Recently, it has become popular to combine the kitchen withliving room. Moving the kitchen to the living room is especially relevant for residents of small apartments, where freeing up a room (even a small one) is an expansion of living space. Such a transfer is often due to the insufficient area of the kitchen itself, which causes many difficulties for housewives.
It is prohibited to combine the kitchen with the room above the living room.premises. In general, moving the kitchen to the living room, as well as to any other room, is a completely legal process. However, it requires approval from the relevant authorities responsible for the redevelopment of apartments. If permission is received, the apartment owner can move the kitchen either on their own or with the help of specialists. The redevelopment process itself includes a number of complex procedures for installing new communications, but it is quite possible to do it yourself.
Benefits of transferring the kitchen to the living room
Scheme of combining kitchen with living room.The main advantage of moving the kitchen is the expansion of its free space, including the work area. In such a kitchen, not limited by walls, several people can simultaneously participate in the cooking process. An important condition is the release of the room that was intended for the kitchen. Officially, there cannot be a bedroom in this room, but there are no restrictions on using it as an office or workshop. In addition, the hostess is isolated from the family for a long time while cooking, and the connection of the kitchen and living room helps to combine kitchen work with live communication with relatives or guests. This is especially important if you have small children. The disadvantages (or difficulties) of moving the kitchen include the length of time it takes to agree on permission to redevelop the apartment, the complexity and significant cost of work on transferring communications, switching from a gas to an electric stove, the need for constant monitoring of the cleanliness of the kitchen area and the operation of the ventilation in order to prevent the spread of dirt, unpleasant odors and soot to the living room (especially to upholstered furniture). Return to the table of contents</a>
Requirements for redevelopment
Kitchen-living room plan Move the kitchen into the living roomis possible only after receiving a permit for the redevelopment of the apartment. Such a document is based on current regulatory requirements, which include a number of prohibitions and restrictions. Restrictive measures are due to the fact that the kitchen is an object with increased water and gas hazard, as well as a source of unpleasant odors. The regulatory act prohibits moving the kitchen to a room located above the living space without taking additional measures. Such a ban is justified by the risk of flooding the neighbors below. To obtain a permit, it is necessary to make a waterproofing layer in accordance with the established standards. It is quite difficult to do this on your own. The restrictions do not apply to residents of the first floor, as well as to apartments located above non-residential premises (shops, offices, etc.). Based on gas safety, it is almost impossible to obtain permission to redevelop the gas distribution system. This means that moving a gas stove from the kitchen to the living room is not allowed. Illegally moving a stove is fraught with large fines and is life-threatening. The established standards limit the combination of rooms with a significant difference in average internal temperature. This limitation indicates that it is difficult to obtain permission to place a new kitchen work area (where the stove is located) along a wall bordering the street or an uninsulated balcony. Finally, certain requirements are put forward for the mandatory presence of exhaust ventilation. At the same time, the kitchen ventilation system cannot be combined with the exhaust system of the bathroom to eliminate the possibility of redistribution of unpleasant odors. Return to the table of contents</a>
Features of the kitchen transfer process
The transfer of the kitchen to the living room is carried out onlyin the presence of a permit for the redevelopment of the apartment. At the stage of obtaining permission for the redevelopment of the apartment, a layout plan for the kitchen area with the placement of the communication system is drawn up and approved. Before starting work, it is necessary to work out in detail the plan for installing kitchen furniture, a sink, electrical appliances, specifying the number and location of electrical outlets and switches. The issue of zoning the kitchen area and its interior is worked out. It is advisable to move the kitchen at the same time as a major overhaul of the living room, since the work cannot be done without dismantling the flooring. The work itself on moving the kitchen to the living room is carried out in several stages. First, all types of communications are supplied: electrical wiring, water supply, sewerage, ventilation system. Then the flooring is restored, the walls and ceiling are repaired. After this, the sink (sink) is installed, the electric stove, kitchen furniture and electrical appliances are installed. At the final stage, the zoning of the kitchen, interior design, installation of the lighting system are completed, the planned decoration and installation of fittings are carried out. Return to the table of contents</a>
Installation of electrical network
Electrical installation work and wiring diagramin the kitchen. The first stage of moving the kitchen begins with the installation of the electrical network. Due to the fact that the power consumption in the kitchen area is higher than that envisaged for the living room, it is necessary to connect a new electrical circuit. The main electrical load will fall on the electric stove, so a separate wire with copper conductors with a cross-section of at least 2.5 mm² is sent to the place of its connection. Sockets are installed in the places of the planned connection of kitchen appliances. The wire is brought to the place of connection of the ceiling or wall lamps, and the corresponding switch is installed. The wiring is carried out in punched channels (grooves). It is advisable to additionally protect the wires with a plastic corrugated pipe (or casing). The connection of the kitchen electrical network to the phase in the distribution board should be made through a residual current device. Tools required for electrical installation:
- perforator;
- bit;
- a hammer;
- pliers;
- Nippers;
- screwdriver;
- tester;
- knife.
