Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 14:13     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
I am amazed at the strong opinions on this one. I live in a Capitol Hill rowhouse. Most renovated houses in our neighborhood have a completely open floor plan: One big(gish) room that functions as living room, dining room, and kitchen.

At first, that's what I wanted to do with our house--probably because that's all I saw. But DH insisted we keep the walls. Now I am so glad we did. I think that in a smaller house like ours (not tiny, like some rowhouses, but 2,000 square feet including the basement), having no walls on the main level makes it feel even smaller. Your eye has nowhere to rest but the back of the house. And there is no getting away to read or do homework unless you go to a bedroom.

So we widened doorways and keep things minimal. But we still have our walls.

For a larger house, I think there's more flexibility. I mean, I can't even imagine having a living room AND a family room.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 13:51     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:We live in one now and I can't stand it. There is no privacy, and if the kitchen is messy the whole place looks messy. No place to hid during a dinner party.

We've started house hunting a bit and it seems like anyplace that has been redone has had all of the walls knocked down.

There must be a happy medium. Am I alone in thinking this way?


No, I hate them, too!
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 13:45     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:Thanks, this is helpful. The island with a raised counter is just the ticket. And that sounds like a great layout.


If you want to see it to get a better idea, we have a Ryan Oberlin. On Ryan's site you can see a model with floor plan and model photos. Our counter is kind of like this:
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 13:22     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Thanks, this is helpful. The island with a raised counter is just the ticket. And that sounds like a great layout.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:51     Subject: Re:does anyone else hate open floorplans?
We have an open plan that works well for us. When you walk in there is a small living room to the right where people can have a more intimate setting if they want. Behind that is a powder room and a study/guest room that also can be used for a more intimate setting. On the left across from the living room is a dining room that opens on the far side to the open family room/kitchen. Straight ahead are the stairs to the upstairs. Our kitchen is designed to have an island with a raised bar-height counter on the outside edge with the sink in the island. When I am hosting, the dishes, etc can be in the sink and the bar-height counter hides the mess so that is isn't obvious. Over to the far back left, behind the kitchen is the eat-in area. And on the far back right behind the stairwell is our sun room (currently our children's playroom). This is a wide open floor plan with some spaces for smaller groups. Also if you live here and want to get away from the noise, we have our home office upstairs along with our bedrooms. If someone is watching TV in the family room, you can always go upstairs to one of the rooms and close the door.

It works well and we host plenty and we still have a good mix of large and small group socializing.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:42     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:I have a large house with formal DR and LR, library and closed kitchen. The closed-door plan isolates the hostess during casual parties, creates subgroups that don't mix and mingle and the kitchen is not near the patio or barbecue making for long treks back and forth. Outside of parties, DH cooks and I clean so one or the other of us is stuck in the kitchen alone or with one kid helping.

The closed floor plan is history. I'm going to be re-doing our first floor layout for modern life.

From ePlans:
Open layouts are becoming more and more popular, making up the majority of today's bestselling plans. Homes with open floor plans combine the kitchen and adjacent living areas into a single, large gathering space where family members and guests can interact during the entire course of a visit, not just during the sit-down meal. The result is a home that encourages a more modern relationship between the kitchen, traditionally considered a working zone, and formal spaces such as the living room and dining room. In fact, open floor plans elevate the kitchen to the heart and functional center of the home, often featuring an island that provides extra counter space and a snack bar with casual seating. Vaulted or decorative ceilings add drama. An open layout is a great way to maximize space in a small plan.


We have a closed floor plan. Not saying I love it, but when I am cooking, people are still in my kitchen, even though it is small. They are sitting at the kitchen table or standing around the counters. If you have an open plan, and people are hanging out in your family room while you cook, they are still not talking to you. I think the key is to just have a big kitchen!
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:38     Subject: Re:does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Susan CAin might say that the proliferation of open-plan style house is once again an example of how the majority extroverts in this country are assuming that everyone wants to do things their ways. Have any of you noticed the articles recently how open plan OFFICES are now going the way of the dodo? People have figure out that not everybody works that way. Similarly not everyone wants open plan homes.


