3 open plan kitchen extension ideas to bring the outside in this summer

As the hub of the home, modern kitchen spaces provide much more than a place to simply cook and eat these days. Used for spending time with loved ones, socialising, relaxing, and working, expansive kitchen extensions remove the barriers to the outside for a seamless flow through the space whilst cleverly using the outdoors as an extension of your kitchen.

Is an open-plan kitchen a good idea?

There are so many benefits to creating an open-plan kitchen it’s hard to know where to start! Here are just a few reasons why an open-plan kitchen is a good idea for your next home improvement project:

• A better layout and flow of traffic
• Lighter and brighter
• You can socialise and cook at the same time
• A multi-functional space that can be used for a wide range of activities
• More appreciation and enjoyment of your home as a whole.

So, if you’re wondering ‘how can I extend my kitchen area?’ with a contemporary open-plan layout, here are three open plan kitchen extension ideas perfect for any property type or size in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and the South East.

Open plan kitchen with bifold doors

The ideal entrance option to get summer BBQs and garden parties in full swing, some of the most striking open plan kitchen designs feature slimline aluminium bi-fold doors. Neatly sliding and stacking to one side to open-up the entire kitchen space, no matter whether it’s a generous 8-panel bifold door or a petite 3-pane bifold suited to smaller open plan kitchen extensions, you can look forward to copious amounts of natural light, space, and uninterrupted views into your garden and beyond. Include level external flooring to seamlessly flow from the inside to the outside.

Open plan kitchen diner extension

Depending on your home’s existing style and your own personal taste, relaxed country kitchen designs that combine rustic woods and aged metals, and minimalist, industrial kitchen extensions complete with an enviable kitchen island or bijou breakfast bar are particularly popular design choices at the moment. Or for a really modern open plan kitchen diner with a twist, retain the spacious feel of open-plan design whilst creating the impression of separation by incorporating practical ‘broken-plan’ elements into the mix.

See how this gorgeous kitchen extension has changed the way Mr & Mrs Tilley live.

Open plan kitchen living room extension

Versatile kitchen-living room extensions provide easier access to surrounding rooms that the whole family can benefit from. Incredibly helpful for keeping an eye on young children whilst preparing food, open plan kitchen living spaces are particularly attractive amongst growing families in Essex and beyond. Include modern floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic sliding patio doors, classic sliding sash windows, or traditional French doors to enhance ventilation and keep the light flowing through the space, come rain or shine.

See our award-winning, hybrid orangery installation in Westoning, Bedfordshire.

Beautiful open plan kitchen extensions for homes in Essex, Suffolk, Hertfordshire & Surrey

Adding the most light, floor space, and value where it’s needed most, get a price, visit our showroom, or get in touch online to discuss your open plan kitchen extension ideas in more detail with our dedicated team of installation experts.