Since the kitchen is my favorite room in the house, I don't understand why you want to "close it off" from the rest of the apartment. Your dining area is adjacent to where you prepare food and that is a plus: you don't have to carry heavy serving pieces so far. If you really want separation, you could use a couple of large plants/trees or hang opaque plexi from the ceiling on each side to cover the range and the sink. Personally, I like your layout as it is.

Put an island next to the sink. You can visually break things up a bit more at least. I wouldn't mess with the layout too much though. Looks like a good flow.

Hi Glory!

You have a very nice apartment, with a nice flow and more than decent amount of room. Given your question, I think there are couple of things that can be done. I would probably just put tall bookshelves, one by the sink and the other by the stove (not flush against it, give it a little bit of space). IKEA open-style shelves or something similar would work nicely as a barrier between the kitchen and the rest of the apartment without completely disrupting the open concept. These could also give you a little bit more of storage space (e.g. for spices, cool plates, etc.).

In general, I do think that the flow of the apartment works. What you might do is play with the dining room layout. From the blueprint it seems that you have a square dining table. If so, I would move it closer to the right upper corner of the apartment so it is not in the way. Also, I recommend that you do something fun in that corner -- an accent wall (the one where the bookcase is now) with some bold color or interesting wallpaper, with "loud" light fixtures, perhaps, so that you both define a dining room, and also to draw the eye to that side of the room away from the kitchen. If you have a rectangular dining table, I would probably push it closer to the wall, and little bit to the left, and I would set up the right upper corner as a reading nook, or something like that. Still I recommend that you make a design statement there, something that will draw the eye instead of focusing on the kitchen.

Good luck!

Being a 'shoes off' person I'd probably put an 'L' shaped entryway in a la AT 'landing strip.' One side blocking the stove, one side parallel to the door. You could create shoe storage in low shelves and hooks for jackets and bags. I would also probably put a breakfast corner bench nook in the upper right corner -- but that's just me.

How about if you put the bookshelf next to the sink (not too close!) and put some smallish easy chairs & a small round table in front of it -- kind of a "sit and have tea" reading nook. Move the actual dining table into the corner by the window,

get one of those lovely changing wall/room dividers. You know the ones that are three panels hinged together and have lovely murals or fabric on them.

If you're a cook and really like to entertain, consider swapping out the LR area & make it a nice formal/semi formal dining area & have the LR opposite the kitchen. Right now, the LR looks crowded. Doesn't answer your question, but unless you're a total kitchen slob, it shouldn't be that big of a deal.

I think the reason your kitchen feels intrusive is because the living room isn't visible until you're actually in the apartment and turn around. And even then, the sofa faces away from guests, so that exacerbates the feeling that you're in a kitchen when you come in.

From the floorplan, it looks as if two thirds of your living space is devoted to cooking or serving food. Is this truly how you live and entertain? Unless you have a family or regular dinner parties, you might not need such a large dining area.

Is that an exterior door in the bottom corner of your living room? If so, why not use that one instead, and move your computer desk up by your bookshelf. You have plenty of room near in that corner. Then I'd move the TV to the bottom corner where that circle is, and flip the L-shaped arrangement of the couches so that when you enter, you'd walk along the back side of one of them.

But if that kitchen door is really your only entry option, I think having some kind of solid partition between the door and the stove would block more than half the view of the kitchen and direct the focus to the dining area (I'd also move the table closer to the window). Could you get a cool old door for a partition? Maybe use brackets to secure it to the wall? Or maybe something lighter weight that could be ceiling mounted, like painted pegboard. Then you could hang all sorts of hooks and containers on either side, if you're in to that.

Create an "entry way" that guides u to turn right after u enter the apt. Maybe hang some soft barrier ... maybe using chains of small metal ball bearings .... and then place a slim entry way furniture across when u enter .... I dont know how to post a pic otherwise, I could help u visualize what I mean.

Anything you put next to the stove needs to be fireproof, and very narrow, so maybe some sort of wrought iron or, if you low someone who could make it, long painted pipes, floor to ceiling, every few inches to make the stove play hide and seek. BUT if you cook, check out how this will impact the use of the stove and burners - you really need a minimum of 12" next to a range.