I'm extremely extroverted and hate open floor plans!


Then you are super-smart!!!
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:37     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We live in one now and I can't stand it. There is no privacy, and if the kitchen is messy the whole place looks messy. No place to hid during a dinner party.

We've started house hunting a bit and it seems like anyplace that has been redone has had all of the walls knocked down.

There must be a happy medium. Am I alone in thinking this way?


Actually, we've been looking for an open floor plan that doesn't cost a fortune and we've been very frustrated at how many houses still have one dinky room separated from another.


..but it doesn't cost much to knock down walls, don't let this stop you! I think it looks nice with open floor plans, but it is a pain when you are having a dinner party and the kitchen piles up with dishes that everyone can see. That aspect I don't like.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:35     Subject: Re:does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Susan CAin might say that the proliferation of open-plan style house is once again an example of how the majority extroverts in this country are assuming that everyone wants to do things their ways. Have any of you noticed the articles recently how open plan OFFICES are now going the way of the dodo? People have figure out that not everybody works that way. Similarly not everyone wants open plan homes.


I'm extremely extroverted and hate open floor plans!
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:28     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a large house with formal DR and LR, library and closed kitchen. The closed-door plan isolates the hostess during casual parties, creates subgroups that don't mix and mingle and the kitchen is not near the patio or barbecue making for long treks back and forth[i]. Outside of parties, DH cooks and I clean so one or the other of us is stuck in the kitchen alone or with one kid helping.

The closed floor plan is history. I'm going to be re-doing our first floor layout for modern life.

From ePlans:
Open layouts are becoming more and more popular, making up the majority of today's bestselling plans. Homes with open floor plans combine the kitchen and adjacent living areas into a single, large gathering space where family members and guests can interact during the entire course of a visit, not just during the sit-down meal. The result is a home that encourages a more modern relationship between the kitchen, traditionally considered a working zone, and formal spaces such as the living room and dining room. In fact, open floor plans elevate the kitchen to the heart and functional center of the home, often featuring an island that provides extra counter space and a snack bar with casual seating. Vaulted or decorative ceilings add drama. An open layout is a great way to maximize space in a small plan.


What I have underlined, bolded, and italicized sounds good to me. I like little groups at parties. I don't like big auditorium-style gathering where everyone's laughing uproariously at one single stupid joke one person said. [b]Smaller groups allow for more nuance and more personalization.


WTF? Why are you throwing large parties then, if the uproarious laughter of people actually having fun makes you uncomfortable?


Susan CAin might say that the proliferation of open-plan style house is once again an example of how the majority extroverts in this country are assuming that everyone wants to do things their ways. Have any of you noticed the articles recently how open plan OFFICES are now going the way of the dodo? People have figure out that not everybody works that way. Similarly not everyone wants open plan homes.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/openplan-offices-are-cold-noisy-and-lack-privacy/story-e6frfm1i-1226722920450


That's an office you idiot. Not a home.


The way people are, and what their preference are, are intrinsic to them, not where they are at any given time. I think it is quite telling that people are realizing the limitations of open plans.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:25     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Exhausting? Sounds like a mental condition related to fear of being in public or the opposite of claustrophobia.


The fear of wide open spaces is agoraphobia.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:23     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:

You could either put the dog in the garage or the basement while company is over. Do you think a dog will be happy couped up in a tiny room? Why bother getting one if you are going to cage it up.


we have no basement...and our garage has our cars and chemicals in it.

Not to mention, the people who owned our house previously had a dog rescue business and were caught by the county housing 17 dogs in the garage in cages. Our neighbors have told us they only let the dogs out to shit in the backyard...and of course never cleaned it up.

I'd rather have the dog in the house (when not outside) with a couple gates up to protect items from being chewed than that extreme.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:20     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a large house with formal DR and LR, library and closed kitchen. The closed-door plan isolates the hostess during casual parties, creates subgroups that don't mix and mingle and the kitchen is not near the patio or barbecue making for long treks back and forth[i]. Outside of parties, DH cooks and I clean so one or the other of us is stuck in the kitchen alone or with one kid helping.

