Open plan living

I'd want a comfortable room that stays tidy

Yes, I’d want that to vq but it just will not play ball.

When I downsized from the family house, (after all the children ha finally flown the nest), I wanted open plan. In the family house, we had a large kitchen/diner and a separate large Living room/Lounge. When I was living by myself there, hardly ever used the living room seemed no point. Would just stay in the dining area. Kept a small folding armchair there for me to use.

So, on moving wanted somewhere I would really LIVE in the whole of the downstairs. There I had a through lounge, and although the kitchen was separate, it had no door, just a continuation of the floor and between that and the dining end of the through lounge, the door was removed.

Loved that, really used the entire downstairs.

I hate having people around me when I'm working in the kitchen. Our last house had an open plan kitchen dining room and there's only so much mess you can get rid of before you sit down to a meal! It also opened on to a small extension that housed my piano, so there would also be someone who would insist on "give us a tune". So not only were you providing a meal, you had to provide the bloody entertainment too! (I always found that when they'd asked once, they never asked again! Funny that!). When we moved, I insisted on a separate dining room and somewhere we could hide the piano!

We moved 18 months ago to be closer to family. We are fortunate to have a lovely big open plan family room, with a kitchen, sitting area and big dining table to seat 16. We also have a separate lounge , where the TVs is and a utility room. It’s just perfect for day to day life and big family get togethers when allowed. I have commandeered one of the spare bedrooms as a sewing room. So glad we chose this layout. I don’t do posh dinner parties, just lots of friends round for supper ( pre COVID) so I love that I can talk to them while I’m cooking.

We had an extension built recently. Lovely big open plan kitchen which runs into a comfy area so when family visit we have lots of room so that both big and small can all be together. That said, we did not knock through to the front room which is now a lovely cosy snug. That is my favourite room. Great for when I want to watch something on the TV that I want to watch and DH can watch his sport in the main area. Plus sometimes I just like to be on my own and read with the cats on my lap in the sanctuary of the snug and DH can cuddle up to the dog in the extension. When I see those programmes that show the whole of the downstairs as just one big open plan area I know that would not have worked for us as we are not joined at the hip and like to have our own space from time to time. How families with children cope I do not know. I bet some of them regret it after a while.

We recently had our house valued and were told that if we knocked a wall down and made it a kitchen diner it would sell quicker and for more money. ! However, this would mean losing kitchen cupboard space and my lovely separate dining room where my guests can relax without seeing me panic in the kitchen, looking for items that were no longer in my non existent cupboards ! We'll hang on for the trend for open plan to diminish.

When I said no, I really meant yes

Ooh er, that's the sort of thing that could get you into trouble! ?

We have open plan living to a degree. We have glass bifold doors between the garden/kitchen/conservatory/lounge. It makes it lovely in the summer and when we have a big family do but we can shut it in the winter to be more cosy. I love it.

mrsba

Couldn't bear open plan, trying to relax in the evening watching the TV with dishwasher/washing machine going and the cooking smells. No thanks. Also our children were very musical, one singing, I flute, it was good to close the door until performance was perfected.

I quite agree-we have a double fronted house, so the living room opens into the kitchen at the back. We have to shut the door if I'm running the dishwasher or washing machine, or we can't hear the telly.

We have an open plan kitchen diner but also a sitting room and a big pantry for the clutter. Open plan is all the rage as is 70s furniture.

All our houses have been open plan, it always worked fine for us. When the kids were young and wanted their own space they went to their rooms.

The house we have now had separate rooms and narrow hallways when we moved in, too many doors to keep opening when serving meals etc. We opened up the whole ground floor and added a large extension. The only rooms on the ground floor with doors now are the utility room and the downstairs ensuite. When all the family are here (often 20 of us) it's a very sociable space, but when it's just me and DH it doesn't feel too big.

They all seem to want people in the kitchen so they can chat while they cook. This is not a good idea for me as I have to concentrate on what I am doing and when. My mother phoned when I was baking and I forgot to put the sugar in the cake, says it all really. I would hate people chatting to me while I cook. Thank goodness for separate dining room and lounge.

It must cost a packet to heat those huge spaces. That's what they never mention when advocating open plan and huge expanses of glass.

My dining room kitchen is open plan and i am not too fussed on it as you can see the messy kitchen while eating.
My lounge is almost open plan with the dining room but has a set of huge stained glass sliding doors if we want separation so its the best of both worlds.
I honestly think that I prefer not to have open plan, I like the comfort of rooms

MerylStreep for my sleep planner I planned a pantomime. Choose the title, work out the main characters and the settings. By the time I’ve got to lines for the opening scene I’d be asleep.

I bought a bungalow to renovate. I took out the wall between a bedroom and kitchen, changed the old bedroom window to patio doors that lead into my south facing back garden and I love it. I've a kitchen with table & chairs, a sofa and a unit with a TV, my hifi, etc on it. The dog sits on the step out to the garden while I read, watch a bit of tv or bake. I can also sit and watch the different birds coming and fighting over the feeders.
I'm on my own and didn't need 3 bedrooms so decided to have 2, mine and a guest bedroom. I have a huge living room which I sit in in the evenings, but through the day I use the kitchen/snug.

We had open plan in Liverpool, but when we moved I was determined to have rooms. Small instrument practice could have been in bedrooms except when accompaniment was needed, but piano practice meant everyone had to listen, until we moved.
Since lockdown I’ve been grateful for office space separate from living or cooking/ eating.

I don't like open plan. As l teach music from home l needed a separate room in any case and it is a converted garage. As for the rest of the house, it is nice to be able to shut the door on the kitchen and l like having a separate dining room from both kitchen and lounge. Also, what would happen in the case of a fire? We were always advised to close all the doors to contain the smoke and flames where possible.

I would much rather have separate rooms. There is a fashion for having kitchen and dining rooms just as one big room. When I’m cooking, my kitchen looks like WW3, and I’m glad to shut the door on it until my guests have gone home!

Not keen on open plan myself, however elderly friends find it very helpful as one of them is in a wheelchair and it's easy for them to move about without a problem.

We have open plan living and I hate it never in peace cooking with everyone around looking at the act smells all over the bungalow even with the extractor fan on.. Tv for one person only otherwise viewing in the bedroom. Can’t shut out noise I would love more walls !

I love my open plan. When my son was young we had conventional rooms but now I love the space.

I have a large open plan lounge. No separate dining room with kitchen and stairs leading of it.

I must say, I would prefer smaller rooms as it’s quite difficult heating this large room.
The upstairs bedrooms are lovely and warm, while the lounge never heats up sufficiently unless the thermostat is up high.

When DH and I retired we moved from a modern flat with a pokey galley kitchen to a 1930's semi. The downstairs had been extended and is all open plan. We now have a lovely big sunny kitchen with a separate dining area and sitting room - but no dividing doors. We love it.

DH and I have the builders in now converting kitchen and dining room plus additional extension into one big family space. There will also be a utility and wet room. We still have the front sitting room and four bedrooms one of which is converted into an office. Although I’m hating the mess and constant workmen it’s something I’ve always wanted. I only cook for family so don’t get stressed about it plus I can hear conversation not being squirrelled away on my own in the kitchen. I wanted to move but DH wasn’t having any of it so this was my compromise!

lizzypopbottle, that's exctly my thought - what on earth are the heating costs for open-plan living in the UK? (This in addition to my concerns regarding the complete lack of privacy everywhere but the bedrooms/bathroom.) No thanks - not for me!