Ever since people came up with the idea that they didn’t have to be content with the apartment layout from the developer, active demolition of old partitions and the construction of new ones began. But what to do if the partition is demolished, but the need to delimit zones remains? Such a simple, but at the same time beautiful decorative element as an arch comes to the rescue. The arch delimits the space, makes it visually wider, and becomes the highlight of the room. Constructing an arch is not a troublesome task, so you don’t need to spend a lot of money or hire a construction team to build it. The design of the arch between the kitchen and living room is easy to create on your own.
What are arches for?
Arches will never go out of fashion, so their use in repairs for a long time is desirable. Functions of arches in the room:
- Space zoning
- Increase and visual expansion of space
- Additional space decor
- Adding individuality to standard apartment layouts
Arch design between kitchen and living room
interior photos, features, design options » Inter-er.ru
Contents
Nowadays, when the possibilities of interior design are limited only by imagination and finances, you will no longer surprise anyone with cosmetic repairs - many people want not just to update the wallpaper, but to do a real redevelopment. That is why it is increasingly possible to find living rooms combined with a kitchen. But is this solution ideal for everyone? What are its features, pros and cons? How to properly zone a new room? Next, we will try to answer all these questions, and for clarity, we will also show photos of different design options for combined spaces.
For or against combination?
First, let’s figure out whether everything is so attractive in the idea of combining a kitchen with a living room.
Pros:
- Creating a spacious and roomy room instead of two small rooms.
- Organizing a comfortable and cozy area for multi-format receptions: thanks to the expansion of the area, you get a comfortable space for family dinners, celebrations and friendly gatherings, where the hosts can prepare dishes without being distracted from the guests.
- Ample opportunities for implementing the most daring design solutions that cannot be implemented in a small living room or kitchen.
Kitchen living room is very convenient for a large family
Minuses:
- Free entry of all kitchen odors and fumes into the recreation area. At first glance, this is a small inconvenience, but do not forget that some odors can eat into textiles and furniture.
- Lack of privacy in the living room. The noise of kitchen appliances will not allow household members and guests to comfortably retire in the recreation area and be in silence.
- Difficulty in remodeling an apartment. Firstly, to redevelop an apartment in a multi-storey building you need to obtain a special permit. Secondly, if the wall between the kitchen and living room is load-bearing, it is prohibited to remove it. Thirdly, the redevelopment must comply with all current sanitary, construction and fire standards.
Important. It is prohibited to combine a living room with a kitchen equipped with a gas stove - it must be replaced with an electric one.
Where and how to implement redevelopment?
Combining a kitchen and a living room will be appropriate both in a small Khrushchev-era apartment, in a country house or in a spacious modern apartment, but in all these cases it will be of a different nature. In particular, for the successful implementation of the idea, it is important to carry out a competent layout of the new space, according to its dimensions and configuration.
The ideal option for combining a kitchen with a living room is a large house or apartment, where each household member has their own room - here the problem of lack of privacy will be absolutely irrelevant. The kitchen layout here can be anything: linear, U-shaped, parallel, L-shaped. The main thing is that the work triangle, that is, the stove, sink and refrigerator, are within walking distance. For maximum convenience, you can divide the space into three zones: work, dining, living room.
As a result of the redevelopment, one spacious room is obtained instead of two small ones
If you have a one-room studio, an ergonomic L-shaped layout with a dining area in the middle of the composition is best suited for the kitchen.
If as a result of the combination you get a rectangular space, the most optimal solution would be a universal U-shaped kitchen layout. The living room area can be arranged on the opposite side of the work triangle.
Zoning: arch between the kitchen and living room or less radical options
All options for zoning the kitchen-living room can be divided into two groups: visual and physical or functional. Let's look at the most effective solutions.
Visual:
- Color – to visually separate rooms, you can use tones of the same color that are different in saturation, as well as completely contrasting shades.
- Finishing - for cladding the kitchen and living room, you can choose materials of different textures: in the work area - practical tiles, paint, glass, and in the living room - wallpaper, carpets, parquet, wood.
- Lighting – you can install muted ceiling chandeliers in the living room, and powerful spotlights in the kitchen.
You can zone the space using an arch, podium or color
Functional:
- Arches - openings can be of different shapes and sizes, but they have the main advantage in common: they literally separate the kitchen and living room from each other, but maintain the openness of the space.
