Kitchen-living room in a private house: 40 photos, design ideas

How the design of a kitchen-dining-living room in a private house will differ from a similar part of the space in a city apartment and what to consider when designing a public area in your own country house, we will tell you about this in the post.

Design: Zurab Arabidze

Layout

The design of a combined room depends on its shape and dimensions, as well as the location of windows and communications.
When building a private house, the placement of the main objects is designed at the initial stage and dictated by the customer’s requirements, and in a ready-made house it is necessary to adapt to the existing conditions. In a large living room kitchen (25 - 30 m2) it is easy to accommodate all three functional areas:

There is space for a kitchen unit, which can be positioned in the shape of the letter “U”, at an angle or linearly.
There is enough space for a dining group: a table, chairs or a soft corner.
There remains free space for a relaxation area: a sofa, TV or fireplace.

The photo shows a kitchen living room in a cottage with a small kitchen and a bar counter. Metal elements, leather upholstery and concrete surfaces make the interior strict and even brutal. Wood trim softens the impression thanks to the warmth provided by natural materials.

Also, the layout of the living room kitchen in a private house is influenced by its proportions. A room with a regular square shape looks more spacious, but it is more difficult to zone it: each section looks like a separate island, which is not always cozy.

A rectangular room, as a rule, is divided into two equal squares, where each zone is given its own place: the kitchen is combined with the dining room, which is quite comfortable, and the living room is located in the second part of the room.

The photo shows a living room with a linear kitchen, which is located in a private house under the stairs to the second floor.

Even in a modest-sized area, it is quite possible to place all three functional zones - create a space for cooking, organize a small dining room and place a sofa for relaxation. But in the kitchen and living room you should choose only the most necessary, laconic furniture.

Sometimes recreation and eating areas have to be combined. Unity is achieved with the help of a sofa that moves towards the table. Another good option is a bar counter, used as a dining table and cooking surface, and a small sofa is placed separately.

The photo shows a kitchen-living room with a sofa placed close to the table.

Layout of a combined room in a private house

The larger the area of the building, the more opportunities there are for the implementation of any ideas. But it is much more interesting to develop a room layout when space is still limited. It is projects like these that raise questions and doubts.

Traditionally, the zones are located as follows: the kitchen, followed by the dining room and then the living room. These areas are visually separated, which is done primarily by furniture, but it is much more comfortable and harmonious to use clearer boundaries. You can choose from simple and interesting zoning methods.
In a limited space, such as a dacha, you will have to reduce the area of the zones or redistribute it between zones in a different way. The kitchen can be represented only by a hob (sometimes it is only a two-burner stove or electric stove) and one cabinet with a pair of wall cabinets. Such a work area is placed in hallways, under the stairs, in the far corner of irregularly shaped rooms. The rest of the space is occupied by the dining room and/or living room. These rooms can be functionally combined.

The photo shows the design of a small cottage with a minimal kitchen area.

In a two-story private house, the kitchen work area can be placed under the second floor, from which a second light opens. Thus, the living room and dining room, or just the living room, will be located in a high, spacious area of the room, and the kitchen space will be visually hidden from view - under the second living level.

The photo shows the interior of a two-story cottage: a layout with a kitchen under the second floor.

In a wooden cottage, the layout is often determined by the safest placement of the work area, since the walls are highly flammable.

In general, the layout of the combined space is developed taking into account which of the zones will have an advantage - to be brighter, more visited, loved among household members. If the living room receives the emphasis, then the dining room can be represented by a small, even folding table and the required number of chairs. The kitchen is then placed where there is room for it.

When the kitchen becomes the “center,” or rather the accent of the space, then the main area is allocated to it. Then this is a bright set, no less rich design of the work area. The dining room in such a room can be organized directly in the living room or on a bar counter or island - a separate part of the set.

Zoning Features

There are several ways to divide the kitchen and living room into zones. One of the most popular is to use a sofa placed with its back to the cooking area and table. If there is a lot of space in a private house, an island is installed as a separator and an additional work surface - a separate spacious cabinet. It can also serve as a dining table, with enough room to move around.

Another way of zoning is a bar counter. It looks great in a small kitchen-living room of a country house, but has one drawback: the high countertop and bar stools are not comfortable for the elderly and youngest members of the family.

The photo shows a functional island table that serves as a table, work surface and storage area for utensils.

A room in a private house can be zoned with additional extensions: arches, a podium or partitions. The first two options practically do not steal space, but additionally erected “walls” can deprive the kitchen-living room of space and natural light, so they are only appropriate in a room with two or three large windows or with access to the terrace.

A rectangular kitchen-living room in a private house can be easily zoned with color or different types of wall decoration: contrasting paints or wallpaper, brickwork, decorative plaster, wood panels. The floor is also tiled differently: tiles are laid in the kitchen area, and laminate or parquet is installed in the living room. This decision is dictated not only by aesthetics, but also by practicality.

Furniture and decor

In a combined space, you need to adhere to the same style in all zones. Furniture should be part of the overall composition; in a spacious room it can be massive. A large rectangular or round sofa is suitable for the relaxation area. You can choose original designer models. Built-in niches and shelves will help add a graphic touch to the interior.

