the U-shaped layout of the furniture or furniture placed around the perimeter with an island in the center.
In large areas, a massive island with a wide tabletop serves as a work area on which a sink or stove can be located; dining table for quick snacks and breakfasts; bar and storage space.
In a small kitchen, you can install a small island, which will only serve as additional storage space for dishes and various kitchen utensils.
Often in American interiors you can find pots and pans hanging directly above the island.
By the way, the traditional place for the sink is near a window or on an island, which is unattainable in most ordinary apartments, but quite feasible in a private house. The sink itself is usually large, possibly with 2 bowls, and made of ceramic or stone.
Kitchen island
In the American style you cannot do without it - it is not typical for it to arrange furniture exclusively along the walls. Here it is better to occupy the center and a kitchen island is the best choice.
It’s not for nothing that Americans love this piece of furniture so much: it is not only beautiful, but also functional. See for yourself:
- The issue of zoning has been mentioned more than once - even directly in the kitchen area, sometimes it is necessary to separate one segment from another.
- Additional work surface.
- There is no need to buy a separate dining table for a kitchen with an island. This is especially true for a kitchen-living room without a dining room, decorated in American style.
There is another important point: have you ever noticed that in most American homes the kitchen has a special pantry for kitchen appliances and excess dishes that are not used every day?
With a kitchen island, you can do without it - the main thing is to order not a monolithic model, but with built-in shelves.
AMERICAN KITCHEN FURNITURE
American-style kitchen furniture is characteristic and easily recognizable. First of all, if you want to maintain the ambience, choose kitchen units that extend to the ceiling. This will not only give the interior a unique atmosphere, but will also provide plenty of storage space.
In addition, an American-style kitchen cannot miss a table and a red leather sofa . A small dining room, breakfast area or dining nook should be located directly in the kitchen. If such solutions are not possible due to small space, the table can be replaced with a high arm.
We divide the territory
If Americans have a tendency to unite everything in one room as much as possible, then why can't they create chaos?
It's all about the correct division into zones - despite the absence of walls, they do not mix thanks to the proper arrangement of furniture, the use of color transitions and decor.
For example, a bar counter. We talk about it in more detail in the corresponding paragraph of our review, but it also copes with this function perfectly, helping to separate the kitchen from the living-dining room.
For the same purpose, a dining table, flowerpots or various structural elements can be used.
Colors and lighting
If you look at a photo of an American-style kitchen, it is not difficult to identify one pattern. It manifests itself in the fact that everything is done in two colors. These are light shades and natural colors of wood materials.
But they do not necessarily have to be calculated equally. Some shades may prevail several times. American cuisine is always full of contrasts.
Walls and floors are the foundation
Simplicity and naturalness with high quality are the cornerstone of American design. Leave pretentiousness and complex textures to baroque and boho chic styles.
It is not for nothing that the now popular country music originated in this country - pay attention to the types of finishing that are used there. Of course, this is only one branch, but it gives an idea of what is worth focusing on.
However, this only applies to repairs. What about the situation?
Combining living room and kitchen
If you paid attention to such a moment as combining two rooms, you often noticed that the rooms will differ in size, and especially the kitchens. This is probably one of the most important features of the layout of an American apartment, because often the kitchen area is combined with the dining room and living room.
In our reality, you can create a similar design project either in a private house or a studio apartment, because apartments are typically built with kitchens that are often not very large. Before you start planning, you should make sure you have enough space - a standard American style will need a lot of light and space. It’s worth talking about artificial lighting separately, but natural lighting should also be enough - ideally, you need a room with 2-3 rooms.
Please note that in addition to the fact that a kitchen-dining room with a living room is not implemented in every home, you should also consider choosing a good exhaust system (and sometimes more than one). You should remember this when calculating housing.
Practical furniture
When watching American films, it seems that even a middle-income family lives in luxurious apartments.
There are two basic rules here: high-quality natural materials (or a good imitation of them) and elegance. The most simple and functional silhouettes are what you need.