- Partitions - wooden, metal, glass and textile structures allow you to draw a boundary between spaces along the entire length of the combined room.
- Furniture - you can divide zones using a bar counter, shelving, sofa, wardrobe, dining table, kitchen island.
Advice. The reverse side of the cabinet, facing the kitchen, can be decorated with photographs, photo wallpaper or paintings to match the style of the living room.
Do you want to follow suit and combine the living room with the kitchen? Don’t forget to weigh all the pros and cons of this option and carefully consider the interior of the new space so as not to regret the hasty decision - only after working out all the nuances of the design can you count on a high-quality transformation of your home.
Kitchen-living room layout: video
Kitchen-living room design: photo
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Types of openings decorated with an arch
The arch is considered an ancient architectural structure: it was relevant during the construction of massive buildings of antiquity, and is now used as a partition between zones. The modern interior offers several types of arched opening. Let's look at them:
Classic
The arches have a smooth arch and are framed with platbands. There are no unnecessary elements that attract attention.
Classic arch in the interior
Curly
Arches have different shapes, the lines are not always smooth. The emphasis is on decorative elements. Figured arches are divided into many subtypes, which will be discussed below.
Variant of a figured arch in the interior
The classic type is usually used in the design of the arch between the kitchen and living room. She also shares a hallway and a kitchen. The difference between an arch is that it has a radius equal to the distance between the side walls of the opening.
A traditional arch can be made from various materials. This can be budget drywall or metal, tiles and other building materials.
An arch is also considered a classic if it has a different shape, but its decorative elements are close to the classical antique style. In this case, the perimeter of the opening has a platband made of stucco or its imitation. In the center of the vault there is a decorative element that symbolizes the keystone.
Drywall arch: classic version
Arches are available in many options. Let's look at the main ones:
British In another way, such arches are called “modern”. The arc of the vault has a more straight outline, the radius of the arc is truncated. The corners are smooth. Suitable for rooms with low ceilings.
Slavic Rectangular arches with rounded edges.
Thai The shape of the arch has a right angle on one side, and a rounding of any radius on the other. Such arches are now relevant, their photos are found everywhere.
Portal A rectangular arch with various decorative elements: stained glass, wooden carvings.
Niche A projecting arch attached to a wall. Conceals open niches of various sizes. Photos of the arch can be found by searching on the Internet.
Ellipse The arc of an arched opening is presented in the shape of an oval. Can carry a functional load in the form of shelves.
The trapezoid arch is made in the form of a rectangle with beveled corners. This arch will look great if trimmed with wood.
Circle Vaults in the form of a circle, turning towards the bottom into smooth side lines, have proven themselves in rooms with low ceilings. A round arch smooths out sharp corners and makes the transition from the kitchen area to the living room soft.
Arch lighting options
The easiest way to solve the problem of contour lighting is to install spotlights, both on the inner surface of the arch and on the adjacent area of the kitchen ceiling.
Sometimes lighting an arched vault is achieved through one or two powerful lamps installed on the ceiling in the living room. This solution is used if you want to highlight decorative elements on the partition walls.
Materials that are suitable for installing an arch between the kitchen and the living room
Arches can be created from anything. You can make them yourself, or buy ready-made ones, stylized for a certain type of interior. Independent decoration of purchased arched openings is not prohibited. The materials for making arches are as follows:
Plasterboard sheets
Cheap type of building material. Durable and flexible when wet. This allows you to make any shapes of bends from gypsum boards. Easy to install. Drywall can be easily finished with finishing putty and given a finished look. The material is environmentally friendly and can be used to make decorative arches in a house where children live.
Stone, concrete, brick
This type of material is used mainly in large areas, for example, in a private house. It is possible to install such a structure in an apartment, but this will require large expenses and qualifications. The weight of the material is quite large, so you need to take into account that not all old panel houses will be able to withstand the additional load on the supporting structures.
Wood, chipboard, MDF, metal
You can make arches from these materials yourself, but purchasing them assembled is more profitable. The price of the structures is high, however, the purchase will add an additional style element to the combined space. Arches from such materials are made to order in workshops for the individual interior of an apartment or private house.