The closed floor plan is history. I'm going to be re-doing our first floor layout for modern life.

From ePlans:
Open layouts are becoming more and more popular, making up the majority of today's bestselling plans. Homes with open floor plans combine the kitchen and adjacent living areas into a single, large gathering space where family members and guests can interact during the entire course of a visit, not just during the sit-down meal. The result is a home that encourages a more modern relationship between the kitchen, traditionally considered a working zone, and formal spaces such as the living room and dining room. In fact, open floor plans elevate the kitchen to the heart and functional center of the home, often featuring an island that provides extra counter space and a snack bar with casual seating. Vaulted or decorative ceilings add drama. An open layout is a great way to maximize space in a small plan.


What I have underlined, bolded, and italicized sounds good to me. I like little groups at parties. I don't like big auditorium-style gathering where everyone's laughing uproariously at one single stupid joke one person said. [b]Smaller groups allow for more nuance and more personalization.


WTF? Why are you throwing large parties then, if the uproarious laughter of people actually having fun makes you uncomfortable?


Susan CAin might say that the proliferation of open-plan style house is once again an example of how the majority extroverts in this country are assuming that everyone wants to do things their ways. Have any of you noticed the articles recently how open plan OFFICES are now going the way of the dodo? People have figure out that not everybody works that way. Similarly not everyone wants open plan homes.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/openplan-offices-are-cold-noisy-and-lack-privacy/story-e6frfm1i-1226722920450


That's an office you idiot. Not a home.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:18     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a large house with formal DR and LR, library and closed kitchen. The closed-door plan isolates the hostess during casual parties, creates subgroups that don't mix and mingle and the kitchen is not near the patio or barbecue making for long treks back and forth[i]. Outside of parties, DH cooks and I clean so one or the other of us is stuck in the kitchen alone or with one kid helping.

The closed floor plan is history. I'm going to be re-doing our first floor layout for modern life.

From ePlans:
Open layouts are becoming more and more popular, making up the majority of today's bestselling plans. Homes with open floor plans combine the kitchen and adjacent living areas into a single, large gathering space where family members and guests can interact during the entire course of a visit, not just during the sit-down meal. The result is a home that encourages a more modern relationship between the kitchen, traditionally considered a working zone, and formal spaces such as the living room and dining room. In fact, open floor plans elevate the kitchen to the heart and functional center of the home, often featuring an island that provides extra counter space and a snack bar with casual seating. Vaulted or decorative ceilings add drama. An open layout is a great way to maximize space in a small plan.


What I have underlined, bolded, and italicized sounds good to me. I like little groups at parties. I don't like big auditorium-style gathering where everyone's laughing uproariously at one single stupid joke one person said. [b]Smaller groups allow for more nuance and more personalization.


WTF? Why are you throwing large parties then, if the uproarious laughter of people actually having fun makes you uncomfortable?


Susan CAin might say that the proliferation of open-plan style house is once again an example of how the majority extroverts in this country are assuming that everyone wants to do things their ways. Have any of you noticed the articles recently how open plan OFFICES are now going the way of the dodo? People have figure out that not everybody works that way. Similarly not everyone wants open plan homes.

http://www.news.com.au/finance/openplan-offices-are-cold-noisy-and-lack-privacy/story-e6frfm1i-1226722920450
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2014 11:16     Subject: does anyone else hate open floorplans?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Because a PP talked about wanting to close the doors between rooms to keep her dog confined to where it is "allowed." Asswipe.


Haven't you ever had houseguests who don't like dogs? I've had children in my house who are absolutely terrified of our dog, even though she wouldn't hurt a fly. Some people are not dog lovers.

Heck, I'm not even a dog lover - I don't DISlike them, but my husband is the dog person and I am a cat person. I do NOT find it cute when the first thing a bigger dog does upon meeting you is ram its nose into your crotch.


You could either put the dog in the garage or the basement while company is over. Do you think a dog will be happy couped up in a tiny room? Why bother getting one if you are going to cage it up.