When Did The Open Kitchen Design Trend Take Off?

The open kitchen trend has transformed the way we view the kitchen, from a social hub to a hub of activity. The open kitchen gained popularity in the latter half of the 20th century, with people seamlessly integrating kitchens with living spaces. This shift reflected a desire for communal living and was adopted by architects and clients worldwide. Open floor plans were key in designing the 1970s home kitchens and are still prevalent today.

The open kitchen concept, introduced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was still rare in the 1950s but paved the way for their rise to popularity. Pocket doors and French Doors became popular during the Edwardian period in Toronto, offering the ability to close the kitchen. The open floor plan was key in designing the 1970s home kitchens and is still prevalent today.

Kitchen islands became a staple in the 1960s kitchen due to Julia Child’s filmed show, The French Chef. In the 1880s, small public rooms of homes with specific functions began to be replaced by larger rooms that fulfilled specific functions. The trend towards open plan kitchens in the UK is a result of evolving social dynamics, architectural trends, and the influence of media and popular culture. Open kitchens have become increasingly popular, reflecting a desire for seamless integration between cooking spaces and living areas. By the 1990s, open floor plans were the norm for new construction, usually combining the kitchen, dining, and living spaces.

When did the open-concept start?

Before World War II, homes were typically closed-off, with hallways connecting different rooms like kitchen, living room, and dining room. Open floor plans emerged in the 1950s, connecting the dining area and living space, and allowing the kitchen to be off-limits to guests. By the 1990s, open floor plans were the norm for new construction, usually combining kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Traditional kitchens were separated by islands or fireplaces, while modern homes may have less distinctive separations, with the dining table defining the formal dining room from the rest of the living room.

Are open-plan kitchens still popular?

Paul Smith and Mary Mary discuss their plans to create an open-plan kitchen and diner in their 1950s bungalow, separating the living space with glass screens. They prefer a broken-plan with dwarf walls and sliding doors, as it offers a brighter space with better flow and sightlines, but may cause noise and difficulty in preventing cats from entering the downstairs room. The positive side is experienced daily, while the negatives occur only occasionally.

Is Open Concept going out of style in 2024?

Closed floor plans are making a comeback, as they offer benefits such as freedom of movement, maximizing small spaces and natural light, and allowing creative furniture layouts. However, open floor plans, such as formal dining and separate living rooms, are also gaining popularity. HGTV predicts a rise in compartmented spaces like children’s homework spaces and meditation rooms that emphasize quiet concentration and solitude.

Architectural Digest highlights the ongoing need for “hybrid spaces” that offer multiple functions for the same space, allowing different household members to use parts of the home for specific purposes. This is one of the strengths of closed floor plans, but it can also be applied to some open concept areas.

Ultimately, the choice between closed floor plans and open floor plans depends on the desired layout, such as a dedicated dining area, separate living area, family room, guest room, or private areas with a workspace, such as a home office or garage workshop.

Who invented the open-plan kitchen?

Frank Lloyd Wright was a pioneer in open plan design, which incorporated elements of Charles and Henry Greene and shingle style architecture. Wright’s designs focused on a centralized kitchen open to other public spaces, allowing housewives to be more gracious and hostess-oriented. This design became popular in the United States in the 1970s, with large, open rooms functioning as multiple rooms within a single living space. The most common design is a great room that combines the kitchen, dining room, and living room into one shared space.

However, open plan designs became less common in the late 2010s due to complaints about difficulty in engaging different people in activities, hiding clutter, and containing noise and smells. Walls were used to contain noise and provide privacy, while small rooms were more efficient in heating and cooling. A trend among wealthy homeowners is to build a second “mess kitchen” where food preparation takes place while entertaining takes place in a clean kitchen part of the open concept space.

Why are open kitchens popular?

Homeowners are increasingly choosing open-concept layouts for both functional and aesthetic reasons. Nearly three in five homeowners use the kitchen as a hub for entertaining, while 46 use it for casual socializing. The preference for long kitchen islands has grown by 10 percentage points since 2020, with people preferring drawers and cabinets with doors over open shelving and rectangular or square shapes.

The median spend on major kitchen remodels has increased by 22 years and nearly 60 since mid-2020, while minor remodels have seen a 29-year increase and over 50 since mid-2020. This trend is reflected in the increasing spending on kitchen renovations.

When did kitchens became popular?

The 1600s saw the rise of the modern kitchen, with the public viewing the room as separate from the rest of the abode. This shift was partly due to England’s growing wealth, which made it nearly as wealthy as the Netherlands. This wealth led to changes in urban living, allowing more people to afford separate cooking spaces. Some commentators believe this shift was a consequence of the wet and dreary British weather, as cooking was less pleasant in the British Isles.

At the start of the 1600s, most Londoners relied on street food, but as the century progressed, more tenement dwellers requested ground-level hearths and ceiling holes to let smoke escape. This enhanced design became more standard, and cooking activities began to come indoors. Locals would use their kitchens to cook and consume potage, a mixture of boiled grains, pulses, and vegetables, with steam and smoke escaping through a proto-chimney, keeping the air inside the dwelling relatively clear.

In which decade did open floor plan kitchens become popular?

The open floor plan, popular in the 1950s, became the hub of homes, with the kitchen becoming the central space. In the 1990s, it gained popularity in new residential construction and homeowners began removing old walls to create modern spaces. Advantages of open floor plans include increased sociability, natural light, appeal to buyers, enhanced sight lines, flexibility, and multifunctional spaces.

Why is open-plan living no longer popular?

The pandemic has led to a surge in people working from home, requiring more private spaces in homes. While some may find a desk in their spare bedroom or a spot at the dining table, others may require a separate, dedicated room for peace and quiet. The frustration of having children in the same place as Zoom meetings during the pandemic has emphasized the need for privacy in a home. In the post-pandemic era, people are likely to embrace more division in their homes, as they adapt to a new way of living and working that requires homes to work harder than ever.

When did the open concept start?

Before World War II, homes were typically closed-off, with hallways connecting different rooms like kitchen, living room, and dining room. Open floor plans emerged in the 1950s, connecting the dining area and living space, and allowing the kitchen to be off-limits to guests. By the 1990s, open floor plans were the norm for new construction, usually combining kitchen, dining, and living spaces. Traditional kitchens were separated by islands or fireplaces, while modern homes may have less distinctive separations, with the dining table defining the formal dining room from the rest of the living room.

When did open office become popular?

In the 1950s, open offices gained popularity due to air conditioning and the ability to place work areas anywhere within a building. Lever House, a glass-box skyscraper in New York City, was an architecturally significant example of this approach. Built in 1952 for a British soap company, the 24-story blue-green glass wall formed fixed floor-to-ceiling windows in offices. Tenants used the abundant light and lack of opaque structural walls to install desks next to the windows and added translucent dividers for space division. The office layout structure consisted of clerical staff in open pools, managers in interior offices, and executives on another floor.

What did kitchens look like in the 90s?

In the 90s, kitchens became more minimalist, with people seeking serene spaces. Light oak finishes and all-white appliances were popular, and people replaced countertops with simple fruit bowls. Oak cabinets with light laminate or tile countertops were popular. The charming countryside appeal was appreciated, along with pastel paint and floral wallpaper. Brass hardware was also a popular choice, adding a warm look to the country-style kitchens. People embraced the charming countryside appeal of these designs.