Open-plan kitchens have always struck me as impractical. It can be difficult to create a cozy, warm atmosphere in a cavernous space. I’ve long preferred the idea of a kitchen tucked away from the living space: somewhere to cook without worrying about leaving dishes or clutter on display to the rest of the home.
Then I saw Barbara Corcoran’s Upper East Side solarium kitchen idea. Suddenly, the thought of an open-plan layout feels far more glamorous than I ever imagined.
Barbara’s kitchen, photographed recently by Winnie Au, is part of her iconic penthouse overlooking Central Park. The room is flooded with natural light, thanks to soaring glass walls and ceilings that make the space feel almost like a greenhouse. Instead of feeling distracting or overstimulating, the open plan kitchen makes her space come alive with greenery and light.
What struck me first was how seamlessly Barbara’s kitchen blends into her dining area. A long table, surrounded by crisp white chairs, sits beneath chandeliers that give the entire room a sense of grandeur. The continuity between cooking, eating, and entertaining doesn’t feel forced; it feels intentional, like the space was designed for dinner parties with friends and family. It’s one of the cleverest ways to lay out an open kitchen I’ve ever seen.
Shop the white kitchen edit
No white kitchen would be complete without beautiful accessories to add interest and depth. Here are a few of my favorites.
Embrace the modern design meets vintage style aesthetic in your kitchen. Whether used practically to store dried goods, or simply styled on shelving, this canister will blend effortlessly with your kitchen style.
Orren Ellis Wrecker Marble Tray
Nothing adds a touch of luxury to your kitchen like marble decor. To add a decorative element to your space, add a marble tray like this one to your island or countertops, topped with a candle, bud vase, or even a pretty olive oil bottle.
Italian luxury just got more accessible. These towels bring a hint of Southern European beauty to every kind of kitchen, and they’re as practical as they are good-looking.
Then there’s Barbara’s use of greenery. Potted plants of varying heights are placed around the kitchen and dining area, softening the glass, wood, and stone structures. The effect is less ‘industrial loft’ and more ‘urban garden.’ It’s a reminder that open-plan spaces don’t need to be cold; with the right design touches, they can feel lush and inviting.
Interior designers have been debating whether the open plan is going out of style for some time now. Though there isn’t a definitive answer, Barbara Corcoran’s solarium-style kitchen shows that it’s all relative.
Open plan layouts may look dated in some spaces, but when treated correctly, they can be utterly timeless. Her space proves that a focus on light and design, rather than trends, will always come out beautiful.
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