Gas stove in the combined kitchen and living room. How to legally combine a kitchen and a room? The disadvantages of combining a kitchen include

Living space should be comfortable and safe. The combination of these two properties is under the control of special government organizations. People, trying to improve the comfort and aesthetic appeal of their home, often forget that safety should come first. Otherwise, comfort can turn into disaster not only for those who have made significant changes in their apartment.

In what cases is redevelopment of an apartment considered legal?

The word redevelopment reflects the whole meaning of the action. This is a change in the technical layout of the premises. These changes become legal after experts approve the draft of the new technical plan.

If the redevelopment was carried out without approval, then it becomes illegal even if it does not pose any threat to the safety of the residents of the house. However, by submitting documents after the action has been completed, illegal redevelopment can be converted into legal.

In order to know exactly what exactly cannot be changed in your apartment, you need to familiarize yourself with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 508. If we summarize the list, then it is absolutely forbidden to carry out:

  • moving bathrooms beyond their fixed position (except for cases of basements or non-residential premises located under the apartment);
  • moving the kitchen to the living area of ​​the apartment;
  • changes in kitchen configuration resulting in a lack of natural light;
  • combining kitchen and bathroom ventilation;
  • kitchen niches less than 5 square meters. m;
  • combining apartments into one if they belong to different people;
  • demolish walls that serve as load-bearing structures of the house.

Thus, the most regulated work is related to the condition of the kitchen and rooms with bathrooms. This attention is due to the fact that all communications located in these parts of the apartments are combined into a single house network. Any local violation of this unity will affect the security of communications throughout the house.

Is it possible to combine a kitchen with a room?

The possibility of such redevelopment is allowed, but with a number of conditions and restrictions. The permission to combine the kitchen and room does not agree with the ban on moving the kitchen, bathroom and communications. However, the contradiction is eliminated if the kitchen itself, as a place for preparing food, remains in place, and the partition between the kitchen and the room is removed.

The result is a structured space where people gather to eat and spend time together.

Such redevelopment is prohibited if there is a gas stove in the kitchen. In accordance with safety standards, living quarters must be isolated from gasified kitchens. This is necessary so that during a gas explosion the spread of fire throughout the apartment can be minimized.

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Combining a room and kitchen with a gas stove

Despite the fact that the commission will not accept such a redevelopment project, people who want to expand their living space at least visually can do this through some tricks.

The main requirement for the legality of changes in this case is the presence of a door or a sliding partition between the room and the kitchen. If the load-bearing wall is not completely dismantled, but a large arch is formed with a door or a sliding partition, then such a redevelopment can be considered legal.

The movable partition should completely block the transition from the kitchen to living room. Otherwise, the commission will not recognize such redevelopment as legal. However, the partition should be easy to remove, otherwise there is no point in remodeling it.

There is another way out - you need to convert kitchen equipment from gas to electric. Only this needs to be done with the involvement of employees of the relevant services. Gas workers must put a cap on their pipe and record the fact of switching to another energy source. Electricians must record the installation of an electric stove, as well as install special cables.

Redevelopment in a panel house

Typically, in panel houses, the partitions between the kitchen and living room are in the nature of load-bearing structures. In panel houses, in general, almost all walls are load-bearing. The exception is the walls that form bathrooms, which are prohibited by law from being combined with other rooms and moving anywhere.

The commission may allow the creation of a doorway or arch. However, the sizes of such holes are strictly regulated. For this reason, in panel houses we can only talk about equipping a direct passage from the kitchen to the room, but not about combining two rooms into a single space.

Redevelopment in Khrushchev

A feature of the layout of apartments built in the sixties of the 20th century is their compactness and the classification of almost all walls as load-bearing structures. Low ceilings and small sizes of the kitchen and corridors reduce the number of redevelopment options.

However, in such apartments you can make additional openings or arches. In the early Khrushchev buildings, which were built of brick, there were practically no corridors. The hallway had only one or two doors leading to the bathroom and toilet (or to a room with a combined bath and toilet). The corridor leading from the room to the hallway or kitchen was actually part of the room, since it connected with it through a large arch. This layout makes it possible to “play” with space.

In a redevelopment project, the load-bearing wall can be moved slightly, reducing the arch due to the side adjacent to the hallway. The part adjacent to the kitchen can be expanded.

If the kitchen is equipped with an electric stove, then such a shift will actually combine the kitchen space with the living room space. If residents do not want to remove the gas stove, then such an offset arch can be equipped with a movable partition, which will increase the project’s chances of success in the housing commission.

Requirements for combining kitchen and room

Combining a kitchen with a room is only possible in apartments with two or more rooms. The fact is that the kitchen belongs to the category of non-living space. When combining a room with a kitchen, the living space decreases and the non-residential space increases. After all, the main feature of a kitchen is the presence of equipment intended for cooking. Since, when combined, the equipment becomes part of the living room, the new room becomes a large kitchen.

