Pros and cons of semi-open floor plan

[Anonymous]

I'm happy to share photos of what we did to our center hall.

Stayed in footprint - but we tore down the walls on the back half of the house connecting a sun room, kitchen and hallway entirely. We moved the bathroom and placed a wall of windows in the back. When you now walk in you can see through the house to the backyard, but only down the corridor (so not looking at kitchen or other junk).

It gives an immediate sense of space.

My only regret is not putting a door to basement area at the bottom of steps.

[Anonymous]

Very likely that the interior designer never does any closing up of walls is because people know that the house won't sell as easily if closed. But I bet that when those owners move, they look for more traditional separation after having lived in the open floor plan house. I am selling my quite open fp house and specifically looked for and am buying one that has more walls.

One thing for foodies to consider is that with your kitchen open to the other living spaces, every smell you produce in the kitchen will permeate your nice curtains, sofa, rugs, coats hanging by front door, etc... If you cook fish, curry, or like to fry, do you really want those smells wafting throughout your entire house? And most hallways/stairwells are open so the odors are going to spread to your upstairs bedrooms too.

As I see it, first time home buyers who don't realize all the downsides to an overly open floor plan demand the open FB. Those buyers who have experienced them wouldn't choose them again. I do think there's a happy medium though. Someone mentioned french or sliding doors, which are a good way to create that illusion without all the negatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very likely that the interior designer never does any closing up of walls is because people know that the house won't sell as easily if closed. But I bet that when those owners move, they look for more traditional separation after having lived in the open floor plan house. I am selling my quite open fp house and specifically looked for and am buying one that has more walls.

One thing for foodies to consider is that with your kitchen open to the other living spaces, every smell you produce in the kitchen will permeate your nice curtains, sofa, rugs, coats hanging by front door, etc... If you cook fish, curry, or like to fry, do you really want those smells wafting throughout your entire house? And most hallways/stairwells are open so the odors are going to spread to your upstairs bedrooms too.

As I see it, first time home buyers who don't realize all the downsides to an overly open floor plan demand the open FB. Those buyers who have experienced them wouldn't choose them again. I do think there's a happy medium though. Someone mentioned french or sliding doors, which are a good way to create that illusion without all the negatives.

Are you stupid and didn't get a commercial style vent?

[Anonymous]

The apartment I lived in prior to buying my house was a big loft in an old industrial warehouse. Very cool space and given it was one giant space, it was definitely "open floor plan". That made sense for that particular building and location (red hook, Brooklyn). When we moved down here and went house hunting, we saw a lot of houses that looked traditional from the outside but then you walk in and it's a giant open space. It was just disconsonant for the style of house and frankly idiotic looking. Plus, living that way worked well for me when single and living alone but it frankly sounds like a nightmare when you have kids and a husband.

[Anonymous]

Are you stupid and didn't get a commercial style vent?

Yes, I'm stupid. Stupid enough to think that a high-end commercial vent would somehow suck up all those smells and allow me to cook without stinking up my living room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very likely that the interior designer never does any closing up of walls is because people know that the house won't sell as easily if closed. But I bet that when those owners move, they look for more traditional separation after having lived in the open floor plan house. I am selling my quite open fp house and specifically looked for and am buying one that has more walls.

One thing for foodies to consider is that with your kitchen open to the other living spaces, every smell you produce in the kitchen will permeate your nice curtains, sofa, rugs, coats hanging by front door, etc... If you cook fish, curry, or like to fry, do you really want those smells wafting throughout your entire house? And most hallways/stairwells are open so the odors are going to spread to your upstairs bedrooms too.

As I see it, first time home buyers who don't realize all the downsides to an overly open floor plan demand the open FB. Those buyers who have experienced them wouldn't choose them again. I do think there's a happy medium though. Someone mentioned french or sliding doors, which are a good way to create that illusion without all the negatives.

Are you stupid and didn't get a commercial style vent?

Our living room, dining room, and kitchen are all one room. We have doors that go from that space to the hallways with the bedrooms, so I can close off that area if I'd like. The vent fan over the stove vents air outside - we've never had a kitchen smell last more than the evening, even when we've accidently burnt something. Typically food smells are gone pretty quickly. I grew up in a large colonial that was more closed off and that was no different with cooking smells traveling in the house. Heat and AC keep air flowing around any house.

I see the downside to open living is there's no where to hide messes. But we're pretty tidy people, so it's not a big deal to me. We have a sun room off the open living space, so in the evening when we want a more cozy area to read or chat with friends, that works for us. We also have a large rec room in the basement that allows someone to watch movies/tv separately or for the kids to have their own play space away from the adults.

I love my open floor plan - but I think you have to consider how it works with the rest of the house and the needs of who's living there to see if it'll work or not. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

We just bought a colonial that took out the wall dividing the living room and family room. It's nice to have both spaces open. We furnished them differently, but they still flow incredibly well into each other.

Our dining room is closed off, though. YMMV