I might want an island on wheels, so you can use it as a sideboard, or a workstation. Play with floating something in the space between the stove and the sink )perpendicular). Even if you have an island built, consider having it mounted on small casters so you can shift it as needed.

I think the space needs a rectangular dining table. The square is lost in that space.

I would put the sofa that is perpendicular to the walls against the wall across from it, where the desk is, if the length allows. It would open up the area and have it welcome guests, rather than having its back to them. If that can't work, consider flipping the living and dining rooms.

I think a focal point (huge art or a group of framed photos or mirrors...) between your sink and the window (but closer to the window!) would attract the eye immediately to the dining area. I like plants so I would also place a plant on the floor right to the sink. Is there place for a narrow console table next to the oven?

Hi, Glory,

You could make your kitchen less accented if you would build a narrow wall just in the left side of the entry (by the kithen stove) - this will also make the entryway area to hang your coats and bags, for example.

Then I would put high shelves or room divider by your sink - just to "frame" a bit your kithen area. Interesting objects on your dining table and interresting curtains will keep focus to the right side. I would keep the window of the kithen very simple, not accented.
Good luck creating your dream home!

Putting a thin wall or a shelf next to the sink sounds like a too-ambitious idea to me. An open shelf that is not fastened to a wall would at least be a foot deep (IKEA's Expedit is almost 16 inches) and would look unwelcoming if that's the first thing a visitor would see. Honestly? I would simply put a full-length mirror directly opposite to the door and a nice plant stand with a flowering plant at the corner (next to the sink, partially covering the mirror). Everybody likes the sight of themselves, and when your visitors enter your house, their own selves and the beautiful plant will be the first things they'll see, they wouldn't even notice the kitchen. What's important is that you keep the sink sparkly clean at all times so it doesn't call attention to itself.

The only thing I can think of is putting/building a non-flammable floor-to-ceiling wall or other such structure between the stove and the front door. It doesn't have to come out far, maybe just right up to the edge of the stove.

I live in an open concept home and I hate it! I wish my kitchen was closed off to the rest of the house. For a family of four (two older kids) with four different schedules, the kitchen is always being used - and I hate seeing that mess.

Soooo I would go to Ikea and purchase the KVARTAL rail system for hanging panels. Since your stove is at the door, I'd go to a specialty fabric shop and purchase flame retardant material and hang the panels as you walk in. You could do the entire wall so you can completely close off the kitchen if you like, or you do a half wall so your focus on walking into the space in on the dining area rather than the cooking area.

Good Luck!

What about switching the door into the apartment from hinges-right to hinges-left?

Wow - so simple - what a great idea!

@goodcalljon: I thought the same thing but somehow assumed this was a rental and that kind of thing would have to be discussed with the landlord. If Glory owns it, then that's definitely the way to go.

OK here is what I would do: Next to the stove - IKEA stolmen posts and some clothes rails. Use the rails to hang some plants and maybe some kitchen panels hanging from hooks. On the other side of the door, I would place a narrow bookshelf with a reinforced back. Have the shelves facing into the dining room and use that reinforced back to hang some hooks for purse, coat... Then, I would combine a few of the ideas already posted: Luthier's suggestions for the dining room are perfect and I love the one from Edmarch about a mirror and nice plant by the sink. I would also either move the sofa to be parallel to the love seat or get rid of it and place 2 slipper chairs in that area instead. You have a great place with wonderful flow. Please repost what you end up doing.

Lovely space. Not enough info. The first consideration is not how to make your kitchen less visible, but how you USE your space on a daily basis. How many in your household? Do you tend to take all your meals at the table? Or do you live alone & often eat in front of the tv or at your workspace? Ir your table used only for entertaining? An honest assessment here will allow you to enjoy your space more and be much more efficient.

First, do both of those doors swing to the exterior as indicated in the drawing? Just looking for clarity here, not familiar with a building code anywhere which would allow for such a thing.

In any event, the answer is not structural changes (which are a non-issue for renters) or closing off a space with barriers such as bookcases. These will only serve to make the space feel cramped. The key to making your kitchen less visible is simply to DRAW THE EYE AWAY FROM IT. You do not need more furnishings to accomplish this. Imagination will suffice;)

Without knowing your lifestyle, here's what I would do.. As I don't see counter space near the stove, I'd add a narrow island (on casters) to separate the kitchen & {current] dining area, with an overhang on the dr side to accommodate knee space for a couple bar stools. This will provide workspace while cooking and dining space for one or two. Plus it's a space for guests to hang out while you're still in the kitchen when entertaining.