How to divide the kitchen and living room with a bar counter: ways to place furniture
When zoning, it is very important to choose where exactly the furniture will be located. There are many options, so it is worth considering not only the size of the room, but also its shape. Also, the placement method will depend on what type of product you choose. You can buy a free-standing stand or a folding design.
Free-standing element
In this case, the furniture will be a separate detail in the interior. You can place it parallel to the headset in the middle of the room, closer to the wall, or place it near the balcony. You can find out how to organically place a bar counter between the kitchen and the balcony from the article “Bar counter between the kitchen and the balcony.”
Pay attention to the photographs of ready-made solutions - they will tell you better than words how to more practically install furniture in rooms of different sizes.
Bar counter near the wall of the kitchen-living room
Folding model
This is a convenient option for small spaces. If the layout of the living room kitchen with a bar counter does not allow you to install a full-fledged version of furniture, a folding tabletop is the best solution. See how you can turn a run-of-the-mill item into an interesting stylistic statement.
Folding bar counter in the interior
What to make the structure from
A plasterboard arch is mounted in the same way as all other structures consisting of a frame.
Attention! Install arches only in openings whose height exceeds two meters. The design takes 0.1-0.15 m from the height of the opening.
Before you start installing the arch in the apartment, stock up on tools and materials for construction. To make an arch you will need:
- Metal profiles: guides (28*27) and rack (60*27)
- Screws for working with metal and dowel screws
- Plasterboard sheets for arc and side walls
- Arched corner to strengthen the arced edge
- Self-tapping screws
To perform the zone delimitation action, you will need the following tools:
- Tape measure
- Screwdriver manual or electric
- Metal cutting scissors
- Drill
- Stationery and regular knives
- Marking pencil
- Nail
- Nylon thread
The listed tools and materials are inexpensive. A drill and screwdriver for one-time work can be rented at a tool rental.
Design of arches in a large kitchen
Spacious kitchens with high ceilings provide almost unlimited possibilities in terms of constructing arched structures.
- The wide entrance opening is designed as a classic, ellipsoidal, figured or trapezoidal arch.
- A voluminous fantasy wavy vault will highlight the dining room, work area, and relaxation corner.
- An unusual visual effect is created by a multi-tiered ceiling structure combined with an asymmetrical arch.
- A round or shaped variation between the kitchen and the hall or living room gives the interior a special sophistication.
If possible, it is desirable to design arched windows in the appropriate style, but if the apartment has standard rectangular window structures, it is difficult to obtain permission from the governing bodies, since it will be necessary to carry out work on the main wall and arched windows will change the overall appearance of the facade. You can limit yourself to installing a decorative vault in the interior so as not to disturb the exterior of the building.
- A kitchen with a balcony or loggia can be decorated with an arched arch from floor to ceiling on the inside.
First stage of work
Begin work on installing the arched opening by preparing the surface. To do this, dismantle the ceiling between the living room and the kitchen, if this has not been done previously. If there is a door between rooms, remove it from its hinges and remove the frame from the opening. If necessary, expand it to the required size. Clean the surface from any remaining decorative coatings and remove the plaster. Be sure to degrease the surface and make it as smooth as possible.
Measure the width of the opening - X, the distance from the top floor beam to the highest point of the new arch - Y. The measurement results will be used to make some parts of the structure.
Making the side parts
- Cut a strip from the gypsum board sheet equal to the obtained x value (opening width). x/2 – the middle of the central axis. Measure the value on a strip of drywall and use a pencil to mark it with a vertical line.
- Add the y value to the mid-axis value. Measure the result obtained from the top edge of the workpiece in the center of the axis. The resulting point will be the center of the arc circle.
- Use a nail, pencil and nylon thread as a compass. Place the nail in the center of the future circle. Calculate the radius of the circle using the formula 1/2x and draw its boundaries. You will receive a diagram of the side part with an arched cutout.
Design of a kitchen combined with a living room through an arch
The interior of a kitchen combined with a living room can be different, the main thing is that it matches the design of the arch. For example, gray stonework will go well with metallic kitchen appliances.
The kitchen must be kept clean: unwashed plates and crumbs can ruin even the best kitchen design. Also, a combined kitchen causes a lot of noise, which can interfere with the rest of the household in the living room. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange furniture and kitchen appliances in such a way as to reduce noise as much as possible.
