Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

Anonymous wrote:http://justmewith.com/2012/01/11/an-argument-against-the-open-floor-plan/
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/08/against_open_concept_kitchens_don_t_listen_to_hgtv_and_keep_your_walls_and.html

Not that I agree 100% with these articles, but interesting nonetheless.

Right, brought to you by the same people that wrote
"Double Sinks in the Master Bath – Must We Have Them? Really?"
http://justmewith.com/2013/10/29/double-sinks-in-the-master-bath-must-we-have-them-really/

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03/12/2014 01:06

Subject: Re:Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

Ok let's play, i can see the dirty dishes or the other nay sayers of an open floor plan

Take the plan below.

When you walk in to the house you are in the foyer and walk into the family room. You won't see the sink full of dishes either way because of the distance from the foyer and family room.

If you want a private diner you can use the dining room.

To informally entertain you can use the breakfast room and kitchen.

If you really want an additional space you can use the library as a living room but more than likely all the kids stuff will be in the finished basement

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03/12/2014 02:40

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

I love open floor plans. Hate feeling closed off from everyone else.

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03/12/2014 08:40

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

Prefer open floor plans - I like being part of the action in the living room while in the kitchen. Everyone tends to collect in the kitchen area, so I like having more space. I agree that the floor plan pp posted is the best of both worlds. I HATE HATE 2-story family/living rooms. The temperature is always wrong, I don't like how the sound travels easily to the 2nd floor & bedrooms, and it makes the living room feel less comfortable - too formal. Window treatments and cleaning becomes a PITA.

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03/12/2014 08:47

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

Instead of a 2 story family room do 10 foot ceilings throughout the first floor.

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03/12/2014 09:06

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

OP Here- I like the floor plan posted above. My current home is open to the family room- so I guess I'm living in open floor plan and didn't know it. I was thinking more of the homes that when you walk in the door you can see the whole floor (except the privy) One of my biggest desires is for a huge mudroom- so much stuff comes into the kitchen after school everyday... Also, it doesn't look like formal living rooms are in many homes. I still like mine- it's pretty and it's the only room that doesn't get trashed on a daily basis. It's my "calm" space.

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03/12/2014 09:45

Subject: Re:Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Ok let's play, i can see the dirty dishes or the other nay sayers of an open floor plan

Take the plan below.

When you walk in to the house you are in the foyer and walk into the family room. You won't see the sink full of dishes either way because of the distance from the foyer and family room.

If you want a private diner you can use the dining room.

To informally entertain you can use the breakfast room and kitchen.

If you really want an additional space you can use the library as a living room but more than likely all the kids stuff will be in the finished basement

OK, but the open floor plans in my neighborhood (Capitol Hill) are one large, rectangular room, front door to back door, encompassing the living, dining, and kitchen spaces. You walk in the front door and you can see the entire first floor. Everyone who renovates here seems to do this. There is no division other than (sometimes) an island. And these are million-dollar houses.

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03/12/2014 09:52

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

I have an older home that has a pretty open floor plan - the doorways between rooms are wide, and the kitchen/family room are almost totally open to each other. (The living room is a distinct room with wide doorways.) I'm neat and I like a lot of natural light, so I like the layout a lot. I do miss the formal dining room from my last house but it was pretty much wasted space anyway, so I only miss it a little.

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03/12/2014 10:08

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

I want an open kitchen and family room and breakfast room. Everything else can be separate. I don't want to feel like the cook cooking when the rest of my family is watching TV or hanging out in another room.

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03/12/2014 10:10

Subject: Re:Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Ok let's play, i can see the dirty dishes or the other nay sayers of an open floor plan

Take the plan below.

When you walk in to the house you are in the foyer and walk into the family room. You won't see the sink full of dishes either way because of the distance from the foyer and family room.

If you want a private diner you can use the dining room.

To informally entertain you can use the breakfast room and kitchen.

If you really want an additional space you can use the library as a living room but more than likely all the kids stuff will be in the finished basement

I love that house plan. Where can I get a house like that??!

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03/12/2014 10:15

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

I like both - we are renovating and keeping our formal living and dining room, but adding an open kitchen and family room.

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03/12/2014 10:26

Subject: Re:Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Ok let's play, i can see the dirty dishes or the other nay sayers of an open floor plan

Take the plan below.

When you walk in to the house you are in the foyer and walk into the family room. You won't see the sink full of dishes either way because of the distance from the foyer and family room.

If you want a private diner you can use the dining room.

To informally entertain you can use the breakfast room and kitchen.

If you really want an additional space you can use the library as a living room but more than likely all the kids stuff will be in the finished basement

I think this general concept is great (could quibble with how far from the kitchen the dining room is, but still) ... but this is a huge footprint with which to work. I don't think many people would argue with a large kitchen opening into a breakfast/casual eating area, which then flows into the living/family room.

I think the problem is those houses where you walk in and feel like you're in a roller rink ... i.e., from the front door you can see every inch of the main floor area but that which is obscured by stairs. These houses I despise and could never inhabit. This is particularly a problem in row houses where the width of the home is limited to start, so you see straight through to the back with no sense of separation, exposition, or privacy. Just my two cents ... I think open concept and totally open are a little different, but can make a big difference in the vibe/feeling of a home.

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03/12/2014 10:29

Subject: Do you prefer an open floor plan or separate rooms in a home?

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Anonymous

We have separate rooms - we're in an old (fairly large for a bungalow, small compared to a mcmansion) bungalow. While I can't see what's going on in the living room when I'm in my kitchen, our house is small enough where I can hear everything just fine. One of the kitchen doors is only a few feet from the living room doorway. I don't feel closed off at all and I like being able to prepare food without my kids always watching and asking when it will be ready.