There is another nuance: it all depends on the style you choose. Don't think that American design is monotonous - it all depends on its focus.
Want retro? Buy lacquered sofas and cabinets with a glossy tabletop. If you like classics, choose fabric upholstery and natural wood.
Functionality of American cuisine
The interior of an American-style kitchen is not complete without an extractor hood, a family refrigerator and household appliances that meet modern requirements. Thanks to the hood, the smell of food will not linger in the kitchen for long, much less move into the guest room.
This is a very smart choice, since the hood retains the smells of new furniture and renovation. But a large refrigerator is not only an integral part of style, but also a sign of wealth and hospitality.
Pay attention to the facades
The most popular type of facade is paneled. But unlike our latitudes, where they often try to decorate them with curly handles or paintings, Americans prefer a simple style - plain wood in light colors.
This is also typical for other furniture parts - the simpler the better. Functional, practical and beautiful.
Color and light in the American kitchen
Looking through photos of finished projects, you will notice that such a kitchen is made in two colors: light, almost white colors combined with the natural color of wood. Options are possible in various proportions: light facades of the working set and a dark tabletop in the color of the dining furniture; or cabinet doors in a dark wood tone with a light countertop.
When combining the living room of a small apartment with the kitchen, preference should be given to pale tones to visually enlarge small spaces. The tabletop, individual accent details, and floor coverings in one of the zones of a single space can be dark.
The main tone is such shades as milky, beige, cream, pastel blue or pink. Light tones of walnut and green can be used. Bright elements in such a kitchen are quite rare and only in decor.
Light deserves special attention when arranging any room. In the American style, lamps should provide a variety of lighting options: a large chandelier is usually hung above the dining table, and many spotlights are placed above the work area and along the apron. There is also a sconce or floor lamp in the recreation area.
Now about the color
This is where it’s difficult to single out a clear set of shades: it all depends on what you want to get as a result.
Do you like interiors from good classic Christmas movies? Then brown, beige, greenish tones are more suitable for you - those that are considered natural. Avoid flashy colors, try to make the kitchen elegant and discreet.
There is an opinion that Americans most often make white furniture fronts - this is not so. The shade can be any, even coffee - it is important that it is natural.
It's another matter if you are planning an unusual interior in the style of an American cafe. This is where they will come in handy - bright rich colors are just what you need.
But there are also nuances here: the main thing is not to overdo it. One main tone should be emphasized by a restrained background. Otherwise, the kitchen will turn out to be too colorful. This is no longer American design, but kitsch - why do you need this?
Interior color scheme
Calm colors that blend perfectly with each other are what create the warm and friendly atmosphere of an American-style kitchen.
The ceiling and walls are always predominantly light, in warm colors, the floor has the finish and color of natural wood.
The color range may include:
- milky, ivory and all light shades of beige and white;
- grey, blue;
- brown or natural wood;
- light green, marsh, olive, khaki.
Sharp and bright color transitions are not typical, but contrasting combinations of light and dark shades are possible.
What's behind the door?
If you look closely at the photos of American kitchens, you will notice two details:
- There is no clutter of dishes, utensils and other kitchen items;
- A lot of cabinets and shelves.
This is no accident. One of the basic principles of this interior is that everything that can be hidden must be hidden. The above-mentioned items can only be visible if they are used not only for their intended purpose, but also as decoration.
We hide everything else! In large American houses, a separate pantry is sometimes specially allocated for these purposes.
Please note that these are not our mezzanines - no stepladders, everything should be as comfortable as possible. Usually a separate corner in the kitchen is fenced off for it - so that everything you need is at hand.
AMERICAN STYLE KITCHEN – WHAT IS IT?
An American-style kitchen should be organized first in a separate house. The large territory will make it possible to transfer decisions from the United States to their native land and create American cuisine in the full sense of the word. What should you remember when dreaming of such an interior?
Kitchens in American homes are located in the center (a little deeper in the house) on the ground floor, which is completely different from the Russian design, where kitchens are located near the entrance to the house.