If a wide arch is made between the hall and the kitchen, then the interior of the rooms should have some elements in common, for example, the color of the upholstered furniture in the living room should match the color of the cabinets in the kitchen.
It is much easier if the arched structure is narrow, then most of the furniture is hidden; you can simply make the rooms in similar colors.
For a living room designed in a modern style, arches with large bells and whistles are not suitable; it is better to use the simplest design. The arch should fit into the interior, and not become its main element.
Preparing drywall
To make a classic opening, you will have to bend drywall for an arc. This is done in two ways:
- Dry. This method is complex and is not always possible for a beginner in repair matters. It consists in making cuts on one side of the sheet, with the help of which further bending occurs.
- Wet. As the name suggests, drywall needs to be wetted. Cut off an element of the future design from the sheet and apply multiple punctures with an awl. Wet the part with water and place it on a template previously made from any materials. As soon as the gypsum board gets into the improvised form, it will take the same shape. The part can be used for further work after drying.
Choosing a style for the kitchen-living room
When creating a cozy and beautiful room, the main task of the homeowner is to choose a style direction, which affects the choice of furniture and finishing materials, the number of decorative items and the overall cost of repairs. When choosing a style, you need to focus on the following parameters:
- Financial opportunities.
- Household taste.
- Design features of the room.
- The design style of other rooms in the house.
The kitchen-living room does not have to match the style that was used to decorate the country house, but it should not contradict it either. It is best to combine classical trends with each other, as well as modern ones with each other. Also, the initial decoration of the kitchen may influence what the future style will be; it is quite possible that not so much will have to be changed.
Let's look at the main styles used to decorate the kitchen-living room:
- Loft is a style that came to us from America and is considered the ideal solution for creative people who do not like luxury and pretentiousness. Among the features worth noting: the absence of partitions, pendant lamps, rough and functional furniture, large windows and high ceilings, exposed concrete or brick walls, utilities.
- Scandinavian style is for lovers of wood, plenty of lighting and white color.
- Neoclassical - modern design with classical motifs.
- Minimalism is a style that combines monochrome, lack of decor, elegance and functionality.
- High-tech is a modern style that “breathes” new and high-tech systems. Distinctive features: strict and straight lines, high functionality of all items, monotony, a minimum of natural materials and an abundance of chrome-plated items, absence of textiles, high ergonomics.
- Provence is a romantic and delicate style from France that can fill the kitchen with comfort and warmth. Distinctive features: abundance of daylight, ornaments, floral motifs, decor and textiles. Pastel colors, natural materials and aged furniture will help complement the interior.
- Classic is a style that demonstrates the high status and refined taste of the homeowner.
- Country is a rustic style, characterized by its simplicity and comfort. He, like Provence, prefers the use of natural materials, textiles and antiques.
- Art Deco is the brainchild of Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism, combining a combination of glass and mirrors, steel, leather and silk.
- Modern - a classic kitchen with asymmetrically stretched doors and furniture, curved and smooth lines. Stained glass replaces glass, creating complex optical illusions with walls and ceilings. The color scheme is dominated by white and blue.
Source: krov-torg.ru
Installation plan for a classic arch between the kitchen and the living room
After you have completed all the preparatory activities, proceed directly to the installation. It is not difficult, but requires care and patience. Let's look at the steps:
- Install the profile frame. Strengthen the guide profile with dowels. Make reinforcements on both sides of the top floor. On the side walls of the opening, install similar parts from the top of the structure to the end of the rounding of the arch arch. Fasten the frame parts using self-tapping screws. Next, strengthen the arc elements onto the U-shaped profile. This design needs strengthening. Rack profile strips will help with this.
- Manufacturing of cladding. Take the strip of drywall on which you previously made marks with dimensions. Try it on the opening and if it fits perfectly into the structure, make another similar part. After this, secure both parts with self-tapping screws to the frame of the arched opening on both sides. Place the screws at a distance of 10 centimeters from each other, press the caps deep into the sheet. Cover the inner part of the arc of the arch with a plasterboard strip curved in the shape of the arc. Attach the screws to the profile in increments of 5-7 centimeters.