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Installation of water supply network
Correct sewerage system layout.The next step in assembling the utility system is to install the water pipes. The laying of pipes for cold and hot water starts from the riser that supplied the kitchen with water, but due to the change in the location of the sink, the length of the pipes increases. Steel pipes can be used as water pipes, but metal-plastic pipes have proven to be more reliable. It is advisable to bring the water pipes to the planned location of the sink under the floor covering. The vertical section of the water supply from the floor to the mixer can be laid in a channel punched in the wall, or along the surface of the wall. In the latter case, the pipes can be covered with a decorative plastic casing. In places where the pipes pass through the wall, a corresponding hole is punched using a hammer drill. The connection of the pipe sections is made using couplings or welding (for metal pipes). The following tools are required for installing the plumbing system:
- perforator;
- bit;
- a hammer;
- Bulgarian;
- file;
- key gas and adjustable.
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Sewer installation
Methodology for laying out a water supply system inapartment. The complexity of installing a sewer drain depends on the distance between the sink and the sewer riser. The drain is carried out by gravity, and therefore the sewer pipe must be located at an angle (20-30 mm of depression for each meter of length). With a small distance to the riser, such a slope can be placed under the floor covering, but if the distance is increased, the floor thickness will not be enough to cover the pipe. In this case, the sewer pipe is masked using a decorative casing or box along the wall, as well as by installing furniture elements. If the masking elements do not fit into the kitchen interior, the sewer pipe will have to be placed horizontally under the floor covering. With such installation, it is necessary to provide forced drainage using a low-power pump. Such a pump must have an independent power supply and turn on as needed to drain water from the sink. The pump is installed under the sink. It is recommended to use a plastic pipe as a sewer drain. A plastic siphon is fixed to it under the sink. Return to contents</a>
Installation of ventilation system
Ventilation system device.The first stage of moving the kitchen, which includes the installation of technical communications, is completed by installing the ventilation system. To ensure good cleaning of the kitchen area, forced ventilation is necessary, and its outlet can only be carried out into a branch made in the kitchen, or directly to the street. The output of the ventilation duct through the toilet and bathroom branches is not allowed. When the ventilation is output to the street, the ventilation system should not disturb the neighbors, which requires additional external branches. To connect to the branch of the old kitchen, as a rule, it is necessary to install a fairly long ventilation box. If there is a suspended or stretch ceiling, pulling such a box does not cause any difficulties and is easily masked with ceiling tiles. If there are no suspended ceiling systems, the box can be masked by laying it along the wall on the ceiling and facing it with plastic tiles.
Tools required for work:hammer, drill, pliers, screwdriver. Forced ventilation is provided by an exhaust fan. Air extraction above the kitchen work area can be provided through an opening (or several) in the wall or with an island-type hood. Ventilation installation tool:
- perforator;
- drill;
- knife;
- pliers;
- screwdriver;
- a hammer.
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Repair of kitchen area
The second stage of moving the kitchen into the living roomconsists of repairing the floor, walls and ceiling. First, the floor finish is restored, with the help of which the pipe communications are covered. Then the walls and ceiling are plastered and puttied, masking the hidden electrical wiring, the cracks in the places where the pipes and ventilation box pass through the wall are sealed. When using a suspended ceiling, it is installed with the simultaneous installation of spotlights. Return to contents</a>
Installation of furniture and equipment
The final stage of the kitchen relocation begins withinstallation of the sink and mixer tap with their connection to the cold and hot water pipes and the sewer drain. Then the electric stove is installed in its place in the ventilation outlet area. Furniture and kitchen appliances are arranged in accordance with the chosen layout option and interior style. The last stage is completed by installing lighting fixtures. Depending on the chosen style, these can be chandeliers, ceiling or wall lamps of different types. The main requirement for them is as follows: the lighting of the work area should be bright. When moving the kitchen, it is recommended to provide maximum access to natural light through the window. Return to contents</a>
Principles of zoning kitchen
Correct kitchen zoning.The kitchen, transferred to the living room, should perform its main function, while harmoniously fitting into the interior of the living room and not disturbing the peace of those relaxing. Psychologically, such a kitchen is better perceived if it is visually separated from the living room, i.e. it is zoned. One of the simple ways of zoning is the use of light movable screens that, if necessary, close the kitchen from prying eyes. An effective way of zoning can be the installation of a bar counter, which creates a visual border between the living room and the kitchen, while performing a useful function. Instead of a counter, you can install a table. Visual separation of zones can be achieved by making the floor at different levels. As a rule, in the kitchen area, the floor is slightly raised in relation to the surface of the living room floor. In this case, the kitchen is located as if on a podium. Zoning is similarly done on the ceiling. For example, a suspended ceiling is installed only above the kitchen area. Nature lovers can be recommended to delimit with the help of openwork partitions with climbing flowers or an elongated aquarium. A living room equipped with a kitchen often becomes the cherished dream of the hostess. Combining the kitchen and living room is widely used in many countries. If the owner of a small kitchen is not afraid of some difficulties, then he can make his dream come true.</ ul>