Then I'd flip the living & dining arrangement your currently have. Judging by the floor plan, there's lots of wasted space there and any guests entering will be drawn to the living area rather than the kitchen. Really, they won't even notice it. The idea of making the {current] bookcase wall a focal point is an excellent suggestion.

Again, you have a lovely space here. But you have to do what fits your own lifestyle. Only you can determine that. Have fun & please do share after pics so we can all learn from your adventure. Enjoy your new home!

I think the suggestions to rethink your dining and living areas are good ones.

That said, your kitchen doesn't need to be hidden so much as it needs to be integrated into the rest of the space. Wherever your dining table ends up, I would get a big serving type piece of real furniture (not an insland) and place it along the wall space between the sink and the window. It could be an antique - with cupboard doors or drawers on the bottom, and open shelves or shelves behind wood or glass doors on the top. This will draw the eye to it, and give you lots of room for storage. Or it could be a newer piece, perhaps painted wood.

For next to the stove, you want just a barrier, slightly higher than the stove top, by about a foot or so, so the stove isn't right next to the door when you come in. Forget difficult things like hanging doors. It is impossible to say exactly what you could use there, since I don't have the dimentions of the width available there between the door and the stove. If if is deep enough for a narrow bookcase, with some space to put it away from the stove, especially if you cook and would be using the burners on that side, that could work - you obviously have to take flammability into account. Or, if there's room, use a bakers rack or other steel or iron shelving unit - no worries about fire then. That's what I'd aim for there, rather than anything made of wood or other flammable material.

Then, just focus on making your kitchen look nice with nice fabrics and colors (rug, towels, nice big artwork on the end wall of the kitchen, etc.), rather than try to hide it. There are Sooo many people out there, like me, who wish our kitchen was more open to our living area. Embrace the positives of the home layout you have, rather than wishing they were different!

When you open my front door, you can take a big jump and land right in the kitchen. It is straight ahead from the main entrance. No kidding. I almost didn't buy the house for that reason, but it was such a good deal, I decided to live with it. The kitchen is teeny-tiny, Barbie doll sized. I thought about putting in swinging half-doors, but they would crash into the dishwasher on the left and the refrigerator on the right hand side. The kitchen is way too small to close off with a door. So I just left it.

Three years ago, I remodeled the kitchen from top to bottom. It is really cute, and I leave the under cabinets on in the evening to highlight the counters with a soft glow. I keep my tiny kitchen spotless most of the time. I have no clutter on the counter tops, just decorative and useful items. That's the only way I know how to cope with such an awkward layout. I've received lots of compliments on the kitchen, and if anyone has anything to say about the visibility of the kitchen from the front door, they have been kind enough to keep it to themselves.

My point is that sometimes you just have to live with something and accept it. It is what it is.

If you switch the door swing so it swings into your apartment to the left, then the door would conveniently block off visually to anyone who enters your apartment. Also if you can hang a chandelier under the dining table, I would find something dramatic. When you have a talk of the town chandelier hanging, people will gravitate towards that and not look else where much. Also your floor plan looks like it has two doors. One at the kitchen and one at the living room area. I would just make sure people enter the apartment from the living room area so they won't see the kitchen right away if you can't change the door swing. If you have money, paper softwall from molo is a good temporary removable solution as well. Or if you are handy, I would get a large piece of felt and hang it from the ceiling. It can muffle sound and visually blocks the kitchen without being too heavy.

What about a sideboard/bar next to the sink with a mirror so visually you are drawn to look at that when entering, and a nice area rug under the dining table to draw the eye to the right. I agree that flipping the door would also really help with the flow of drawing away from the kitchen.

Can you get permission to paint? Paint the kitchen a very dark shade your current wall color - espresso brown, navy blue, smoky black, deep cranberry. It will disappear into shadow. See http://homerenovations.about.com/od/kitchendesign/ss/KitchenDesignPhotos_10.htm