Important! Mount the frame with a retreat of 0.15 centimeters into the opening depth. This is the distance that the sheet of drywall along with the finishing will subsequently occupy.
At this point, making an arch with your own hands can be considered complete. Now the entire structure requires finishing. Remember that by using an arch as a separation of spatial zones, you oblige yourself to adhere to a certain style in the design of the common space of the living room and kitchen. An arch is a durable element that will never go out of style. Depending on changing tastes, it can be decorated in a new way each time: this can be done together with the existing interior or separately, adjusting it to it. If you get tired of the arch, its dismantling will not be expensive either in time or in finance.
Format
Another classification of arches can be given:
- symmetrical;
- asymmetrical.
If earlier the former were more popular, now you can often find kitchen arches in photos of more non-standard shapes. Typically, curved lines are used. After all, at one time designs in the form of a semicircle were popular. Then, often now, they began to use portal arches: rectangular-shaped structures.
Thanks to this approach, you can get a very non-standard result that will fit harmoniously into the room.
Zoning options
Although we tried to combine the living room and kitchen, in the design they try to separate them. After all, one zone is work, the second is intended for a pleasant pastime and relaxation. Naturally, the styles must differ, as does the furniture used. This division is also called zoning: we divide the room into zones.
Ceiling and floor to separate the kitchen and living room
The most common technique is different floor and ceiling levels. When two rooms are combined, they can turn out naturally - they just were originally different. There is no need to align them, but you can play around with them by using finishing materials of different textures.
Even a small difference of a few centimeters is enough to visually separate the rooms. And if you add different textures and/or colors, the effect becomes more noticeable. From a practical point of view, it is more convenient when the place where food is prepared is located slightly lower. So the garbage that inevitably appears is spread less. It's a pity that this cannot always be realized.
Partitions
A more obvious way to separate one part of the kitchen-studio from another is to make a partition. This is such a strange thing: first we removed the wall, now we are recreating it. Yes, but in a different version - lighter and airier, which only marks the border without compressing the space.
The most material partition is glass. Only part of the passage may be closed, or maybe the whole. In this case, sliding systems are most often used. Such a glass wall visually leaves the living room-kitchen as a single room, but prevents the spread of odors and almost completely dampens sounds (in the closed position, of course).
Another way is to separate the kitchen and living room areas using plasterboard or wooden (furniture) partitions. Naturally, the partitions are not whole, but only “partial”. In some interiors, the kitchen is separated from the living room only by a hint of a wall, in others it is located in the middle of the area, leaving two passages on the right and left. A hall combined with a kitchen with an arch or simply a beautifully designed opening often looks much more attractive than simply dividing it with light. After looking at the photo, you will understand what we are talking about.
The next way is to organize a bar counter or counter. They differ slightly in design, but not in the way they are constructed. Sometimes, even at the renovation stage, a “stump” about a meter high is left from the former wall, which is then converted into a corresponding separator. Sometimes such a stand is installed on purpose; often it is made from kitchen cabinets. On the kitchen side there are cabinets, and on the living room or dining room side there is a bar counter. Practical. Especially for small studio kitchens.
There are many options for zoning the kitchen and living room. In the photographs you saw only a small part of the design methods. By taking one of them as a basis, adding something of your own, you will get your own, original and unique design project for your combined kitchen-living-dining room. After all, this is how the resulting premises are often used.
We think it’s clear how to separate the kitchen from the living room with a partition, but that’s not all. The layout of the living room-kitchen also includes a choice of lighting. This is no less important than everything that was talked about before.
How to “separate” a combined kitchen and living room
There are various ways to separate the kitchen work area from the living room relaxation area. The difference in floor level looks very nice, but this option is not desirable for older people and small children. In this case, it is better to make a two-level ceiling and use tiles or linoleum of a contrasting shade in the kitchen.
Columns, arches, small screens and partitions are also often used for zoning. Also a good solution is lighting; the kitchen should have bright lighting, and the living room should be more subdued and cozy. Hang blinds in the kitchen and beautiful curtains in the living room.
Perhaps the most popular way of zoning such a room is a bar counter, which separates the kitchen space from the living room. This option is especially suitable for young families who like to host friendly parties and buffets. The bar counter is quite a functional thing; it can be used as a place to eat, as a work surface, and as an interior decoration.
