The Perfect Balance: How Upland Homeowners Are Creating Connected Yet Private Kitchen Spaces in 2025

The age-old debate between open concept and closed kitchen designs has found a sophisticated middle ground in 2025, and nowhere is this evolution more evident than in Upland, Pennsylvania. The debate between open concept and more traditional, zoned kitchen layouts continues in 2025, with homeowners and designers seeking to find the perfect balance between connectivity and functionality. While open plan living remains popular, there’s a growing trend towards creating distinct zones within larger spaces to accommodate various activities and privacy needs.

Upland homeowners are embracing what design experts call the “broken plan” layout. This approach maintains the spacious feel of an open concept design but uses subtle dividers like half-walls, glass partitions, or freestanding furniture to create separate areas within the space. This trend reflects a broader shift in how families use their kitchens, moving beyond the traditional all-or-nothing approach to something more nuanced and adaptable.

The Privacy Problem with Traditional Open Concepts

While open kitchens have dominated home design for years, open-concept living is not without its challenges. Privacy concerns are a common issue, as the lack of walls can make it difficult to find quiet, secluded areas. Noise can also be a problem, as sounds from the kitchen or living room can easily travel throughout the space. She attributes the return of closed kitchens to several factors, including multigenerational living and the rise of remote work. “Some people need more privacy than an open kitchen can provide,” she says.

These challenges have led homeowners to seek creative solutions that preserve the benefits of open living while addressing its drawbacks. While open floor plans are still in demand, preferences are starting to shift. Many homeowners now seek more privacy and defined spaces, especially as remote work has become more common. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to turn their homes into offices, classrooms, and places of rest. As a result, fully open layouts can be challenging when trying to find quiet or private areas for work or study.

Smart Solutions for Connection and Solitude

Today’s Upland homeowners are implementing several innovative strategies to achieve the perfect balance. In open concept designs, the use of different flooring materials or patterns to delineate spaces is becoming more common. For example, the kitchen area might feature durable tile flooring, while the adjacent dining or living area transitions to hardwood, creating a visual separation between zones.

Lighting plays a crucial role in these hybrid designs. Lighting is important for defining spaces within open layouts. Pendant lights over islands or dining tables, recessed lighting in work areas, and ambient lighting in seating zones help to create distinct atmospheres within the larger space. This strategic use of lighting allows families to create intimate dining moments while maintaining the kitchen’s role as the heart of the home.

For homeowners who need dedicated work spaces, we’re seeing an increase in dedicated office nooks integrated into kitchen designs. These might take the form of a built-in desk area or a convertible space that can be hidden away when not in use, allowing the kitchen to serve multiple functions throughout the day.

The Rise of Secondary Kitchens

One of the most exciting trends gaining traction is the concept of secondary kitchens or “dirty kitchens.” The report cites that the share of Zillow listings featuring a second kitchen is up 8 percent compared to last year, and we anticipate it only gaining more traction come 2025. Another solution is the so-called “spice kitchen”– a secondary, often hidden cooking space adjacent to a more public-facing one. “The idea is to contain the heat, smoke and smell of cooking in one area,” says Ota.

These auxiliary spaces allow homeowners to maintain a pristine presentation kitchen for entertaining while having a functional workspace for meal preparation and cleanup. It’s the ultimate solution for those who want to host guests without revealing the chaos of cooking.

Flexible Design Elements

Modern kitchen designs are incorporating flexible elements that can adapt to different needs throughout the day. To address this, room dividers, sliding doors, or strategically placed furniture can be used to create semi-private zones within the open space. “Consider stained glass or French doors with panels,” she suggests. “They offer separation while still letting light through.”

Kitchen islands are evolving beyond simple prep spaces to become multifunctional zones. Incorporate design elements that subtly define areas within the open space. For example: Use a kitchen island to separate cooking from dining. These islands can serve as natural barriers that provide visual separation without completely closing off spaces.

Professional Design Expertise in Upland

Achieving this perfect balance requires expertise in both design principles and local preferences. For Upland homeowners looking to create these sophisticated kitchen spaces, working with an experienced interior designer upland can make all the difference in executing these complex design concepts successfully.

DiSabatino Inc., a Delaware County-based company, brings decades of experience to these challenging design projects. The DiSabatino team was built on the same core values we hold true today: Integrity, trust and a true passion for exceeding client expectations. We take pride in our reputation and legacy as an award-winning company with an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. Their comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of the design works harmoniously to create spaces that are both beautiful and functional.

Looking Forward: The Future of Kitchen Design

As we progress through 2025, these hybrid layouts offer the best of both worlds—an airy, connected feel combined with the option for privacy when needed. In short, the open concept floor plan is evolving. Homeowners still appreciate the spaciousness and flow, but they also want flexibility to create private, functional spaces that meet their changing needs.

The trend toward balanced kitchen design reflects broader changes in how we live and work. While open-concept living is still favored by many, there is a noticeable shift towards hybrid designs that offer the best of both worlds. These designs blend open spaces with private areas, providing flexibility and functionality.

For Upland homeowners, this evolution represents an opportunity to create kitchens that truly serve their families’ unique needs. Whether hosting dinner parties or working from home, these thoughtfully designed spaces provide the perfect setting for both connection and solitude, proving that you don’t have to choose between openness and privacy—you can have both.