The kitchen set should be comfortable and match the overall decor. It is better to choose models with household appliances closed by cabinet doors. It will not distract attention from the overall design. You can complement the set with a bar counter, which will serve as a division of space and provide an additional work surface.

Basic decorative elements:

Textiles - curtains, sofa cushions, carpet - can act as a bright accent.
Figurines, vases. A large room allows the use of floor-standing models, but in limited quantities.
Paintings with themes corresponding to the style will organically fit into the interior. It is better to give preference to medium and large panels - small ones will get lost in the general background.
Live plants, aquarium.
The fireplace is a major component of rustic styles and should be real with stone or brickwork. Imitation is suitable for modern interiors.

It is important not to overload the open space that combines the kitchen, dining room and living room with decor. Even a minimal set of furniture takes up a lot of space and distracts attention. Decorative elements are aimed at creating a cozy home environment and should be used in small quantities.

How to arrange a kitchen-living room?

Combining a kitchen with a living room in a private house entails some problems - odors and noise from household appliances. To reduce the impact of negative aspects, you should equip the room with a forced ventilation system and an exhaust hood.

From an ergonomic point of view, the most successful arrangement of the “working triangle” (sink, stove, refrigerator) is considered to be a U-shaped kitchen. While cooking, you can stand in one place, turning only your body, which significantly saves time and effort. A corner kitchen is considered less convenient, but still versatile.

The photo shows a large kitchen-living room in a country house with a bar counter, a corner sofa and a separate dining group.

The beauty of a dacha lies in its proximity to nature, which means it would not be amiss to emphasize this feature in the arrangement of the living room kitchen. If the room has access to a veranda, it is worth equipping the opening with a modern glass door. The kitchen set in the walk-through room must be planned so as not to interfere with free movement and opening of the door.

The countertop and sink located close to the window look great: while cooking and washing dishes, it’s nice to admire the surrounding landscape. It is much more difficult to implement this idea in an apartment than in a private house.

The photo shows a kitchen living room with a large dining room and access to the veranda, where the corner unit is located with the sink facing the window.

If the kitchen-living room is located in the attic, it is recommended to replace wall cabinets with open shelves. For a sloping ceiling, a light color scheme is best: white or light gray.

Advantages and disadvantages of combination

Any human action has both positive and negative sides. The idea of combining a kitchen and a living room is no exception to the rule, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons when deciding whether to combine rooms when renovating or building a country house. The main advantages of combination:

Large free space.
No restrictions on movement.
Everything is within walking distance.
You can stay close to your friends while cooking.

It is possible to host parties with a large number of guests.
Abundance of daylight.
There is room for arranging a dining area.
To ensure a cozy atmosphere, one TV is enough, not two for each room.

It is worth noting that the idea of combining a kitchen and a living room is equally often used by both owners of small apartments and country houses. However, the kitchen-living room also has disadvantages, including:

Free distribution of kitchen noises and odors.
To demolish the wall and move the sink, you need to make changes to the housing registration certificate, which can only be done with the permission of the relevant authorities.
For finishing, you need to use more expensive and high-quality finishing materials that have increased moisture resistance.
The kitchen needs constant care, because dirty dishes will always be in sight.

Lighting selection

Do not underestimate the role of lighting in the interior of a private home. With the help of light, you can visually expand the area of a small kitchen-living room, and, on the contrary, fill a spacious room with comfort. General light is provided using a chandelier or pendant lamps. For the kitchen area, local lighting in the form of LED strips is selected.

Each zone should have its own light sources with conveniently located switches. Lamps are hung above the dining table, and floor lamps are placed near the sofa. Wall sconces are often used in classic interiors.

Spot lighting in the form of spots can highlight certain decorative elements: for example, a painting decorating the living room. Small spots are also used if you need to lightly illuminate a room in the evening or at night.

The photo shows a kitchen and living room in a private house. A chain light fixture is located directly above the island. In the recreation area, one of the light sources is a table lamp with a lampshade.

Interior Design Ideas

The design of the living room kitchen depends on several factors: the taste of its inhabitants, the facade of the house, as well as the surrounding area.

It is logical if the interior of the cottage, lined with stone, is designed in styles close to classical: art deco, neoclassical, empire. Luxurious furniture, expensive textiles, arches, as well as a fireplace lined with stone or decorated with moldings fit perfectly into such an environment.

In a wooden house, a kitchen combined with a living room looks organic, with elements of Provence, country or designed in the style of a noble estate. Natural materials, antique furniture and decor are used for decoration. Wooden beams, exposed beams and aged boards look beautiful.

The photo shows the design of a living room kitchen in a private house designed in a classic style.

If the cottage is located on the sea coast, the Mediterranean style is most appropriate, as it will fit perfectly into the surrounding landscape. But even if a private house is located in the middle zone, with the help of a bright and fresh environment you can turn it into a real resort.

Adherents of modern style choose the Scandinavian direction, minimalism, eco-style, and loft. Such designer interiors look spacious, light and laconic.

Unifying space

In addition to dividing the space, the kitchen-living room should be combined with each other.

A dining table will help harmoniously combine two rooms.
Materials that are similar in color but different in texture can both separate and connect rooms.
Several color accents in both zones will help unify the space.
Spotlights will help unite the two rooms.

The main thing in the design of a kitchen-living room is that the space, although divided into zones, must be made in the same style, otherwise it will not be in harmony with each other.