As a result of such redevelopment, a two-room apartment becomes a one-room apartment, and a three-room apartment becomes a two-room apartment. If such changes become legal, the apartment may be sold as housing with completely different characteristics.

SanPiN standards prohibit the provision of an exit from the bathroom to the kitchen. The door leading to the toilet or bathroom should open into the corridor and hallway. This creates certain difficulties for redevelopment. Expansion of space due to the kitchen can be created by creating a kitchen niche, that is, moving kitchen equipment into the corridor. However, it is often difficult to implement such a project due to the fact that the only door leading into the corridor is from the room with the bathroom.

It is prohibited to move the kitchen into the space of a balcony or loggia. This ban is due to the fact that balconies and loggias are the cold part of the apartment. Batteries cannot be installed in them central heating, plates and other stationary equipment.

In addition, combining any part of the apartment with a balcony can lead to a violation of the stability of not only the supporting structures, but also the balcony itself. The only legal way to increase kitchen space at the expense of a balcony or loggia is to dismantle the window sill block. However, in this case it is necessary to install a door glass block or sliding windows.

List of documents for registration

In order for your redevelopment to become legal, you must submit the following documents to the housing commission at the executive authority at the location of the apartment.

  1. Statement of the established form. This document indicates: the name of the government agency, the applicant’s data, information about the apartment, the essence of the request itself (I ask for permission for redevelopment, reconstruction, or both).
  2. Project or sketch of redevelopment. This document contains the most accurate and detailed information about what exactly will be done.
  3. Title documents for the apartment.
  4. Technical plan of the apartment, floor plan, explication.

This is the main package of documents. Since we are talking about remodeling the kitchen, an expert opinion may be required from the services that supply the apartment with gas or electricity.

Norms and rules for redevelopment

Legal documents regulating redevelopment can be divided into three parts - federal laws, government regulations at the federal and regional levels and special regulations.

A person who wants to carry out a redevelopment by combining the kitchen and living space should pay attention to Art. 26 Housing Code of the Russian Federation, SNiP and SanPiN standards. In federal laws you will find general rules, from special standards you will learn what is possible and not possible during redevelopment of this kind.

Redevelopments related to the kitchen premises are controlled especially strictly by special authorities, because such changes carry the greatest risk of creating utility accidents and emergencies. This means that illegal redevelopment of this kind can entail not only fines, but also eviction from the apartment.

Attention! Due to latest changes due to legislation, the information in this article may be out of date. However, each situation is individual.

To solve your question, fill out the following form or call the numbers listed on the website, and our lawyers will advise you free of charge!

Residents of apartments with a small area always suffer from cramped spaces. It is inconvenient to cook in a tiny kitchen; it is impossible for a large group to sit at the table and receive guests. Remodeling an apartment becomes a real chance to change living conditions for the better. Combining the kitchen with the room expands the free space, and individual approach to design will make the studio interesting and functional.

What to consider when remodeling

Any dismantling of walls requires approval and permission. If it is not part of the building frame, then it is not difficult to obtain. Having completed the project of changes, having agreed on it in all structures, you receive permission to carry out the work, and then hand over the finished room to the commission. Most often, the question of whether it is possible to combine rooms worries residents small-sized Khrushchev buildings. In such a building there are partitions of both types; if you are lucky and there is a non-load-bearing wall in the apartment, then the new layout is real. In panel houses, this option is not possible - the wall separating the room and the kitchen is load-bearing. It can be partially removed by creating a decorative opening with supporting supports.

It is prohibited to connect rooms if the kitchen has a gas stove. According to safety standards, it must be separated from the living space. If you are serious about saying goodbye to your small kitchen, you will have to replace the stove with an electric one. The procedure will require permission from the gas service and the installation of sufficient electrical cable power.

Combination without changing the gas stove

The full combination of a kitchen and a room in the presence of a gas stove is not permitted by law, but there is an option that allows you to change the design of the room and comply with all regulations.

The rules require a fixed or movable partition or door between the kitchen and the room. As a way out, the apartment owners partially dismantle the non-load-bearing wall and install a movable partition in the resulting opening. This structure, when folded, does not separate the space of two rooms, but, if necessary, moves with a tight rebate. Often a lightweight plastic partition is installed, which, after a visit to the regulatory authorities and a permit for redevelopment, is dismantled and put away on the balcony or in the storage room. If you plan to leave the structure, then you should choose a beautiful and functional option.

An interesting solution is to implement the second option for dividing rooms - installing a door. Of course, in an opening of this size, it is not a hinged structure that is installed, but a sliding one. When open, its doors are located along the walls; if necessary, they close. This door block is made by analogy with a sliding wardrobe. The material of such a partition is selected according to the decision of the owners. There are no strict rules that govern it. If you use a glass structure, even when closed it makes the space light and bright.

