Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Trends come and trends go. Get the kitchen that appeals to you instead of following the herd.

This is correct. “Designers” invented “trends” so they will have more opportunities to work - they sell something different from whatever one has so the designer will have work to do. Classic home designs are never trendy, but are always functional

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, builders are trying to sell open floor plan because it reduces their costs (fewer walls, fewer interior doors), not because it is functional or desirable.

I've designed and built many kitchens. Walls make them cheaper. Drywall and framing are the cheapest materials in the building, and walls give you places to run plumbing and electrical. What gets expensive is having to figure out how to get a sink or an outlet onto an island with no walls nearby. Without walls you still want to divide the space, you end up doing that with cabinetry, and cabinetry is way more expensive than a simple partition wall. Plus you have to get cabinetry that is finished on all sides which adds to the cost considerably.

Anonymous wrote:I think it also depends on the size of your house. Open concept makes a small kitchen bearable. If your house is huge, open concept or walls will work.

Anonymous wrote:Also, builders are trying to sell open floor plan because it reduces their costs (fewer walls, fewer interior doors), not because it is functional or desirable.

Anonymous wrote:I split the house into 2 conceptual sections: formal vs informal.

Formal is mostly at the front of the house and includes the entry hall, living room, dining room, study, and butler’s pantry. There I want walls and doors. If we are entertaining, then I want to be able to cook in private, and then I will serve meals to guests via the butler’s pantry. I do not want guests in the entry hall to see or hear things in the back of the house, so doors are helpful.

Informal is at the rear of the house and includes the kitchen with a breakfast table and the den. There I want things to be more open. I want to be able to watch children in the den from the kitchen, for example to limit screen time, and so on.

We have both a front formal staircase up and also a rear informal staircase to the children’s play room over the garage. Both basement stairs are behind doors which can be locked.

In the end, do whatever makes you happy.

Anonymous wrote:I split the house into 2 conceptual sections: formal vs informal.

Formal is mostly at the front of the house and includes the entry hall, living room, dining room, study, and butler’s pantry. There I want walls and doors. If we are entertaining, then I want to be able to cook in private, and then I will serve meals to guests via the butler’s pantry. I do not want guests in the entry hall to see or hear things in the back of the house, so doors are helpful.

Informal is at the rear of the house and includes the kitchen with a breakfast table and the den. There I want things to be more open. I want to be able to watch children in the den from the kitchen, for example to limit screen time, and so on.

We have both a front formal staircase up and also a rear informal staircase to the children’s play room over the garage. Both basement stairs are behind doors which can be locked.

In the end, do whatever makes you happy.

Anonymous wrote:i've had both- currently in an historic home where i can close the doors and we have a formal dining room. If i was desiginng i'd do a closed kitchen and have a butlers pantry! but i'd also have a bar sort of set up in teh living room so i dont have tro dissapear into the kitchen just to get apps or drinks. So a mid century style set up?

Anonymous wrote:Also, builders are trying to sell open floor plan because it reduces their costs (fewer walls, fewer interior doors), not because it is functional or desirable.

Anonymous wrote:If you keep it closed off, you won't be escaping the party to go to the kitchen, the party will still follow you there. You will just all be crammed into the small walled-in kitchen.