Other characteristics:
- directly adjacent dining room (very often it is located in the bay window next to the kitchen)
- organization of warehouse/storeroom.
- It is important to have large windows, and the so-called window seat.
Let there be light!
We already wrote above that such a kitchen requires a lot of space and light. And if the first is clear, then the second needs to be said separately - especially if you decide to try to make a small kitchen decorated in the American style.
Firstly, there is natural light - the more windows, the better. True, turning the walls into one continuous aquarium is still not a good idea.
Secondly, carefully designed artificial. This is where the difficulties begin. No massive chandeliers or heavy floor lamps.
If in the recreation area you want to create a cozy corner with a fireplace, a warm carpet and sofas, you can place one elegant chandelier there - no more.
For the rest of the room, we recommend choosing spotlights. Firstly, they fit well into the concept of American interior design - nothing superfluous where it is not needed. Secondly, it is convenient to make wiring for zone lighting under them.
An alternative could be pendant lamps with the simplest possible shades - but this requires a certain height of the walls.
Convenient solution: In addition to lighting on the ceiling, place spotlights above functionally important places. This could be a stove, sink, work surface - anything where good light is often needed.
The main features of the American style
In our article, we want to help those who want to create a characteristic American-style kitchen - pay attention to small, interesting subtleties.
The first condition is that the space for the kitchen must be spacious enough, because in the American style two rooms are connected, and you get a kitchen-living room or dining room.
In our apartments, the kitchen area leaves much to be desired. Therefore, it is more convenient to implement an American-style kitchen interior design in a studio, private home, or cottage. When planning to create a bright kitchen environment, it is important to estimate the size of the allocated room - whether there is enough space and daylight. The more windows, the better.
On a note! To arrange such a kitchen, desire alone is not enough; in addition to a suitable room, you will need the possibility of ventilation. Include the cost of the hood as an expense item.
Cozy twilight
What about darkening the room if necessary? No curtains or curtains in the kitchen area! Blinds, roller blinds or Roman blinds. In fact, there is logic in this - thin fabric in the kitchen is easy to stain or damage. So this decision is dictated not only by style, but also by considerations of practicality.
Pay attention to the texture: glossy or printed options will not fit into the interior.
The best options are vertical wooden blinds or bamboo stands. If you live in a private house, we highly recommend that you think about shutters - then the compliance with the American style will be complete.
Furniture
In the spirit of English traditions, the furnishings of American cuisine remain solid and elegant. Kitchen furniture should look simple, but at the same time expensive. You rarely see glossy smooth facades here.
Preference is given to furniture made of solid wood or MDF with painted frames, paneled facades and tabletops made of natural wood or stone.
The furniture style is classic, English or country, perhaps with a slight touch of antiquity, with patina.
American style kitchen with patinated fronts
Home saloon
We have already mentioned the bar counter. An almost indispensable element for a studio apartment with an American kitchen.
It can be used both as an additional cabinet for kitchen items, and as a separator between two zones and, of course, for its intended purpose.
In addition, the original bar counter is already an interior decoration. If we were you, we wouldn't neglect this combination of style and practicality.
And, since we are already talking about aesthetics, let’s smoothly move on to the decor.
Creating an atmosphere
In America, it is typical to have various bonuses and additional options, and therefore it is worth remembering what kind of parties there are. This is an abundance of themed accessories that make it possible to turn the kitchen into a party area. Don't neglect this because it not only helps add variety but also maintains the American spirit no matter the season. There are no minor details in this style, and even plastic dishes can play a role, for example, many of you are familiar with red cups from TV series.
The conclusion is this: creating an American interior requires considerable costs, mainly due to the quality of the materials, as well as the fact that a large area is needed. But if you take a risk, the result will please you for a very long time.
Decorative elements
Let's return to cinema again. Notice how their kitchens are decorated. On the one hand, it seems as if there is practically no decor - you won’t find a collection of figurines, an abundance of paintings...
On the other hand, it cannot be said that Americans are fans of minimalism. It’s just that decorations should also be functional. Bright jars with spices, unusual dishes, motivating inscriptions - all this is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also plays a certain practical role.
