The kitchen is a multipurpose space. More than allowing the preparation of culinary delights, the space is the favorite of many people to gather family and friends. Try, for example, arriving at someone’s home in the countryside: you will probably be taken to the kitchen for a “coffee” and a chat! Thus, it is always good to be able to count on new styles for the space, such as American cuisine.
An American kitchen is a space where one side of the room has only half a wall. Generally, this half wall is facing the living room, allowing the integration of the rooms.
There are three types of American cuisine. First, the fully integrated one, in which all the kitchen walls are eliminated, making the living room and the room a unique environment. In this case, the spaces are separated by a table.
In the case of the kitchen partly integrated with woodwork, the boundary between the rooms is made by means of a wooden counter. In addition to the structure, the space gains stools, which can be used for quick meals.
Finally, there is the American kitchen partially integrated with masonry. This is the most common type of room, and its dividing counter is built of masonry. Most of the time, the top of this bench is made of granite.
Advantages of American Cuisine
Among the advantages of American cuisine, one of the most notable is the creation of a wider environment. As it has no divisions, the space becomes almost unique.
Another interesting point is that the counter for the division can be planned according to the consumer’s needs. If the goal is to use it as a month every day, it is more interesting that it is a little wider, and has stools around it. In the case of only sporadic use as a table, it can be thinner, slightly larger than an ordinary wall.
Furthermore, those in the kitchen have a wide view of the room. Thus, cooking and watching television will not be a problem, as both can be done at the same time.
However, it is always important to analyze the option well. An American kitchen ends up bringing all the smells from the kitchen into the living room, which are more intense mainly in the preparation of fried foods. Thus, it is interesting that the living room and kitchen have good ventilation, and that the kitchen has a hood. Otherwise, smells can be annoying. The air is also able to take dirt particles to the other environment, demanding greater daily care.
Simple American Kitchen
An American kitchen may be simple, but it doesn’t mean that it needs to be “dull” or poorly planned. To ensure a beautiful and functional environment, it is possible to count on some interesting features of the architecture. Especially with the furniture planning alternative.
When planning their furniture, the consumer can purchase exactly the spaces they need in their environment. For those who have many pans, for example, it is interesting to work in lower cabinets. This altitude is important for both comfort and safety. After all, the weight of the utensils could damage the cabinets.
With custom furniture, you can also choose to use shelves or not. As well as positioning an overhead cabinet, ideal for packaging appliances, such as blenders and mixers.
It is also important to highlight that the planning of the furniture allows to use each space, each corner, of the kitchen. Thus, the consumer makes good use of the entire space of the room, making it even broader. After all, there will be no parts of the cabinets “in the middle of the way”.
Another way to enjoy a simple American kitchen is to insert appliances into niches. Like the stove or the refrigerator. With this care, the furniture will not be in the middle of the path, but in the corners of the room. The space for transit becomes much greater, and the comfort of the consumer as well.
Simple and Cheap American Cuisine
Now, if you want a simple, yet inexpensive American kitchen, you will hardly be able to invest in custom cabinetry. As they are custom-made, furniture is usually more expensive than ready-made pieces. After all, they require planning, quality material and reliable workmanship.
This does not mean, however, that you should give up on the idea of an American room. To save money, you can count on furniture bought in specialized stores. It is also interesting to invest in masonry.
Instead of using wooden counters or tables, prefer to prepare your masonry counter with granite top. The option is cheaper, and can also act as a space for food preparation. This is because granite is resistant to stronger impacts and scratches. Marble is also suitable for the countertop, but scratches more easily.
Another tip is to purchase pieces of granite (or marble) for reuse. Although they are not so expensive, the materials can be even cheaper if purchased already used. Portals such as OLX, from resellers, usually offer this type of material.
“Poor” American Cuisine
Being “poor” is by no means synonymous with ugly or “dull” decor. It is possible to apply several tips in the American kitchen and make your look attractive and in harmony with the rest of the house.
You can, for example, customize your refrigerator. On the market, there are several options for adhesives that are easy to apply. Thus, you can make your appliance themed or colorful, directing much of your visitors’ attention to it. Using stickers on the wall and tiles is equally advantageous, giving the environment an incredible personality.
At the same time, it is very interesting to invest in shelves. In it, the consumer can place spices, utensils, decorative objects and whatever else he wants. In addition to allowing optimum organization, the shelves ensure easy viewing of what is necessary for food preparation.
If it is not possible to use cabinets, choose to invest in curtains. The fabrics create a “protected” space for the positioning of the utensils, in addition to giving little more movement to the room.
It is still an option to use the kitchen utensils themselves to assemble your decor. Like big cutlery, or appliances like your beautiful mixer . Positioned with cups, spice vases and others, these items create an attractive look. Even if you have little money to invest.
Whatever your type of American cuisine, keep in mind the need to install a range hood. The hood is the appliance that will suck the steam generated by the stove, preventing the fat and smell from going into the room. Despite not being able to eliminate these residues completely, the device greatly increases the comfort of individuals.
