Open Plan Kitchens in Melbourne

Where Cooking, Dining and Living Finally Share the Same Room

Open Plan Kitchens in Melbourne: Connected, Light-Filled and Made for Living

An open plan kitchen is one where there are no walls separating the kitchen from the dining room and living room. Instead of three separate enclosed rooms, the area comprising the cooking, eating, and lounging spaces is one continuous area.

Typically, the arrangement includes either an island or a peninsula separating the kitchen zone from the other spaces. It’s the layout most requested by Melbourne renovators looking to bring more light, space and connection into older, compartmentalised homes.

At Attila Kitchens, we design open plan kitchen living spaces around how you actually use your home: cooking while the kids do homework at the island, hosting without disappearing into a separate room, or simply enjoying a home that feels bigger than its floor plan. Within an open plan space, your cabinetry can still take the form of an island, peninsula, L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen, open plan describes the room, not the cabinet shape, so there’s still a layout decision to make once the walls come down.

If you’re planning a kitchen renovation that opens up your existing floor plan, the details matter more than they do in a self-contained kitchen: sightlines from the lounge, noise and cooking smells travelling into living areas, and enough bench and storage to keep the whole space looking as tidy as it feels open. Explore Attila’s range of open plan kitchen design ideas, materials and layouts below to plan a space that works as hard as it looks good.

What Is An Open Plan Kitchen

An open-plan kitchen is one without walls separating it from other dining or living areas. This allows cooking, eating, and relaxing to exist in one interconnected area, with either an island or peninsula forming the centre of the space.

Pros

Fill the home with natural light
Keep the cook part of the conversation
Make smaller spaces feel significantly bigger
Create an ideal space for entertainment
Make it easier to keep an eye on the kids

Cons

Cooking sounds and unpleasant smells can spread throughout the home without a door to close.
Heating costs can increase because one large open space is more expensive to heat than separate rooms.
Removing load-bearing walls adds costs due to the structural engineering required during the renovation.

Design Tip

Consider marking off the zones using flooring, lighting, or by changing the height of the ceiling instead of completely tearing down the walls. The use of a correctly placed island or peninsula will effectively separate the kitchen from the living room but still keep the area visually open, while a rangehood with a strong extractor fan is a must if you do not want to smell cooking in your lounge.

Planning to Have an Open-Plan Kitchen? Read This Guide

Opening up a kitchen is one of the most transformative renovations you can make to an older home, but it’s rarely as simple as removing a wall. Before you start planning your open plan kitchen design, it’s worth understanding:

& many more….

Our open plan kitchen guide goes beyond Pinterest-board ideas to the practical realities of your home, so your renovation is planned around what your space actually needs.

Which Cabinet Layout Suits an Open Plan Kitchen?

Opening up the room is one decision; the cabinet layout inside it is another. The right fit comes down to your space, your bench needs and how you like your kitchen.

Island / Galley with Island: the classic open plan centrepiece, with room to gather on all sides.
Peninsula: island-style bench space without needing the floor area a full island requires.
L-Shape: efficient corner layout that frees up the rest of the room for dining and living.
U-Shape: maximum storage and bench space for larger open plan rooms.
Galley: a compact, efficient option for narrower open plan footprints.

Every layout here works beautifully in an open plan kitchen. Confused which suits yours? No worries. Browse the open plan kitchen ideas and our cabinetmakers can help you find the right fit.

Design Your Dream Open Plan Kitchen

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an open plan kitchen?

An open plan kitchen refers to a kitchen that seamlessly integrates with the dining and/or living area; in other words, no walls are separating the areas in any way, so cooking, eating and relaxing take place within the same living space.

Are open plan kitchens in Melbourne still popular?

Yes. Open plan living remains one of the most requested renovation styles in Melbourne, particularly for owners of older homes with separate, closed-off kitchens. Although some homeowners have resorted to making their open layouts less open by incorporating features such as partial walls or butler’s pantries, open plan kitchen living is still the most common choice.

How much does it cost to open up a kitchen in Melbourne?

The cost to open up a kitchen in Melbourne depends on whether the wall is load-bearing and whether services need relocating. As a guide, non-load-bearing walls typically cost $1,500–$3,000 to remove, while load-bearing walls run $3,500–$7,000 once engineering and permits are included.

Do I need the council's approval to remove a wall for an open plan kitchen?

If the wall is essential to the structure of the building, you will need to get a report made by a professional. We can help you select the right experts for your renovation works.

How do I stop an open plan kitchen from feeling messy?

Smart storage is the key; deep drawers, appliance cupboards and a well-planned pantry keep everyday clutter out of sight, so the kitchen looks as tidy as the living room next to it.