Open‑Plan Kitchen and Living Room: Before and After Ideas

Open‑plan kitchen and living room area is where cooking, eating and relaxing all happen together.

Small changes in colour, lighting and layout can completely change how it feels.

We start with a clear before photo and then show a set of after ideas.

Each idea includes two matching artworks for the wall panels in the photo so the kitchen and lounge feel like one connected space.

Our ‘Before’ Image:

A bright open‑plan kitchen and living room with large windows, a simple white kitchen and two wall panels ready for art.

The neutral, desaturated base makes it easy to test colours, materials and furniture, so you can see what each idea adds without distractions:

Our ‘After’ Concepts:

Ideas we explored:

Each idea kept the architecture and windows exactly as they were — we did not alter the room’s structure or glazing. We chose one colour palette for both the kitchen and lounge, so the whole room felt connected and easy to live in. Every idea also included a matching pair of artworks sized for the two wall panels. Use these notes as a guide while you view the images.

Cinnamon and Olive | Warm Modern:

We used an olive velvet sofa, a rust wool rug, a stone coffee table and brushed‑brass lighting. The kitchen gained walnut doors, a cream tile splashback and copper accents. Art: an abstract pair in olive and rust. Finishing touches included an amber glass vase with eucalyptus, wooden boards and a bowl of blood oranges.

Midnight and Champagne | Contemporary Glam:

We added a midnight blue feature wall behind the sofa, navy upholstery with champagne trim, an ivory silk rug and smoked‑glass pendants. The kitchen was finished in navy and marble with brass handles. Art: a bold indigo and gold pair. Finishing touches: a crystal carafe set, brass tray with a candle and soft ivory curtains.

Lemon and Cobalt | Mediterranean Fresh:

We designed a cobalt island with lemon accents, a cane chair, jute rug and white plaster lanterns. Kitchen shelves held blue‑rim plates and terracotta pots. Art: framed tile patterns in cobalt and lemon. Finishing touches included a citrus bowl, cobalt jug with chamomile and a rattan tray with espresso cups.

Deep Fig and Sandstone | Contemporary Luxe:

We featured a fig accent wall, sandstone velvet seating, a fluted oak cabinet and soft stone lighting. The kitchen was styled in dark brown with pale marble and brass hardware. Art: fig and sandstone canvases with gentle brass detail. Finishing touches: a travertine tray, fig‑coloured candles and blush linen napkins.

Sage Garden | Calm Country:

We created a sage feature wall, chalk linen sofa, chunky jute rug and small brass bell lights. The shaker‑style kitchen was painted sage green with cream dishes and a neat herb rail. Art: soft countryside scenes. Finishing touches: ceramic jugs with herb sprigs, stone bowls and a woven basket for bread.

Coral, Teal and Bronze | Deco Revival:

We designed a curved cream sofa with coral piping, a fan‑pattern rug and a tiered bronze chandelier. The teal kitchen featured bronze trims. Art: a Deco geometric pair in coral and teal. Finishing touches: a coral lacquer box, teal agate coasters and an ivory stone vase with white ranunculus.

Indigo and Saffron | Global Eclectic:

We styled the room with a patterned kilim, rosewood sideboard and brass lanterns. Open shelves displayed hand‑painted plates and a tagine. Art: textile‑style prints in indigo and saffron. Finishing touches: a hammered‑brass tray, pomegranates in a bowl and linen curtains in warm white.

Pistachio and Marigold | Playful Contemporary:

We designed a pistachio island, marigold stools, striped rug and sculptural plaster light. The kitchen styling included pistachio bowls and a simple citrus bowl. Art: bright abstracts in pistachio and marigold. Finishing touches: colourful art books, a marble tic‑tac‑toe set and fresh lemons in glass.

Bordeaux and Burnt Gold | Dramatic Evening:

We painted a bordeaux feature wall, added a brass drum coffee table, crystal decanter set and smoked‑glass accents. The charcoal kitchen had gold handles and a bordeaux linen runner. Art: a moody burgundy and gold pair. Finishing touches: dark florals in a gold vase and black stoneware for the worktop.

We also created extra seasonal palettes and softer neutral looks for readers who preferred quieter schemes.

People could mix elements from different ideas if that suited their space:

How to use these ideas:

If our concepts inspired you, here is how you can achieve similar look at home:

1. Pick two or three colour palettes that feel right for your home and light.
2. Notice how the artworks linked the kitchen and lounge. Matching pieces on the two wall panels helped the space feel complete.
3. Choose lighting that suits day and night: brighter for cooking, softer for evenings.
4. Add a few accents (books, bowls, plants) in the same colours to tie everything together.

How we built each look:

• We kept the architecture and windows as they were so the visuals matched the real room.
• We picked one clear colour palette across kitchen and lounge so the room felt like one story.
• We layered lighting: task lights for cooking, a statement or linear light for the lounge and a table or floor lamp for calm evenings.
• We chose rugs that fit under the main furniture so each zone felt anchored.
• We used curtains or blinds that suited the window height and kept the palette clean.
• We placed a matching artwork pair on the two wall panels in the photo, sized to fit neatly.
• We repeated one metal finish (for example brass or black) so handles, lights and small décor looked consistent.

How AICI can help visualize your spaces:

In this article, we showed you how our main service, *Redesign Your Room*, works.

But that’s not all we help with.

We create:

1. Custom Artworks for your feature walls.
2. Complete Shopping List, based on your chosen concept.

We also offer these free tools:

1. Colour Picker: Pop your image into our ‘Colour Picker Tool’ and get instant colour code results, perfect for choosing your paint;
2. Paint Calculator: Pop your room measurements into our free tool and get instant paint amount recommendation!

*Can we help you visualize your home, venue or business?

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