Advantages of a living room-studio

  1. It becomes possible to functionally zone the space and move the dining area from the kitchen to a more spacious place.
  2. The resulting spacious room can be given your favorite style and an individual design.
  3. The new room will receive more light and visual extension borders.

Disadvantages of layout

If you approach this procedure with all responsibility, then you need to evaluate not only the pros, but also the disadvantages of combining rooms:

  1. The smell of cooking food will spread throughout the room; a powerful hood will help get rid of it, but not completely.
  2. Vacant space deprives residents of privacy. This is especially true for a family of several people.
  3. Due to the specific situation in the kitchen, you will have to clean the entire room more often.

The listed shortcomings are discussed by all family members, and the joint decision to change the layout usually remains unchanged.

Kitchen-living room design options

Despite the desire to combine two rooms, the food preparation area should have spatial separation. This is done in several ways:

  • visual zoning;
  • architectural isolation;
  • logical separation.

After redevelopment, the kitchen becomes not a separate room, but a functional area in the new room. Its department in Khrushchev has its own characteristics - there are low ceilings, so it is better to abandon zoning by raising part of the floor or installing a multi-tiered suspended ceiling. The architectural zoning option provides for the installation of stationary structures. They are not performed whole and high, otherwise the meaning of separation is lost. Suitable installation of a narrow bar counter, which does not take up much space and gives a special style to the room. Its role can be performed by the remaining part of the wall if it was not completely removed.

Partitions are made in ethnic style, in the form of shelves or racks. Drywall has become a popular material for work. It is affordable, easy to process, and can be used to create any shapes and compositions. A glass partition is also an attractive option that does not reduce the space of the new room.

One way to optimize the resulting space is to create a passage from the hallway to the kitchen. The entrance to the premises will be through the living room. After finishing, a refrigerator or cabinet will be conveniently located in this place. A functional work area is equipped nearby - a stove, a sink, cabinets, a table. A prerequisite is the installation of a powerful hood.

Methods for visually separating zones

The cooking area occupies a minimal area, while the main part of the room is in the living and dining areas. The use of different floor coverings allows you to visually delimit the space. Practical ceramic tiles that are not afraid of spilled water and mechanical damage are suitable for the kitchen. Laminate flooring is laid in the main part of the room. This material is presented in a huge number colors, does not require complex care, is affordable. Carpet and classic parquet are also suitable for the living room. To make the separation more pronounced, contrasting colors are used.

A multi-level stretch ceiling with a combination of matte and glossy areas also allows you to delimit zones. By choosing colors, textures or photo printing on the canvas, you will play with the division of space in an interesting way.

Lighting plays important role during the zoning process. Various lighting fixtures placed on the ceiling, walls or furniture highlight or conceal individual areas in the shadows. For a working corner in the kitchen they install Spotlights, at the demarcation point, above the table or bar counter, pendant lamps with original lampshades look appropriate. A chandelier is suspended in the recreation area, and individual secluded areas are illuminated by sconces and a floor lamp.

Logical division

Any piece of furniture can define the division of a room. This could be a sofa with its back facing the kitchen or a large aquarium. A bookcase, large furniture is used, even a dining table placed on the border of the kitchen is enough to delimit the room. This method is the most affordable; with its help, a room is divided quickly and without additional investments in materials and work.

Decoration rules

Professionals in interior design share their experiences on living room-kitchen design. Before combining rooms and choosing materials for decoration, get acquainted with several nuances of decoration.

  1. To achieve a feeling of spaciousness, use light wallpaper and paint. This is especially true for rooms with insufficient natural light. Stretch ceilings with a mirror effect can visually expand a room.
  2. The decoration of the work area and living room should partially contain similar materials or color schemes.
  3. When achieving a unified style for a room, it is difficult to choose harmonious colors, so you can use shades of the same color. The use of uniform surfaces, matte or glossy, visually unifies the interior of the living room-kitchen.
  4. If you want to add dynamics to the design of the room, do it through furniture with bright fronts.

The interior of the kitchen combined with the living room has many original solutions to expand the space. Often this is associated with redevelopment, but it is more reasonable to provide for this option at the stage of designing the house. This approach is quite common abroad, when the walls or partitions between functional areas are rather conventional. But at the same time, it is expected to find a way to eliminate some inconveniences - the noise of household appliances or kitchen odors. And yet, combining the living room with the kitchen into a common area is one of the most popular design techniques for expanding space.

What is important to consider when combining the kitchen and living room?

1. Before combining the living room and kitchen in an apartment building, it is important to coordinate all the details of the redevelopment, in accordance with the legislation, with the relevant organizations to obtain permission, and contact the Moscow Housing Inspectorate or the BTI at your place of residence. This is necessary to prevent damage to the structure of the house, since during redevelopment sometimes part of the load-bearing wall is removed. Even the dismantling of a small fragment of the supporting structure can have devastating consequences for the residents of the house.

