BLENDED LIVING

Blended living is growing in popularity

Blended living, where no distinction is made between rooms like the living room and kitchen, is a trend that looks set to continue in popularity. Since the pandemic, rooms have had to become more adaptable in their uses, partly due to the necessity for flexible working spaces.

Open and broken plan design has long been a renovation must-have in traditional homes and extensions. The style is also a staple in new build homes where space is at a premium. Having a large open plan space is great for entertaining and for creating a communal environment. It is likely you will still see an individuality between the kitchen, dining and living areas in most open plan schemes. 

Blended living seeks to remove the separation between areas with a more holistic approach. Seamless storage design that is mirrored in the kitchen and throughout the space is one way to blur the lines between functions. There is also a movement toward non-specific furniture that feature handless doors, slimline worktops, pocket doors to conceal kitchen areas when not in use and continuous worktops that create a working or dining space without breaking away from the design.   

To allow consistency throughout the ground floor, it is important to consider finishes. Neutral, warm and natural materials will give the best long term results. Take this Rotpunkt Old Split Oak kitchen as an example. Black steel and timber effect cabinetry are combined to create a harmonious space that easily and subtly mix cooking, dining and office spaces. 

Matt Phillips, the head of UK operations at Rotpunkt tells Kitchens & Bathroom News his thoughts on blended living. 'I think the range of elegant faux finishes in marble and timber effects have elevated the kitchen living space, bringing a touch of luxury to a linear aesthetic.' 

Like most interior design trends, this was first seen in the upper mid-level market first but is becoming much more of a mainstay. 'The trend has already trickled down to the mid-market because the majority of new build properties in the UK have open plan kitchen spaces' says Phillips. 

Find out more about blended living spaces and how to achieve this in your home by visiting Halo Interiors.