Sometimes a lamp also acts in this capacity - on a wide wooden frame with light bulbs on thin chains you can hang light frying pans and pots, small kitchen utensils. Both beautiful and practical - just what you need!
Greenery will also go very well with the theme. Moreover, these are not necessarily decorative flowers - mini-vegetable gardens on windowsills have recently become a trend. And the fashion for them originated in America. We personally recommend: this is not only a decoration, but also natural spices or vegetables for your table!
Lighting and decor
It's always bright in an American-style kitchen. To do this, a spacious room should be provided with wiring for several large lamps and several small additional ones, where they are necessary for comfortable use, for example, in the work area.
The style of lighting fixtures allows for eclecticism, that is, it is quite possible to use both classic options with candelabra and in the spirit of a loft.
The interior of an American-style kitchen can contain absolutely any thing as decoration. It is desirable that it expresses the individuality and character of the owners as clearly as possible. Hand made products, photo frames with family photos, beautiful dinnerware sets and sets, and wall decor with plates are welcome.
The abundance of textiles in the design of chairs, dining chairs, and windows also adds coziness.
Technological age
We will have to get rid of Soviet refrigerators and gas stoves. Built-in appliances look harmonious in American interiors.
By the way, there should be a lot of it: Americans’ love for technical innovations is known to everyone. Therefore, if you have long wanted to buy some kind of device, do not deny yourself this: choose a blender, a sandwich maker, an electric grill... All this fits well into the conceived concept.
Pay attention to the plumbing: wide and deep sinks, into which all the dishes can be easily stored after preparing for a festive dinner, are just what you need. It is better to choose natural materials - stainless steel is not entirely suitable here.
Practical advice
We draw your attention to subtle details in American kitchens:
- unnecessary dishes and all kitchen utensils are not visible;
- an abundance of shelves, small cabinets;
- no piles of sets of pots, glasses, sets and other things;
- lack of collections of all sorts of little things for decoration;
- There are no still life paintings hung.
Then it seems naked and ugly? But you chose an American-style kitchen, so create the coziness accordingly. Take the time to select accessories: original cutting boards, knife rack, drying rack, etc.
They can be unusual in shape, color, design. Even the choice of ornamental plants will make its contribution. Surprise with positive, unexpected captions.
Remember the Soviet “Everyone is healthy - me, we, you, if your hands are washed.” Something from this area, but more modern in sound and performance.
That is, we return to what we have been talking about from the very beginning - rationalism, practicality and simplicity. Everything is in order to feel comfortable and cozy, and not in order to surprise neighbors, friends, relatives.
Lighting should also serve the same purpose. It has already been said that it is preferable to have a lot of it and as naturally as possible. If it doesn’t quite work out, you need to think more carefully about options with artificial light. Heavy chandeliers and large lamps are definitely not suitable. Discreet chandeliers, or better yet, spotlights in places where light is often needed.
Remember! Lamps serve only for illumination, and not for piling up as many expensive items as possible.
Old refrigerators and gas stoves will not fit into the interior of an American-style kitchen with a bar counter and a kitchen island. You will have to fork out for built-in equipment. And in general, for modern kitchen appliances: blender, toaster, grill, dishwasher, etc.
Products made from natural fabrics – tablecloths, napkins – will help provide a real American atmosphere in the new kitchen.
What did we get in the end? To realize your dream of creating an American-style kitchen, you will have to work hard:
- provide a room with a large area;
- correctly define kitchen areas;
- think over the purchase of furniture and its color;
- combine decoration items with decorative elements.
It doesn't come cheap. But the game is worth the candle. If you have made such a kitchen, in the coming years you can enjoy the fruit of your hands and not worry about a new design - the style you created is always in fashion.
The dining room is the center of the house
Even if you have a small family, a spacious and comfortable dining area is a must-have.
The only concession is the ability to use a kitchen island or bar counter in this capacity.
But ideally it should be a beautiful dining table with a massive top in the dining area.
