To integrate the kitchen or not? 7 golden tips to know when it’s worth it – Casa e Jardim

To know if it is worth integrating the kitchen to the rest of the house, it is necessary, before any decision, to understand your routine and how you use the space. In the architect’s assessment Débora Valentegives DV Interiors, if you like to prepare meals, receive friends and interact with guests, creating a unique environment is a good option. “This is also a solution for very small and tight spaces or with little natural light”, completes the architect. Daniela Corrêa.

For those who have children, the junction usually helps in everyday life with children. “Proximity brings tranquility to fathers and mothers, who perform more than one activity simultaneously and need to be attentive to the movement of their children”, says the architect Cristiane Schiavoni.

On the other hand, when the residents are not very organized, leaving the place constantly messy, the union with the living room may not be a good idea. “I recommend integrating the kitchen when you are the only one who normally uses it”, highlights the architect Sabrina Salles.

See below seven golden tips from professionals for integrating your kitchen.

1. Before dropping

Decision made, it’s time to start work. But before breaking everything, you need to take some important precautions. “It is always necessary to have the evaluation of a responsible technician, architect or engineer, because we cannot interfere in the structural part of the construction”, explains Danyela.

The junction may not always be feasible, especially in older properties. The ideal is always to have the original construction plan at hand, which will facilitate the evaluation work. “When you want to integrate, you need to see if there is no piping, pillar or structural masonry between the rooms. The piping, depending on the use, is possible to move, but if it is something that runs through all floors, we cannot remove”, explains Sabrina.

2. Unified language

Another tip from professionals is to remember that the integrated kitchen is part of the living area of ​​a house, so it should receive the same attention to details of finishes, furniture and decoration. The unique language of the elements will give the idea of ​​fluidity and continuity between spaces.

“Using the same floor, for example, is a great alternative, in addition to establishing a palette of colors and finishes that harmonize with each other”, highlights Danyela. “In this list I also include the appliances, which form the complete look of the room”, mentions Cristiane.

3. Space layout

Thinking about the arrangement of furniture and electrical appliances is essential to ensure fluidity between open environments. “Whenever possible, try to leave the cook in a frontal or lateral position in relation to the guests, for better interaction”, highlights Débora.

For this, island or peninsula benches are a good alternative, functioning as integrators, but also dividers of environments. “The island requires a larger space, as it will be loose on all sides. The peninsula is already attached to the countertop. Both can have the same height as the sink”, says Sabrina.

For these plant changes, it is worth planning all water, electricity, gas and exhaust points during the construction phase. “If you are going to install a sink and cooktop on an island, for example, the project must provide for the repositioning of this infrastructure”, says Cristiane.

4. Powerful hood

One of the great concerns of those who integrate the kitchen into the living room is the grease and smell of food that spreads through the house. In this case, you don’t have much choice: investing in a powerful hood is the solution. “A good appliance is essential for integrated kitchens, but they need to have a good exhaust duct, with an outlet outside the property”, says Débora.

If the stove or cooktop is located on an island, it is necessary to provide in the budget for a special appliance that is “loose” on the bench, fixed to the ceiling – usually, with a higher price. “In cases where there is no external air outlet, we need to install a scrubber, which just filters the air to minimize odors and returns it to the environment. Another alternative is to position the stove next to a window”, suggests Danyela.

5. Hiding the mess

Integrated kitchens need to be well organized, with functional spaces to store utensils, as they are widely exposed. Those benches full of items can’t have a turn.

“It’s important to think of a well-designed woodworking shop, with space to store and hide the mess, with easy access to items that are used routinely. It’s also worth choosing patterns and handles that give a special touch to the environment and don’t look like a kitchen “, says Daniela.

For Sabrina, even the appliances must be well chosen so that the integration works and results in a large and beautiful place. “When you bring the two spaces together, it’s important to have visual unity between the environments to keep it as elegant as possible. As you can see the look of the kitchen from the living room, we usually embed the equipment and also try to leave the appliances a little hidden”, she says. .

6. Attention to lighting

As they are united environments, the lighting in the kitchen should be similar to that of the living room, but without ceasing to be functional. “Seeing well is essential for preparing meals, but ‘receive’ kitchens should always have lighting that makes it more intimate. A tip is to use pendants on the countertop and LED strips for details”, says Débora.

Sabrina Salles suggests keeping the same color temperature as the room to maintain harmony between spaces. “Even in kitchens I like to keep the same tone with 2700k [luz amarela]. I put 3,000k on the prep bench alone,” she says.

7. Possibility of closing

For those who want to integrate, but also like the option of, eventually, when they have some little mess, being able to close the space, the architects indicate some solutions. “I love using sliding doors and even frames that can be opened or closed,” says Danyela. “You can make a shrimp or boreal glass door. An upper cabinet also helps to close the look”, says Sabrina.