Open Floor Plan or Not?
Do you like an open floor plan? According to Google, an Open plan is the generic term used in architectural and interior design for any floor plan which makes use of large, open spaces and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms. Are open floor plans going out of style?
I’ve never lived in a home with an open floor plan. The closest thing is our cabin in the mountains, where there is a large window-size opening between the kitchen and the main living room. It’s good for shouting through but not for much else. Sorry for the low quality photo~~it is the only one I have!
Since Bella Terra was built in 1910, it clearly has formal and private spaces. Our kitchen is definitely not an open one. The kitchen to me is my haven, my sanctuary. I prefer it to be separate from the living spaces. To see more kitchen details, click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.
When I’m stressed, I tend to bake or cook, and want to do so by myself. There is a television in one of the cabinets, but I get to choose whether I want it on or not. The kitchen is open to the breakfast room, but it is not an active part of the house.
The kitchen island is rather large and that is where all our family and guests congregate anyway. I love my family but sometimes I just want to have my own space. Plus I am not a fan of the kitchen mess or smells infiltrating the living spaces. Rarely is my kitchen neat as a pin.
Even though I prefer a private kitchen, I know the open plan is popular. In one of my previous remodels for resale, I did open up the kitchen to the living room/dining room. To see more of the Glenn remodel, click here.
We recently visited friends who just moved. Their kitchen, dining room and living room are one big room. It was lovely but it got me thinking of whether I would enjoy the open concept or not.
When I was designing the addition to the Willetta remodel (see post here), the floor plan was original to 1922…..separate living room, dining room and kitchen. But the kitchen was oddly shaped and it made sense to expand this space.
In addition to enlarging the kitchen, a family room was added on the first level and an updated master suite on the second story.
A House Beautiful article by Hadley Keller, entitled Please Stop with the Open Floor Plans asks, “when did the walls become the enemy?” Somewhere in the early 1990s, builders began touting the attributes of “open plan”. Hadley suggests instead of open floor plans, to try and start using your rooms. Use the dining room more frequently, not just for Christmas dinner.
There is a great deal of discussion of getting rid of the open floor plan, especially when it comes to kitchens. Some are suggesting that you add another “messy” kitchen that is hidden from the open floor plan kitchen. Oh my! The thought of keeping two kitchens clean??!!???
According to HGTV here are some pros of open plan living . 1) Makes a small space feel larger; 2) Being part of the family (not isolated); 3) Entertaining is more social and convenient; 4) Gorgeous open site lines; 5) Eliminating underused space.
And the cons (by HGTV): 1) Makes a large space feel too big; 2) a messy kitchen is always on display; 3) No perfect way to contain the mess; 4) Load bearing walls; 5) Lack of privacy.
So what are your thoughts on this? Do you have an open plan kitchen/living and dining room? Or a separate and private kitchen? If so, please tell me what you love/dislike about it.
Happy Wednesday!
I have never lived in an open floor plan and don’t want to. When it’s one big room it looks like you are in a furniture store or storage unit….just messy! I perfer formal. It looks ok to have kitchen and breakfast room together. I think builders started this because it meant less expense but same money or more.
Thank you for your thoughts. I do think builders did this to have less expense.
I totally love an open main floor plan for vacation homes or super-frequent entertainers. I’d still rather have the bedrooms & maybe an older kids’ area separated, so there’s a quiet space for sneaking away and some level of privacy. In a regular home, I like a half and half. A cozy area attached to the kitchen so the cooks can chat with family/guests while cooking, but then everybody troop off to the dining room for meals. And close the door! 🙂
It’s an interesting topic, and I agree with Karen – it would really depend on how the family – of whatever size – lives. Thanks for this great post – it got me thinking! ❤️ And your remodels are gorgeous btw!
Barbara, Such a great response! I think I would prefer an open plan at a vacation home too, as I am fond of my closed off kitchen here. We do have the breakfast room nearby but my kitchen isn’t in one big room with the living room and dining room. I think there are various levels of “open”. When I did the Willetta restoration, there was a fireplace in the kitchen off to one side. I called it the kitchen cozy because it was perfect for staging 2 chairs in front of it. I imagined the new homeowners sitting and having coffee there. While it was part of the kitchen, it felt a bit separate due to the furniture placement. It seems that I do include a version of an open plan when I renovate houses to sell. Such an interesting discussion! Thanks for commenting.
I’m with you–sometimes I want to be alone in my peaceful kitchen. Every single open floor plan I’ve seen that is actually being lived in is a disastrous mess. The clutter and chaos that is the working kitchen for most families is not soothing or attractive. I think the concept started as a way for builders make smaller homes seen more liveable. NO THANK YOU!
I’ve also noticed that some new houses don’t even have an entry. Once you open the front door you are in the open floor plan-one big room with the kitchen, living and dining room. I’m too messy to have the kitchen be the first thing someone sees when they enter the house. But I find it interesting that the open floor plan works for some and not others. Maybe pocket doors somewhere to block off the smells and mess of the kitchen would be a viable solution. Thank you for your comments-you have a fabulous kitchen!!!!
I built the house I’m living in and it has an open floor plan. It is wonderful when entertaining and it’s very livable. It’s a great floor plan and I am the only one who lives in the house, so open floor plan works for me. However, there are many downsides to an open floor plan. The noise an open floor plan creates is loud no matter how many carpets and drapes you have. The other down side is if one room isn’t tidy you see it from all the other rooms, so I find my self always making sure everything is neat and in it’s place. When cooking on the kitchen the smells permeate the entire house. I have a galley kitchen and it is a separate space but it is open in one section to the dinning room with a lower cabinet and a counter top. The living room and dinning room are separated by a center chimney that has a fireplace in the living room and a wood stove in the dinning room. I can’t imagine a family living here but some families may consider this the perfect home for them. It’s all about preference.
Thanks for the information. I don’t think I realized you built your home. Your rooms, though open, sound like they have some division vs. one big room with everything in it. Still trying to decide what I would prefer. Love your insights!