Great Ways to Open Your Kitchen without Remodeling Your Entire House

Traditional Kitchen by Bozeman Architects & Designers JLF & Associates, Inc. - my "blue sky" budget inspiration.

I found a bunch of ideas on Houzz.com that open the kitchen and pull the furniture and finishes into the adjacent living spaces. This is a great way to maximize storage and functionality, without sacrificing the openness that you crave.

Here, the styling of the kitchen cabinetry flows right into the sitting/dining area. Glass cabinetry is my favorite way to open space without losing your storage. They look great with all your favorite glassware, china and serving bowls.

Traditional Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers Gast Architects

Traditional Dining Room by San Francisco Architects & Designers Gast Architects

We have been blessed with a small, closed off kitchen which we are going to renovate soon. Don't get too excited, unless you are from HGTV, and in that case, come on over and let's do this! Otherwise, it is going to take me a little while to get ideas together for our outdated space and even longer to execute.

Tropical Dining Room by Kailua Interior Designers & Decorators Archipelago Hawaii Luxury Home Designs

Shelving and cabinetry can transition right into any living space, whether it is light wood modern with a pop of color ...

Modern Kitchen by Portland Photographers John Prindle

Or traditional and dark woods...

Traditional Kitchen by Minneapolis Design-Build Firms Castle Building & Remodeling

Sometimes, you can just pop a hole in that kitchen wall and put a little granite bar on top!

Eclectic Kitchen by Bethesda Kitchen & Bath Designers Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.

I am a fan of large, open floor plans that are all the rage on the design shows. Although our original idea was to expand the kitchen, I don't think we need to do this to maximize storage or entertaining space. Plus, it just isn't in our budget.

I love how this space is opened up and the strips of glass cabinets break it up without blocking it off...

Contemporary Kitchen by Georgetown Interior Designers & Decorators Amanda Still, Hill Design + Gallery

I'm not crazy about the olive green, but the cabinets as an architectural design element while providing storage is right on.

Contemporary Kitchen by Georgetown Interior Designers & Decorators Amanda Still, Hill Design + Gallery

This also seems like a great way to work with structural supports you are stuck with.

Contemporary Kitchen by Georgetown Interior Designers & Decorators Amanda Still, Hill Design + Gallery

We are probably not going to do our blue sky version of our kitchen we are going to do the Mommy on the Money version. In that version, we are going to do some simple renovations that open up the kitchen, without sacrificing storage in our small space.

This one looks a little dated, to me, but you get the idea...

Traditional Kitchen by San Diego Design-Build Firms Marrokal Design & Remodeling

because the goal is to get you, "the chef" out into the living space with the rest of the family, even if some of your upper cabinets need to go!

Contemporary Living Room by Austin Architects & Designers Studio 512

and a wall or two need to get knocked down...

Farmhouse Kitchen by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Anna Berglin Design

We are going to take our time designing so that every item that belongs in the kitchen has a home in a well thought out and aesthetically pleasing space. Sounds dreamy, doesn't it?

This is going to be one of those instances where we splurge on some green, time-saving, space-saving upgrades and save on materials and labor (ME! and hubby, and maybe our toddler will be old enough to help by the time we actually break ground on this project.) Maybe by that time will have enough money for the blue sky ideas, too.