No man is an island

Being able to socialize in the kitchen and share the responsibilities creates atmosphere, not to mention a lighter load. Modern day working parents don't have as much time as their previous generation to prepare family meals. Today's cuisine culture is all about the contribution of the family members and the enjoyment of creating a meal together. To put a large island in the center of the kitchen is always a winning formula for sociable living within a kitchen.

The large server becomes a base for cutting, cleaning, cooking and serving with a few potential trips to the fridge or cooker (if not built into the server). The addition of seating under a ledge of some sort improves the comfort for assistants as well as provides place for casual mealtimes. The material used in an "island" should be hardwearing, waterproof and attractive. The range of prospective materials varies, as in the case of bench tops from granite and wood to steel and synthetics. The choice is personal and subject to the style of your kitchen.

Choosing style to live with

The central theme for open-plan living is that members of the family can interact socially and over meals in a large, fully equipped area. While the theory is practical, the implementation could prove difficult when choosing décor elements to harmonise a large area with a number of different functions. Here are some décor pointers to achieve the seamless look.

• Concentrate on matching fundamental interior design elements like lighting, flooring and walls. By keeping these components in tune with each other, rather than competing, the entire space will seem like one. Individual areas can be highlighted by using soft and movable décor pieces to engage the eye.
• Cornicing and skirting is a wonderful way to carry a look throughout an area. The use of the same shape makes the area seem like one large room, even though there are separate functions.
• Countertops (on a server or island), can extend down the side of the counter giving the piece of furniture a solid and uninterrupted look. This is effective with wood and granite.

Shared living

A basic premise of the living kitchen is its proximity to living areas such as dining and sitting rooms. A kitchen, however practical and busy it may be, can find comfort near a TV or dining room.

Dining rooms have always found a place near the kitchen for sheer convenience sake. Whereas it would traditionally have an inter leading door to the source of food preparation, today we find dining areas part and parcel of the stunning new kitchen styles. Dining chairs and tables can be sourced in the same material as kitchen work tops with fabric to complement the look.

With the basic and fundamental décor elements in sync, one can experiment in other areas to give the living areas a sense of self. this is best done by using different lighting, usually more ornate and aesthetic than what is used in the kitchen area. Chandeliers and pendant lights are appropriate.

Soft furnishings also offer a great avenue for expression: warm and voluminous curtaining will strengthen the dining area's comfort factor.

A home with a heartbeat

The trend in bespoke, gourmet kitchens is to flaunt the beautiful and pleasing elements that have been carefully chosen. This includes the sink and all cooking appliances, creating efficient use. Fridges and dishwashers have found favour in this open-plan concept by being integrated: either behind a matching cupboard door or fitted with an accent material, very often stainless steel, which gives the impression of a large drawer.

This being said, many kitchens do not aspire to this potential for any number of reasons, so a separate scullery could be the answer. With a kitchen serving as a living, cooking and eating area much time will get spent here by family and friends alike. With the kitchen on show, it could be advisable and in a home's best interest to have such a pantry or "utility room". Such a place could house appliances such as washing machines and dryers, store cleaning equipment and a collection of rubbish bins, with a door leading outside for quiet escape.