Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you would do well to consider what works best for your family, and not just what is "en vogue." There are plenty of people (like me) who don't like open floor plans at all and would never buy a house that had that. Yes, I personally think it is a trend and one that many people are finding doesn't work well for everyday living.

THIS! We took down/back many walls in our 1978 colonial house - quickly realized that we no longer had wall space for furniture, etc...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's out - most new builds have it to some degree, and if you go on instagram, houzz, etc. it's most of what you see. That said, there has always been a sizable contingent of people who prefer defined spaces. I am an open concept fan but I know many aren't.

For me, the Petworth house would be ok because it's still semi-open - you can see the living room from the kitchen, and talk to people sitting at the dining table. What I really dislike is when the kitchen is totally cut off from the rest of the house so that someone cooking and prepping food can't see/talk to anyone elsewhere in the house.

Interesting. When I'm in the kitchen cooking/ prepping, the last thing I want to do is see or talk to anyone elsewhere in the house. I like that my kitchen is a little cut off.

+1

Adding another +1. It's a place I can go to introvert a little/ recharge while still doing something productive.

To OP, I agree with others that it is personal preference. I do get the impression that more people overall still like the open concept. Or, at least in my neighborhood, open concept seems to go at a higher price and faster. But... there are plenty of us who like things more separated, so just go for what works for your family!

Also, that house you posted had a ton of architectural character. Yes, there was some separation, but those separating walls added a lot of character. Something to think about if you end up ultimately in a more open plan -- i.e., how to use furniture or other pieces, maybe building in some cabinets, etc. to create more character as well as definition of spaces.

Closed-off kitchen is a real challenge if you have small kids, You can't watch them play or snack at the table/bar while you are prepping dinner. Plus, I like to be able to chat with my family while getting dinner ready. Dinner hour is one of the only times I see them on a weekday. But, I imagine for older folks without small kids it's less of an issue.

Anonymous wrote:Think that house is actually the perfect balance of open but separate spaces

Me, too - I really like it. We have a similar flow in our 1950s ranch house - rooms that are separate but flow nicely into each other - and we love it.

I have no idea if open concept is coming in or out, but I think I prefer a setup like the house OP posted. I wish it weren't so gray, though! I guess painting is reasonably cheap.

I work for an architect and I can’t remember having a client who wanted to close anything off that wasn’t a bedroom, bathroom, closet mud room, gym, ot office. Without exception every single project we work on a home involves opening something up.

With that said, trends don’t matter, do what makes you happy. I don’t think open concept is a trend, it is just the casual lifestyle people have had for the last 25 years.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I think you would do well to consider what works best for your family, and not just what is "en vogue." There are plenty of people (like me) who don't like open floor plans at all and would never buy a house that had that. Yes, I personally think it is a trend and one that many people are finding doesn't work well for everyday living.

OP here. I totally hear you but since it's unlikely that we'll be in our next house long term we do have resale considerations in the back of our minds

In general, old people don’t like open-concept.

Trends come and go. How do you want to live?

The house I grew up in was very open-concept, with only bedrooms/bathrooms separated. The first house I bought as an adult was similar but much smaller.

Now we live in a large, semi-open concept house. The kitchen is separated but shares space with a large sunroom/eating area, for example. The living room is its own space, as is the dining room.

On first impression, I did not like it. I complained about the lack of "flow" between the spaces, because I was used to living in houses where there really weren't any hard demarcations between spaces, you defined them by furniture rather than walls.

Now, I love it. Defined spaces all the way! I find background noise really distracting, while my H always wants something on. Now the living room TV doesn't bug me while I'm doing things in the kitchen. If I have adults over and we're in the living room or the dining room, kids don't have to cross through to get to the kitchen or their rooms. During the pandemic it was great, because we set up individual spaces for everyone where we couldn't hear each other or try to focus while one kid or the other was doing virtual PE, and so on.

It’s also regional . Open concept will never be out in CA for example. Open concept in colder and non coastal climates are more trend based. I agree with PP that open concept needs to be done right. Turning a Tudor or four square colonial into open concept often looks odd.

Open concept is a way to hide a missing room, and smaller space, by merging all common areas into one. Been there, done that.

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the finishes, but this TH has about the perfect layout to me as someone who is not a huge fan of open concept: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Laurel/9320-Player-Dr-20708/unit-121/home/10724772. I love how flipping it on the side (entrance on the side) keeps some separation of the rooms -- you don't have to walk through everything to get to everything else. But at the same time, the back hallway connects the kitchen and living room so you aren't closed off. The size and number of rooms are perfect too. This would make a great DC house -- alas, nothing like it that I am aware of. (although my budget would like moving to Laurel)

Let me try again on that link: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Laurel/9320-Player-Dr-20708/unit-121/home/10724772

Ignore the finishes, but this TH has about the perfect layout to me as someone who is not a huge fan of open concept: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Laurel/9320-Player-Dr-20708/unit-121/home/10724772. I love how flipping it on the side (entrance on the side) keeps some separation of the rooms -- you don't have to walk through everything to get to everything else. But at the same time, the back hallway connects the kitchen and living room so you aren't closed off. The size and number of rooms are perfect too. This would make a great DC house -- alas, nothing like it that I am aware of. (although my budget would like moving to Laurel)

I'm open concept all the way - because I cook and spend pretty much most of my day in the kitchen. I would hate being cut off from everyone.

There is a way to do the open floorplan right. The way a short separating wall or breakfast bar is placed makes all the difference.

I have zero interest in having the kitchen highly visible and brightly lit right next to all of the other rooms in the kitchen. It makes the need to keep the kitchen uncluttered and clean more pronounced. And there is no ducking into the kitchen to get away from the kids or guests. Can't bang pots and pans around for fear of disrupting those in the living room. Always on display as you make messes and have other setbacks cooking.

NO.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's out - most new builds have it to some degree, and if you go on instagram, houzz, etc. it's most of what you see. That said, there has always been a sizable contingent of people who prefer defined spaces. I am an open concept fan but I know many aren't.

For me, the Petworth house would be ok because it's still semi-open - you can see the living room from the kitchen, and talk to people sitting at the dining table. What I really dislike is when the kitchen is totally cut off from the rest of the house so that someone cooking and prepping food can't see/talk to anyone elsewhere in the house.

Interesting. When I'm in the kitchen cooking/ prepping, the last thing I want to do is see or talk to anyone elsewhere in the house. I like that my kitchen is a little cut off.

+1

Adding another +1. It's a place I can go to introvert a little/ recharge while still doing something productive.

To OP, I agree with others that it is personal preference. I do get the impression that more people overall still like the open concept. Or, at least in my neighborhood, open concept seems to go at a higher price and faster. But... there are plenty of us who like things more separated, so just go for what works for your family!

Also, that house you posted had a ton of architectural character. Yes, there was some separation, but those separating walls added a lot of character. Something to think about if you end up ultimately in a more open plan -- i.e., how to use furniture or other pieces, maybe building in some cabinets, etc. to create more character as well as definition of spaces.

Think that house is actually the perfect balance of open but separate spaces