American Kitchen Decor with Living Room
As it normally shares with the TV room, the American kitchen needs to be planned according to the decor of this environment. Imagine that the look of your room is more rustic: the walls are covered with wood, the furniture is in shades of brown. If you create an extremely modern kitchen, the contrasting look can create a tiring look.
So, unless your goal is balanced contrast, be careful with the combination of colors and styles. Remember to maintain a certain pattern between types of coatings, between colors or appearances. Harmony will ensure that you don’t get tired of spaces quickly.
In general, light colors are the most suitable for kitchens, especially because they create the feeling of cleanliness. The use of light tones also facilitates the combination with the room, regardless of the colors that predominate in it.
Another great alternative is to invest in intense tones on the floor. How to make the floor red, or blue. The options create a modern and youthful look, as well as cheerful and attractive.
The integrated rooms demand, at the same time, furniture with multiple functions. Like the bench stools, which can also be used as seats for watching television.
American Kitchen With Living Room
As explained, it is more common for the American kitchen of a property to be integrated with the living room. This integration ensures greater visual breadth of the spaces, and allows the environments to “talk”. If your goal is something more sophisticated, the solutions are even more varied.
A very interesting alternative for decorating a more elegant kitchen is to take advantage of its lighting. Of course, a kitchen requires bright lighting, so food preparation is not a problem.
This light, however, does not always have to be on the ceiling: it can appear on a pendant. The shapes of this type of object are diverse, and usually fine-tuned and shiny. This ensures a very elegant and different look to the space, since the item is a choice of personality.
The elegance of the room is also enhanced when the consumer opts for a wooden counter. The material looks attractive and warmer than marble or granite. It is important, in any case, that the counter is always at least 80 cm away from the wall on its opposite side. This space allows free transit in the room.
Be careful with the moisture on the material: even if it is waterproofed, the wood has the capacity to absorb liquids. This ability can cause stains, and impair the appearance of the structure.
Small American Kitchen With Living Room
In a small kitchen , regardless of its type, it is essential to avoid the accumulation of objects. After all, the excessive amount of items can cause tiredness, and even visual confusion. In addition, exaggeration makes it easier for the consumer to bump into objects and cause falls and accidents.
That way, if you have a small kitchenette with a living room, believe that “less is more”. Use only the necessary furniture, show only what you use every day. The rest, position neatly inside the cabinets. Even making it easier to find the objects: walk around “hiding” your favorite spice at the bottom of the piece of furniture. Otherwise, you will have a lot more work to achieve it.
Positioning overhead cabinets is also a very interesting option. Thus, even if the space is small, it is possible to use a large part of it to accommodate your utensils. Just be careful not to “pile” too many objects inside that cabinet, or they may fall and cause accidents when the door is opened.
Another interesting tip is to invest, again, in the stools for the room’s bench. These countertops create a new utility for the kitchen without taking up much space. After all, the stools are usually positioned already in the room. Which, by the way, creates more accommodation for the individuals in this room.
American Kitchen With Dining Room
Even if your kitchen has a countertop used for meals, taking advantage of a table is also a great option. This is because a table is usually larger, and can accommodate a larger number of guests.
When both pieces of furniture exist, you can take turns using both. The benches are more suitable for quick meals, and also for “snack” moments during the chat. The table can host more “complete” moments, with large meals and meetings of friends and family.
In the case of the association with a dining room, the integration between the kitchen and the room will be even greater than when it occurs with a TV room. This is because the two environments have more similar objectives, related to food. Thus, it is interesting that you combine the look of the environments a little more – choosing the same type of wood for the cabinet and the table top, for example.
A glass-topped table may be easier to combine. Here, however, there will be another concern: that of “preserving” the guests who will sit at the table. A transparent glass top allows you to easily see what happens under the furniture, and can cause discomfort.
If space is available, even better. Leave ample space between the bench and your table, so that it is possible to get around the furniture without problems. The ideal distance is at least 80 centimeters on each side of the table, and between table and bench.
Apartment American kitchen
Having an American kitchen in an apartment is a great way to optimize space. Even more nowadays, when the size of the properties is increasing.
By installing a counter in the kitchen, for example, you can create a dining table and a counter for handling food. All at the same time, with the same structure. This will eliminate the need for both furniture in the space, which reduces the “accumulated” items.
Another advantage is that a counter acts as a wall. That is, you can share the rooms, but without actually closing them. This characteristic, in fact, brings another benefit: the feeling of spaciousness of the environment. As the bench does not configure an entire barrier, and still allows the user to see the other side of what would be a wall, the aspect is that the rooms are wider. This will also contribute to the ventilation and lighting of your home.
Regardless of the type, size and purpose of the American kitchen counter, remember to make this area very bright. Thus, any use given to the bench will be easy and comfortable. Installing pendants is a good alternative, but as long as they do not “pollute” the look of the space.
In apartments, “less is more”. That is, the greater the physical and visual space it is possible to obtain, the better it will be to live in the environment.
