Stars, Stripes and…Tiles? 5 Ways to Pull Off An American Style Kitchen

Only recently have kitchens become one of the main socialising areas within British homes. With this in mind, more and more of us are dreaming of an American style open plan kitchen – but with older homes traditionally having smaller galley kitchens, pulling off that ideal interior is no easy feat.

That’s why today, we’re giving you 5 open plan kitchen ideas from across the pond to help inspire your next interior renovation.

Consider your available space 

When you think American kitchens, you automatically think of a large open plan kitchen living area with shiny appliances and ample seating areas for several guests. In an ideal world, all of us would have plenty of space to recreate this. However, space doesn’t always determine the success of a kitchen interior! For example, people often make the mistake of adding too much furniture to fill available space, resulting in the illusion of a smaller room instead. 

With the UK generally having smaller kitchens, it is a difficult decision to make: should you go to the expense of adding an extension or make do with what space you have available? 

These options don’t always have to be expensive. By using clever space saving solutions such as storage on the back of doors, spinning storage units and even larders under stairs, you can always find extra room for those American kitchen staples.

Utilise height and light

Designing your cabinets to go all the way to the ceiling is a useful and effective way to gain both extra storage space and, more importantly, that precious American-like floor space. Better yet, it will eliminate the need to dust the tops of your cabinets and will make the room feel bigger by drawing your eye to the ceiling.

Kitchen lightning is sometimes overlooked. Choosing your lighting wisely, however, can make all the difference in pulling off that open plan kitchen interior. For example, contemporary lighting features are a staple of many American kitchens. So, consider well placed ceiling pendant lights to illuminate your worktops, or cabinet lighting styles that help create a distinctive ambience. 

Plan before you buy

American kitchens traditionally feature fancy kitchen appliances such as dual ovens, standing mixers, double breast fridge/freezers and even built-in coffee makers.

However, we recommend taking a moment to think: do you need that additional oven space, extra large fridge/freezer or built-in coffee machine? Not forgetting that (if you’re already working with a small space) larger appliances will take up more room, plan which appliances will fit both functionally and aesthetically within your space. After all, you can still create an American style kitchen without your appliances being the stars of the show. 

Create a style that works

Colours and textures are something that you always have to keep in mind, with traditional American kitchens using a range of neutral colours to help create an illusion of bigger space. As this style has become a more frequent feature of British homes, we’ve also seen open plan kitchen living evolve into one that also embraces cleanliness and banishes clutter, championing the pristine aesthetics of white floor tiles and the likes. 

If you’ve opted for kitchen cabinets, take inspiration from the American style by positioning these against one wall, coupled with a practical kitchen island or dining table. 

Above, embrace a touch of grandeur with a well-placed chandelier, allowing light to bounce around your open-plan space to create a greater impression of space

Use quality, practical materials 

Using tried and tested materials, a classic American kitchen blends high quality materials with high practicality. From granite and wood worktops to stainless steel oven hoods, if a product is made to last, it’s usually found in an American style kitchen. Take note of this when planning your dream kitchen, prioritising the functional qualities of a material just as much as the aesthetic qualities. 

Of course, while this may mean your initial costs are higher, the long-lasting performance of these materials is sure to save you money in the long run. And better yet, when it comes to tiling your floor, you have a multitude of options that remain cost-effective without sacrificing longevity or functionality. 

Whether you decide to create a new American style open plan kitchen from scratch or opt to refurbish your existing space, you’ll always find inspiration from our wide range of kitchen tiles.  With a whole host of colours, sizes and shapes to suit your approach, start browsing today. And remember, you can always get in touch with our team for any tips or advice!