ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE OF THE MOMENT - partitioned kitchens

WITHOUT LOSING THE AIRINESS OF OPEN-LAYOUT COOK SPACES, GLASS - OR IMPLIED WALLS CREATE A STRIKING SEPARATION BETWEEN AREAS

- Keith Flanagan

When open floor plans first made their mark, it seemed no interior wall was safe from elimination (save for the loo, of course). And while lofty layouts are handy solutions for small space living, some homeowners are craving more separation these days – and the open kitchen is ripe for the chopping block.

One change afoot is the rise of partition walls as designers embrace non-load-bearing elements to blur the lines between spaces. Anything from glass windows to arched doorways and strategically placed free-standing cabinetry can give shape and structure to otherwise exposed cooking areas.

And why not embrace a bit of neatness? Like mise en place for your layout, it lends a sense of order – a defined cooking area containing the clutter: the sight of a messy prep counter, the scent of onions on a skillet, the sound of a food processor.

In effect, you can shape a room within a room. ‘It creates an element of something going on behind the scenes without completely blocking it off,’ says designer Tala Fustok.

Of course, the concept isn't new. 'Dividers have been around for years - they were common in Victorian-era homes that had parlours separated by cased openings with huge pocket doors,' says designer Summer Thornton. 'They provide visual separation and define separate spaces but allow light to pass through.