Hiding appliances has lots of upsides: the room will look more streamlined and less like a kitchen - important in a busy space that you want to relax in. If you do want to show off some of the latest appliances, such as a supersized fridge with ice machine and chilled water, or a coffee machine built into a wall unit, go for one that's really good-looking and that blends with the style of the room.
Walnut and Parapan Kitchen by Design Republic
There's no hiding anything when it comes to open-plan kitchen-diners. All your domestic paraphernalia, like your washer-dryer, will suddenly be exposed to the world. Consider units with floor-to-ceiling doors that will hide so many sins and look ultra sleek. We especially love this bespoke kitchen in walnut and Parapan by Design Republic.
It's possible to give a fairly inexpensive kitchen a real boost by spending just a little bit more on your worksurfaces. Corian, for example, comes in a range of colours, a choice of thicknesses and shapes - and is incredibly hard-wearing. Wood is also still incredibly fashionable, and looked after properly will weather well. For drama, go for rich, dark woods, such as wenge.
To make a bigger impact, have your worksurfaces cut to create an extra-wide breakfast bar, have square edges cut into curves (looks good and saves space in a smaller room) and use off-cuts for matching shelving for other parts of the room.
One sure-fire way of getting everyone in the kitchen is to buy a great big table where you can serve up dinner, finish off the homework, and perhaps play a hand of cards. This expansive, seamless surface fits a multitude of activities. It's made out of Corian and looks fantastically space age.
Hardwearing flooring for such a busy room is really the only choice - and don't forget you can soften the living area with a rug. Underheated tiles like limestone look fantastic and never date. The same goes for real wood floors, whether coated with a natural varnish, limed or painted.
Cheap tiles and laminates are very much second best. However well made they are, they won't stand up to the long-term abuse the floor in this room will have to bear. So, if you're staying put for a while, brace yourself and invest in the best; it'll be well worth it in the long run.
Harvey Jones Kitchens
A breakfast bar is perfect for a smaller space, and is really useful for busy families who have little time to enjoy the formalities of eating at the dining table - especially during the week. Country-style units (like those featured here by Harvey Jones Kitchens) will give your live-in kitchen-diner a nice homely feel.
The trouble with a big, busy room is that it can look chaotic and lack focus. If it's to be really successful, you'll need to use subtle colour or texture to pull it together.
Running the same paint colour and flooring throughout the space will make it feel more like one room - then it's just a question of 'zoning' it with soft furnishings and accessories. For instance, add a rug and some cushions to the living area that are similar tones to (but not matching) the runner on the dining table and the glassware on the open shelves in the kitchen. You get the gist...
No one likes having to be sensible, but you really have to be in this type of room, so sofa covers should ideally be removable, rugs washable or at least spongeable, and flooring super tough.
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