To make a preliminary assessment of the scale of the work, you can determine by eye - is this a load-bearing wall or an interior partition? Secondary partitions are much thinner load-bearing structures, and they provide support for floor slabs between floors. The thin wall between the kitchen and living room can be partially or completely dismantled, for example, rounded arched openings are cut out in it to preserve the wall structure as much as possible. In any case, the decision to redevelop the apartment will have to be discussed with an architect or other specialist in order to obtain permission, which involves certain costs for an expert assessment.

2. Second, no less important aspect that cannot be ignored are the features of the kitchen. This is a room with high humidity, which often produces excess steam from cooking various dishes. Vapors, fumes, and specific odors, for example, from fried cutlets or fish broth, are also inevitable. They will inevitably migrate into the living room, especially if there is no powerful hood above the stove. And even if it is available and works properly, it will not be possible to completely get rid of specific odors. Such a room must be ventilated more often, and before guests arrive, refrain from preparing dishes with clearly noticeable odors. And it’s difficult to deal with high humidity from preparing first courses.

Please note that even if redevelopment is allowed, for example, if there is no gas in the house and the partition is secondary, then it will not be possible to radically change the design of the apartment. The wall where communications and water supply are connected should remain the kitchen area. The so-called “wet zone” should contain the stove, sink and dishwasher, and in the event of a water supply leak, it is advisable to think through the water drainage and threshold so that it does not fill the living room, at least at first. But the dishes can be moved from a smaller kitchen to the living room - a display cabinet or kitchen modules. And it is advisable to cook in such a way that there is little steam, that is, do not cook corn, jellied meat and other rich broths at home.

Advice: Experts recommend using special dishes with a valve lid that releases a minimal amount of steam, baking more dishes in the microwave, cooking in a pressure cooker, using a multicooker and other devices.

The main advantages and disadvantages of combining two zones

The living room only in rare cases fulfills its main function - a place for receiving guests, or a room where the whole family meets for communication. Today, designers offer many interesting solutions, taking into account the preferences and lifestyle of the family as much as possible. For example, sometimes the living room looks more like a movie theater, computer room, or Internet cafe.

Many families are away from home all day, and in the evening they use the kitchen only to quickly prepare semi-finished products and salads, make cuttings and tea. Today, many people do not have dinner in the kitchen - everyone rushes with plates to the sofa in the living room to sit in front of the TV to watch the news and favorite TV series. It is for such families that a combined living room with kitchen is best suited - photo:

In this case, there is no need to allocate a lot of space for the kitchen, where 1-2 people prepare dinner, and on weekends everyone relaxes outside the home. Then expanding the living room space by adding a combined kitchen is the optimal solution. But it also has its advantages and disadvantages.

1. Today, many housewives have a small TV in their kitchen to keep up with life. Some families have a TV in every room. But in the combined space of the kitchen and living room there is no such need - one large plasma panel is sufficient, and this is an additional saving of money, space and time. The same can be said about houses equipped with fireplaces and additional heating systems. One fireplace is enough for the living room, and the stove is already quite warm.

2. Most apartments with a standard layout are known for their stingy square meters in the kitchen. If you remove the partition and separate a couple of meters of the kitchen with a bar counter, an aquarium or a small partition below eye level, then both functional zones will visually expand.

3. The interior of a combined kitchen with a living room does not include a full-fledged dining table in the food preparation area. Sometimes in such an apartment there is no dining table at all. These functions are perfectly served by a bar counter that separates the kitchen from the living room, or a sofa table opposite the TV. If it is customary for a family to have lunch and dinner at the table, in the dining area expanded due to the kitchen, then there is always room for a large table and soft, comfortable chairs with high backs. In this case, they say that the living room combines the functions of the dining room.

4. The kitchen-living room also provides an opportunity to maintain visual contact and communication with guests or family members while preparing food when others are in another area. That is why the partition or demarcation is made below the hostess’s eye level. And serving new dishes to guests and removing empty plates through a conventional partition is easier than running back and forth.

5. Combining 2 rooms is not only a visual expansion of the dining area, but also additional window, that is, more light in the living room. This is very important in apartments on the north side of the house or when there are trees opposite the windows that take away a lot of light.

But all these options for combining the living room and kitchen have common disadvantages:

  • increased humidity in the living room;
  • everyone present has to listen to the background noise from the operation of kitchen appliances - hood, washing machine and dishwasher, baking timer, microwave;
  • not everyone can calmly perceive the smells of cooking (pregnant women, sick and weakened people, allergy sufferers);
  • You have to deal with untidy kitchen utensils, dirty dishes and leftover food.