Features of finishing American cuisine
Looking through numerous photos of finished American-style kitchens, you may get the feeling that they depict a luxurious interior made using expensive finishing materials. In fact, today any kitchen design can be realized with the help of high-quality, but artificial solutions that imitate natural surfaces.
Instead of a marble countertop, you can use a similar one made of artificial stone. Solid floor boards will be replaced by laminate.
Since the American style does not practice applying a pattern to the walls, it is best to paint them. If you want to bring the interior closer to the country style, to make it in a certain sense more comfortable and warmer, then you can cover the walls with boards (lining, narrow wooden panels). Moreover, the direction and height can vary.
The ceiling also plays a significant role in American kitchen design. With the help of beams the entire room can be easily zoned. Such structures can be either natural wood or painted in various colors. If the ceilings are high, you can cover them with boards or other materials that imitate wood. Such an interior will be harmoniously complemented by heavy, rather low-hanging lamps.
In the modern interpretation of the American style, wallpaper with various ornaments and designs began to be used. As a rule, this is an imitation of a geographical map, animal skin or a panel sewn from scraps. Such elements are placed only on one wall, most often in the dining area or living room. A similar plot may be present on the upholstery of the sofa and in other textile elements.
Breakfast place
An island, wide countertops, a dining area... Americans believe that this is not enough.
It would be a good idea to arrange another place for relaxation - for breakfast or lunch. You can adapt a bar counter or a small coffee table for it.
Zoning rules for American cuisine
Americans have one peculiarity - they try to combine everything within one room as much as possible. Sometimes it's hard to understand why they can't create chaos in this case. It's all about the correct zoning of the room. Although there are no walls at all, you can arrange the furniture correctly using color transitions and decorative elements for these purposes.
Using a bar counter you can visually separate the kitchen from the living room or dining room. For the same purpose, dining tables, large flower vases, and various structural elements are used.
Important! Sometimes they make an American-style kitchen with a portal.
Kingdom of textiles
Pay attention to how many fabric elements Americans use in their interiors. This is easy to explain even from a historical point of view - they are still proud of their cotton products.
Therefore, choose natural fabrics for upholstery and accessories. Tablecloths and napkins will also come in handy - no paper!
Of course, at first glance this is not very convenient for those who are accustomed to paper tissues, but it helps to provide a real American atmosphere.
American kitchen with island
The island is an integral part of an American-style kitchen, since the center of the room must be occupied by furniture. The island is the most favorite piece of furniture among Americans, because it not only has an attractive appearance, but is also quite functional:
- using an island, you can zone a room, separating different segments;
- an additional working surface appears;
- if necessary, you can do without an additional dining table, this is especially true for small kitchens combined with living rooms.
If you order a kitchen island with shelves, you can do without a pantry.
Bonus for creating atmosphere
America is characterized by the presence of all kinds of bonuses and additional options. We decided that if we did not take advantage of this tradition, the article would not be complete.
Remember how they celebrate parties in the USA? An abundance of themed accessories can turn a kitchen into a festive zone. Don't neglect them - this will help you not only add variety, but also maintain true American style in your kitchen, regardless of the season.
There are no trifles in this style. Even plastic utensils can play a role - for example, the red cups familiar to everyone from the TV series.
We draw conclusions: the costs of creating an American interior in the kitchen will be considerable. Mainly due to the quality of materials and the need for a large area. But if you take the risk, the result will please you for many years: this style is not one of those that quickly fades.
Color palette
The color scheme of an American-style kitchen is based on natural, natural colors. Basically, these are warm colors that are pleasing to the eye, filling the room with light and expanding the space.
These include:
- light green;
- walnut;
- beige, creamy;
- red, dark red;
- golden brown;
- light pink;
- light blue.
Examples
In the photos below you can see what an American-style kitchen basically looks like and how its interior is formed. The overall flexibility and variability of design is very noticeable on them. There are no clear rules or boundaries - everything you want can be realized without any difficulties if you adhere only to the general design concept.