In any case, there are also quite large apartments on the market. But the tips are the same, as it is important to optimize the space. In these cases, however, you can invest in more intense and cheerful colors for the kitchen. In small spaces, always prefer light tones, such as white and nude, as this way the environment will be visually enlarged.
Small American Kitchen
Once again, we return to the situation where your kitchen is small. Even if simple, the space needs to be able to accommodate all your utensils and food. Unless, of course, you have a pantry, where you can pack food.
So, prioritize your space planning a lot. Consider storing utensils and food in specific cabinets. Do not mix the products. Ideally, food should always remain free of moisture and odors, things that utensils can spread.
Also consider your family’s day-to-day needs. Knowing what you use most, for example, you can position items by hand.
To increase the feeling of continuity in the rooms, it can also be interesting to put the same type of floor in the room in the kitchen. Or else, at least the same color – which should be considered in the case of wood to pave the room. Wood is not ideal for floors in damp places such as the kitchen. In these cases, as there will not be a strong visual division, the two environments will appear as one.
American kitchen counter
In the market, it is possible to find different types of counters for American cuisine. They change for their composition material, but also for their decoration. Below are some of the models you can choose for your home!
1. Wooden counter
A wooden counter in the kitchen can give the space a more refined look. The piece can be wide and imposing, or thinner. In the second case, the look of the piece is very similar to that of a shelf, and will allow you to have small meals.
The great disadvantage of using wood is that it is more susceptible to stains and moisture, even when treated with waterproofing agents and other products. Therefore, it is not interesting to use it as a support for food preparation.
2. Masonry counter
A masonry counter will be fixed and more “robust”. It is possible to just paint it and overlay it with a marble or granite stone. A piece of wood can also make up the surface, and then give the kitchen a more urban air.
3. Multipurpose counter
A multipurpose American kitchen counter is one that, in addition to functioning as a support for appliances, food or meals, can also store things. Utensils, food, bowls …
This type of furniture can have a cabinet under the main part. The main piece is the top of the counter. You can also count on some small shelves, or even a cellar. This diversifies its function, in addition to optimizing the space of the house.
Kitchen counters can also be “hollow”. That is, they may have a space under the cover. This space is generally used to accommodate the benches that are used around the surface, taking them out of the way of traffic for residents and visitors.
4. Lined counter
To make the kitchen look even more beautiful, you can invest in decorating the base of the bar. The options include tiles, decorated ceramics and even differentiated paintings. This gives an up, even, in the decoration of the entire property, in addition to making the space exclusive.
5. Modern balcony
Modern counters are those that have curves, rather than being square or rectangular. This “Niemeyer look” enhances the most stripped, young and urban decoration in the home.
6. Glass counter
Having a glass counter means having a cleaner and more modern environment. However, it is important to pay attention. If the objective is to use the structure as a base for food preparation, the lid of the counter should be made of stone, and only its glass base.
The use of the counter only as a dining table allows the installation of the glass also in the upper part of the structure. This will avoid scratches and unnecessary wear on the material.
The various types of glass available on the market, with different colors and effects (sandblasted, matte, etc.), allow the creation of the most incredible visuals in the kitchen. Remember, in any case, to invest in a safety glass. This type of material is much more resistant to impacts, and does not break easily.
7. Illuminated balcony
How about inserting lighting under the counter cover? The option gives the piece a little more modernity, in addition to serving as a different source of light in the room. The modern look and even half geek can be enhanced by the choice of colored lamps. It is worth combining the hue with the rest of the environment.
8. Counter “with step”
Another very nice and functional counter is one that has a small “step”. In other words: there is a surface of the bench, then a small gap, and then a new surface. This “division” of the counter lid creates a lower part for meals, and leaves the highest part for handling food and drinks.
American kitchen furniture
Now that you know how to choose the American kitchen counter, and how to decorate it, it’s time to purchase your new furniture. The number of items scattered around the room will depend on the size of the space.
In small kitchens, avoid spreading too many pieces. In the big ones, you can try to create “new environments” within what already exists. Who knows, for example, it is not possible to install a new dining room in the room? The proximity to the kitchen could facilitate quick and less elaborate meals, such as breakfast.
The furniture for an American kitchen, first, is the basic of a kitchen. That is, stove, refrigerator and extractor (if desired). You can also place other appliances in the space, in addition to decorative pieces.
Apart from these, it is usually a great option to acquire large banks. With them, residents and visitors can settle around the counter and have a meal, chat or drink wine. The feeling of welcome and well-being is usually great. After all, they say that the kitchen is the best space in the house!
Whenever possible, it is interesting to “hide” the benches under the counter. Thus, they do not get in the way of traffic in the house, and do not cause accidents. If this is not possible, it is worth investing in more elegant and beautiful benches, as they will be part of the prominent decoration of the environment.
It is also worth combining the tone and shape of the kitchen cabinets with the structure designed for the counter. Thus, the room will gain greater visual harmony.
Now that you know what to invest in, plan your kitchen! You can make sketches, and then ask for help from a professional. Together, you and the specialist will be able to define the best way to put the plan into practice. All guaranteeing beautiful and functional environments!