Often families are enthusiastic about the idea of ​​remodeling their kitchen, but are therefore faced with the problem of lack of time. Therefore, at the same time we have to solve such a problem as daily cleaning of the living room after preparing food and consuming it. This is somewhat reminiscent of a “housewife’s nightmare”, that is, every day there are guests, a mountain of dishes and leftover food on the floor, chairs and sofa.

The most successful design solutions for combining kitchen and living room

A modern kitchen combined with a living room is an excellent idea for those who want to show their abilities in interior design. This idea is not new, but each option proposed by an architect or interior stylist specialist has to be adapted to fit your square meters.

When you have to choose one or another sample from which to base your home, first of all, you need to decide:

  • do you need a full-fledged kitchen without a wall separating the living room, or you can limit yourself to a small compact area for instant cooking food;
  • the area of ​​the combined kitchen should be reduced as much as possible in favor of the living room or simply fenced off with a bar counter;
  • the kitchen will have its own stylistic solution or a mutually complementary design;
  • the kitchen area will be visually fenced off or remain a small functional addition to the living room.

Please note: These decisions will greatly affect:

  • combined room design,
  • degree of reconstruction,
  • stylistic decision,
  • techniques for zoning the living room and kitchen!

1. Decide what the conditional boundary between the 2 functional zones will be. It could be:

  • a low indoor aquarium on a massive stand;
  • elegant bar counter with high chairs;
  • folding tabletop;
  • part of an old wall;
  • light partition on part of the wall;
  • new false wall;
  • thread curtain;
  • figured partition with original lighting;
  • transparent curtain on the ceiling cornice;
  • glass partition.

2. We choose a method for zoning functional areas, for example, the division of rooms will be purely symbolic, or the kitchen will be noticeably smaller, but thoroughly separated. You can visually define your kitchen in different ways:

  • kitchen floors of a different color and texture (washable tiles as opposed to living room parquet);
  • multi-level floors and ceilings;
  • different solution in color and lighting design;
  • decoration from different materials (the kitchen is lined with wild stone, and the living room has wallpaper);
  • the living room can be separated with upholstered furniture (a sofa with its back to the kitchen and facing the TV on the opposite wall).

The boundary between the kitchen and living room can be:

  • in the form of a conditional or visible partition;
  • along the floor line (straight or radial);
  • at ceiling level with LED lighting or other autonomous lighting.

The design of a combined kitchen with living room is not limited to these techniques, but they are among the most common options. Even a specialist will not undertake to recommend any one method from those listed above. Competent zoning is a set of design techniques that together give the greatest effect.

Furniture for a combined kitchen and living room space

1. Sofas are the basis for zoning the living room. When the living room combined with the kitchen is of sufficient size, then the best solution there will be a big sofa:

  • angular;
  • U-shaped;
  • bay window (rounded);
  • island;
  • modular;
  • set of upholstered furniture.

Typically, sofas for the kitchen-living room are placed with their backs facing the cooking area. Sometimes upholstered furniture is placed so that the faces of those relaxing and communicating are facing the fireplace or TV panel on the wall. But you can use transformers when modular sofas can be easily arranged, assembled or moved around the required object. Mobile upholstered furniture should have legs on wheels and a light frame. When purchasing, pay attention to the back of sofas and armchairs - it should be the same on all sides.

2. A full-fledged dining table is a mandatory component dining area. It is desirable that it be compact, but its tabletop can be extended if necessary. The best option is when the table is supplemented comfortable chairs with a backrest, not stools. The living room table can be of any shape:

  • rectangular;
  • round;
  • oval.

Tip: In an apartment or house where there are children, it is better to install a solid product with a rounded tabletop so that running children cannot get injured on a corner or push the set table.

3. Other types of cabinet furniture with countertops are also a good option if there is no need for a large table. The main thing is to have the opportunity to sit down and have a full meal. It’s not good when there is only upholstered furniture around without tables, and everyone is trying to sit down in front of the TV with their own tray. Suitable for this:

  • small console;
  • solid coffee table;
  • decorative table with a wide tabletop;
  • large cabinet with tabletop;
  • folding shelves and tabletops provided for the transforming sofa.

Advice: All of these products will serve as a worthy replacement in a small apartment or dorm room, in which they are trying to organize different functional areas in 4 corners, like a full-fledged apartment. A good addition to “small-sized” zoning will be light textiles instead of partitions and local lighting for each functional area.

4. A double-sided shelving unit as a zoning element is very convenient as a partial partition between the kitchen and living room. The main advantage is that kitchen utensils can be laid out on the side of the cooking area, and beautiful dishes are placed on the living room side.

5. Built-in household appliances and an aquarium cabinet not only give the interior a special charm, it is also very convenient when there is a shortage of space.

Whatever the choice of furniture for the combined space, it must correspond to:

  • stylistics;
  • configurations;
  • design;
  • fittings and moldings;
  • shade of wood or color of cladding.

