Arches to the kitchen: varieties and design recommendations

In many residential buildings and apartments, the kitchen area is separated from the neighboring rooms with an arched opening instead of a standard door. This technique is in demand in many styles and looks truly non-standard.

However, not everyone who wants to design a doorway in this way knows what the features, materials and shapes of arched structures are. The answers to these and other questions will be presented in detail in this article.

An arch installed in the wall as a passage to the kitchen has a number of features, which must be taken into account even at the planning stage of such a structure in your apartment.

• Its size and shape must be in harmony with the styles of the interior of the room. According to this criterion, the material should also be selected. It so happens that the room adjacent to the kitchen and the kitchen itself are decorated in different directions of the interior and colors. In this case, you should be especially attentive to the design of the arched opening, since it should look harmonious in both rooms.

• An important feature of the arch installed instead of the door is that it makes the space more spacious. The unlimited entrance to the kitchen by the door brings more air and freedom to the atmosphere.

• Arches in comparison with many models of kitchen doors are relatively cheaper in cost. At the same time, they are not inferior to door structures in terms of durability, and often even surpass them in this indicator.

• The most popular purpose of the arched structure is the zoning of the territory., which belongs to the kitchen, and the adjoining room. This is especially true if both sites are designed in a single concept.

• It should be noted that if it is not always possible to place any pieces of furniture or accessories near the door due to the fact that they can be a hindrance when opening it, there are no such difficulties with the arch, because such a design significantly saves space, especially in small kitchens.

• An arched structure between the room and the kitchen, decorated in the appropriate style using expensive materials, will help to make the environment more solid, give the room a status.

• Often, the upper borders of the kitchen arch rise almost to the ceiling. This allows the room to be visually taller.

• For the kitchen, arches are acceptable if it connects to the corridor, dining room or living room. If the bedroom, nursery or study is adjacent to the kitchen, then there is no point in installing an arched structure between them, since kitchen noise can disrupt the process of privacy and relaxation in these rooms.

• The arch in the kitchen requires a powerful hood and ventilation of the room. Otherwise, food smells will spread throughout the apartment, which is not acceptable for everyone.

The arch for the kitchen can be made of various materials.

It is used to create simple structures that do not stand out against the background of the wall with anything other than the outline of the arch. Such raw materials are good because they can take various forms, and also serve up to 15 years.

The level of strength of drywall is not the highest, but the price of the material is very affordable. When such an arch is created, in addition to the gypsum board, for it, aluminum profiles are also needed, giving the entire structure the necessary outlines.

After the frame and outlines are created, you should think about the raw materials for finishing.

• For imitation of brickwork you should use special wallpaper designed "like a brick" or special tiles for facing.

• Decorating a kitchen arch with a mosaic will be a rather laborious and expensive process. She can repeat other elements of the kitchen, for example, an apron. Such a design will emphasize the wealth of the owners of the premises.

• Plaster is an inexpensive material for arches. With its help, you can even decorate an arch with your own hands, for example, for Provencal cuisine.

• The tile can imitate a variety of masonry. It is quite easy to maintain and looks especially beautiful on large arched structures.

• Some owners decorate the arches to the kitchen using wood-based materials. From them, very aesthetic-looking arches are obtained, which can either simply cover the opening or contain complex elements, for example, carving. It is worth noting that the wooden arch is not so resistant to temperature extremes and high humidity that can form in the kitchen, so it is better to cover the raw materials with a special protective impregnation.

• You can use natural stone as a covering for an arched opening. Depending on its size and shape, it is possible to give the room both a more romantic and more majestic look. The stone has a special aesthetics, regardless of whether the kitchen arch resembles a cave entrance or the room is associated with a knightly style.

Thus, kitchen arches in most cases are a combination of two materials, such as drywall and one of the aforementioned raw materials for decoration. The successful combination of these elements with the chosen interior concept will bring real harmony to the kitchen.

Arches are also very diverse in shape. For kitchens, options with different silhouettes are suitable.

This form fully meets the style of the classic with its simplicity and sophistication.

According to this principle, the so-called semi-arches are made. They are in demand in the kitchen if it is connected to the corridor, and the initial opening for the passage is rather narrow.

If the kitchen area borders on the living room, dining room or corridor, and also has high ceilings, then a good shape for the opening will be roman... It, like the previous version, takes as its basis a semicircle and symmetry, but it looks much more pompous and impressive.

Rectangular outlines form the basis of such an arched structure as a portal. In outline, such an arch is similar to a standard doorway, but it is often additionally decorated so that it has a zest in combination with overall simplicity. This shape is suitable in order to visually expand the kitchen space, as well as bring additional comfort to it.

As for asymmetric forms, oriental ones are examples of such arches. They differ in that they contain both corners and convex elements in abundance. A special extravagance is inherent in these multifaceted forms, therefore they are not suitable for all styles, but only for the Mediterranean or oriental concept.

Ready-made arches with a similar silhouette have amazing versatility, as they fit perfectly not only in classic kitchens, but also in more modern kitchens.

The lancet shape differs in that at the top it forms an acute angle and is, as it were, elongated. Such an opening visually increases the height of the ceiling, however, it is not appropriate in all styles.

It is worth remembering that it is usually not enough just to install an arch between the kitchen and another room.

In some cases, it may even be appropriate to add functional elements. Consider a few good examples of kitchen arches design.

• If space permits, the opening can be partially filled with an additional partition, which will serve as a bar counter or a location for kitchen appliances or accessories. At the same time, it is important that the material for decorating the partition corresponds to that of which the arch is made, introducing integrity into the interior.

• It is permissible to use contrast in the design of an arched opening. and create interesting optical effects with it. For example, a dark strip in the center of the entire length of a light arch accentuates the passage to the kitchen, making the border between rooms more clear.

• The arched space between the kitchen and another room can be decorated with additional light sources. Small lamps built into the arch will give the kitchen a special atmosphere with the right spectrum selection.

• In a small kitchen, the arched opening is made as simple as possible. - only its silhouette is preserved, which, as it were, is one whole in color and texture with the rest of the walls. This option looks very minimalistic.

• An asymmetrical arch will look very unusual as a kitchen opening. At the same time, to maintain symmetry, part of the wall is decorated with the same material as the arch, while adjusting it to a symmetrical outline.

• An asymmetric arch to the kitchen can be designed in the form of a specific figure, for example, hearts, and supplemented with curly cuts in the wall, located along the contour and repeating its outlines.

• In a large room, the passage to the kitchen can consist of three arched sections. The bar counter will be located across the entire width of the central one, while through the other two passages to the cooking area will be open.

• Turn the kitchen arch into a functional element and additional storage space it is possible if one side of it goes into shelves located in several rows one above the other. In this case, you need to leave enough space for the passage to the kitchen.

• Sometimes an arched design in the kitchen can be decorated with a decor such as filament curtains. They can consist of both simple dense threads and beads.

• In a classic interior, it is appropriate to decorate the sides of light arches like columns. Moreover, they can be in the form of structures decorated with stucco molding.

• Part of the arched space, lined with wood, may contain glass inserts. It can be frosted glass with flowing lines and patterns to add a touch of sophistication to your kitchen space.

See the video below for a loft-style arch design option.