Advice: The best option is to order cabinet furniture in a single key from a specialized company, and buy upholstered furniture as a set or reupholster it with furniture material common to armchairs, stools and sofas.

Today we will look at these and other important topics, accompanied by a voluminous photo selection.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's start with the amenities that a kitchen combined with a living room will bring, and this is:

  • ease of movement due to the absence of doors and walls;
  • “Everything is at hand, and the children are in sight” is an important moment for parents;
  • cooking and communicating with family or friends at the same time - now you are unlikely to lose your mind when returning from the kitchen;
  • the ability to organize parties or host more guests;
  • twice the amount of daylight;
  • the emergence of space for a dining area;
  • using one TV or landline phone instead of searching for places to place them in each of the rooms.

By the way, good advice voiced in his video by A. Zemskov, we recommend watching.

Interestingly, it is not only residents of small apartments who combine the kitchen and living room, although this issue is most pressing for them. As you can see in the photo, a kitchen combined with a living room is not only an opportunity to win a place.

Disadvantages of our large room lose to pluses in quantity:

  • distribution of kitchen odors and noises;
  • to demolish a wall, move a sink or make other changes to the technical passport of the apartment, you will need permission from the BTI;
  • use of resistant to high humidity materials that can withstand repeated cleaning;
  • keeping both areas clean – now you won’t be able to put off washing the dishes until later.

And you know, someone will even consider the last point a plus and an excellent motivation for regular cleaning.

Later we will tell you how to overcome these simple obstacles. In the meantime, let's move on.

Zoning

The interior of a living room combined with a kitchen is usually divided into functional areas - kitchen, living room and dining room. Thanks to zoning, you will separate the kingdom of the hostess from the kingdom of guests and relatives, hide the cooking process from prying eyes and be able to retire in the kitchen out of habit.

In small rooms, the dining area can be combined with the living room, minimized, replaced with a bar counter, or completely eliminated as unnecessary. Here you can continue the family tradition by organizing a large dining table, or decide to make changes for the sake of space.

To visually separate a kitchen combined with a living room, use:

1. A relatively large piece of furniture - a table, a bar counter, a sofa, armchairs, a closet, an aquarium or a “living” wall of outdoor plants.

2. False walls, partitions, racks of regular and irregular shapes and arches. On one side of the false wall you can place a mini-table, while the other will become a place for a picture or plasma. And if you cut a hole in it, a small table for two will fit perfectly in there - this way you will organize a compact dining area.

Separating the kitchen and living room with an arch is acceptable only for classical styles. Modern styles will suit a functional partition with shelves for kitchen utensils on one side and a bio-fireplace on the other. What do you think about perforated partitions?

3. Flooring design – the floor in the kitchen should be practical, and in the living room – conducive to relaxation. At the same time, the kitchen is often elevated to a podium, which makes it easier to connect communications, but may not be entirely convenient for charging.

4. Ceiling decoration - suspended, tensile structures With at different levels will help create a festive or romantic atmosphere in the living room, and will provide the kitchen with the necessary uniform lighting and working environment. Design features premises - for example, a load-bearing beam - will act as ready-made zoning elements.

5. Sliding or folding doors, which at any time will divide the premises into two parts. Believe me, this is imperceptible when the doors are transparent - for example, glass.

6. Curtains - light tulle, flowing muslin or a thick curtain will separate the kitchen from the living room without burdening the interior.

7. The texture and color of the materials used to decorate the walls, ceiling, apron, floor, and other horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Planning a kitchen with a peninsula is another zoning possibility: kitchen set or a bar counter will do the job perfectly. The interiors of the kitchen and living room, correctly divided into functional zones, are presented below.

What is best to use for zoning - the size of the room and the interior furnishings will tell you.

Choosing a style for a kitchen combined with a living room

Style direction is an important factor that influences the choice of materials, the design of furniture, walls, floors, ceilings, the number of decorative elements and the cost of repairs. When looking for a design style for a kitchen combined with a living room, you can focus on:

  • the dominant direction in the apartment;
  • design features of the floor, walls, windows and doorways;
  • estimated costs.

The kitchen combined with the living room may not completely correspond to the main style direction of the apartment, but it certainly should not contradict it. Here it is better to combine types of classical trends with each other or give preference to modern ones.

The original decoration of the floor, walls and windows is also a good hint, which, however, does not cancel the previous one. But this approach will reduce the cost of repair work.

Eg, wooden beams will fit perfectly into a modern loft and a range of rustic styles. High ceilings are a great reason to surround yourself with luxurious Renaissance, Baroque or Classical furnishings.

Kitchen-living room in modern styles

Household appliances, transformable furniture, strange, rich colors and contrasts, asymmetry, high-tech devices and a minimum of decor. If you have discovered your preferences and weaknesses in this list, this is a hint of modern style design.

Let's find out what will surprise us with the modern design of a living room combined with a kitchen by looking at popular style trends.

Loft

This native of the United States quickly assimilated into our climate. A loft-style kitchen-living room is an excellent choice for creative individuals who do not want to surround themselves with pretentiousness and luxury.

Distinctive features:

  • brick or concrete walls, untreated plaster;
  • beams, caissons on the ceiling are white, gray or brown;
  • high ceilings and huge windows;
  • slightly rough but functional furniture;
  • pendant lamps and rotating spots;
  • no extra walls or partitions.

Tip: since a brick kitchen apron is not the best idea, decorate it with brick-like tiles or imitating waterproof wallpaper.

Scandinavian style

Love white or wood wall coverings, natural materials and simplicity of forms? Pay attention to the Scandinavian style design. And if you manage to ensure environmental friendliness and maximum natural lighting, the purity of style will be guaranteed.

Does not deny the presence of ceiling beams and brick walls characteristic of the previous direction. Only the brick here is white. A distinctive feature of the style is a pendant lamp with an unusual lampshade in the dining area, much more soft and warm wood, complete freedom of action in terms of eco-decor.

A lampshade made of twigs, wooden shelves, a branch hanger - all this will only bring you closer to the Scandinavian setting.

Neoclassical

Have you already seen that most modern music carries classical motifs? Something similar is happening with apartment design, where classic elements take on a stylish and modern look.

Restraint, neatness, symmetry, mirrors, stucco molding, monograms, a bit of antiquity combined with modern materials and forms - this is what characterizes neoclassicism. This is wonderful and most suitable choice for connoisseurs of elegance and tradition.

Minimalism

Minimalism is modern elegance, functionality, monochrome, maximum open space and a minimum of decor.

Characteristic features include straight furniture facades, strict geometric shapes and smooth, non-textured surfaces. If your life credo is “nothing superfluous,” perhaps this style was invented especially for you!

High tech

Are you nervous about new technologies and high-tech systems? Then a high-tech design is more suitable for you.

It has:

  • strict lines;
  • straight, simple, but at the same time very functional designs;
  • monotony with small rich accents;
  • minimum of natural materials;
  • chrome elements;
  • high ergonomics;
  • no textiles;
  • smooth surfaces of furniture, walls, floors and ceilings.

Well, if modern trends are not to your liking, let's go back to the roots.

Kitchen-living room in classic (traditional) styles

By classic we mean a whole family of trends, essentially differing in the level of pretentiousness and avant-gardeism, color palette and correctness of forms. We will go through the most notable of them.

Kitchen-living room in Provence style

This romantic and very gentle destination, named after the southern French region, will fill your home with comfort and warmth. - this is an abundance of daylight, decor, textiles, ornaments, floral designs and soft, pastel colors.

To fully match the style, furniture should be made of light painted wood, while natural, artificially aged materials can be safely combined with imitations. The monochromatic design of the walls will be diluted by curtains with a checkered or floral print.

And short curtains to match the color of the tablecloth or kitchen apron kitchen cabinet doors will be replaced.

Cute vases and figurines, bottles and pots decorated with ribbons, forged elements, bows, lace - if you think that there is never too much beauty, you will find yourself in this style.

Classic style

  • are obliged to correspond to high status in everything;
  • want to emphasize your noble origin;
  • you simply do not accept changes and are not ready to part with antique interior items;
  • Do you consider decor an integral part of comfort?

– think about decorating in a classic style.

It accepts expensive, noble materials in the decoration of floors, ceilings, walls and furniture, a symbiosis of laconicism and decorativeness, elegance and strict symmetry of forms.

A classic kitchen combined with a living room is and will remain timeless, as these photos will confirm.

Country

Having considered Provence - a type of French country - it would be unfair not to pay attention to other national village styles, united by the simplicity and comfort of design. The meaning of style is the ability to escape from the bustle of the city by simply returning home.

All that remains is to choose a country that is close to your soul - your native one or a distant but beloved one. It turns out that there are many types of country music - Russian, Italian, Indian, Egyptian, American, Japanese, and they differ in objects, materials and colors.

But here's what they have in common:

  • eco-materials;
  • antique, vintage items;
  • knitted, patchwork, hand-made textiles;
  • authentic decor items;
  • often – round wooden table with a “great-grandmother’s” tablecloth.

Art Deco

The brilliant brainchild of neoclassical and modern, art deco is an exquisite combination of steel, glass, leather, mirrors and silk. All this may well end up in your kitchen combined with the living room.

The originality of the style is manifested in strong lighting, the play of light and shadows, multi-stage design, contrasting stripes or cages. But the style decoration of the room will be considered complete and fully consistent with the style, provided that the interior contains objects of art and elements of luxury.

Modern

Especially for refined natures, connoisseurs of exclusive products and accessories, we will consider a fabulous version of the Art Nouveau style (Tiffany).

Imagine it as if in a classic kitchen combined with a living room. Now you asymmetrically stretch the doors and furniture, giving them curved shapes, add stained glass instead of glass, optical illusions on the walls and ceiling, make the combination of white and blue flowers. You're almost there!

American Art Nouveau - and Tiffany also bears this name - is characterized by simplicity, elegance, practicality, and the presence of the latest technologies and objects of applied art.

Color solutions

When choosing a color for a kitchen combined with a living room, you should take into account:

  • design style;
  • rules for combining colors in the interior;
  • personal preferences;
  • psychology of color.

Some may classify the last point as esoteric, but this is not so.
If you have already decided on the interior style, let him point you to the right combinations. For the classics, these are pastel, delicate shades, diluted with dark brown or black in the minority.

Provence loves soft blue, pink, light green in combination with wood. Scandinavian style is a mix of white, gray and wood. Country styles are characterized by national colors. Art Deco is decorated in black and white, sometimes in beige-brown or silver-black.

There are rules for choosing colors that are associated not with style, but with proportions and the number of colors, and here they are:

1. 60x30x10 is color harmony. 60% of the space belongs to the main color (wall decoration, upholstered furniture), 30 to an additional color (furniture facades), and 10% should be devoted to accents.

2. Balanced in color plan the interior is represented by one or two primary colors and the same number of additional colors or accents.

Whether to follow the rules is up to you to decide. One way or another, their violation is only welcomed by the latest fashion trends.

Let's start with the main thing, and this is the color of the walls. A kitchen-living room in white is a universal solution and convenient in its own way. This way you will further increase the area of ​​the room, and later you can easily paint it in any other color.

There is only one minus - in the kitchen area the white will quickly lose its freshness, so be prepared for regular wiping.

More suitable from this point of view would be a design in beige or gray. This wall color is an excellent background for all other colors and most styles.

In monochrome interiors, the accent will be the unusual color of the wallpaper, decorated with photo printing or three-dimensional images. A bright, cheerful and at the same time waterproof design for a kitchen apron is the best gift for every housewife.

Don’t forget that dark colors are space eaters and should be used in the minority. A fashionable decoration for the guest area will be an accent wall, the role of which will also be played by a dividing partition.

The design of the ceiling is most often a color continuation of the walls, but there are also more modern options - combined or two-level ceilings with PVC or satin fabrics. A glossy or textured finish will harmoniously complement the kitchen set and upholstery of upholstered furniture in the living room.

Decorating the floor in white is a very bold, but not entirely rational solution for the kitchen, and even more so for the living room. A more cunning move would be white “marbled” - with veins or inclusions, beige, brown, gray or black. Striped, checkered and patchwork options are also very relevant, but not for very colorful interiors.

The color of the furniture in the kitchen should echo the furnishings in the living room. You can bring it there, for example, using the elements accent wall, textiles or sofa cushions. It would not hurt to transfer the color that is present on several vertical surfaces to one of the horizontal surfaces, combining these planes into one whole.

A little about the psychology of color: bright, flashy colors tone up, increase appetite and can make it difficult to fall asleep, and children are most sensitive to this. If you have them, just in case, check out the characteristics of the selected color.

Do you still remember that a kitchen combined with a living room has some disadvantages? In this section, we will tell you what you can do to eliminate them and share other useful tips.

1. The more detailed the design of the kitchen combined with the living room is thought out, the better the result will be. Among the important points that may seem strange are the height and weight of family members, whether you are right-handed or left-handed, the maximum expected number of guests or relatives.

2. To prevent kitchen aromas from whetting your appetite ahead of time, take care of a powerful hood (dome) or ventilation system. The inclined mini-model is suitable only for those who cook very little.

3. If the living room doubles as a bedroom, it is important to ensure that kitchen appliances are silent. Modern household appliances, fortunately, can boast of being inconspicuous in this regard. Another option is sliding doors or soundproof partitions. If you are sensitive to sunlight, it is better to choose blackout curtains.

4. Modern household appliances do not fit into your chosen style? Hide it behind the furniture facades and the issue is resolved.

5. Lighting in the kitchen-living room must meet three criteria - be uniform throughout the entire space, especially bright in the kitchen and dining area, and atmospheric in the living room. It will come in handy for the latter suspended ceiling with LED backlight.

6. All materials used to decorate the kitchen-living room must be moisture resistant - this way they will please you longer.

The ideal kitchen-living room design is a magical mixture:

  • personal ideas about beauty and comfort;
  • preferences of family and friends;
  • modern and durable materials;
  • comfortable and favorite things;
  • latest fashion trends.

What, in what quantities, when and where to add – no one knows better than you. There is only one thing left - to wish you to reveal your secret, unknown recipe to anyone!