To open plan or not.......

[mysaladdays]

Hi, we're looking at remodelling the downstairs of our house, a budget big enough to move some walls etc and thought I would ask for some opinions. Obv we've thought about what we'd like ourselves, but the house layout lends itself to lots of possibilities, which is great, but we're only going to do this once, so......

Currently, we have front and back reception rooms and a kitchen. The kitchen doesn't need extending. We mainly use the back reception room, neither of us are avid cooks beyond the making of daily meals etc, so having the kitchen separate means that one person is often in there on their own cooking, or it's empty. We don't often congregate in there and we would never choose it as a place to chill out in. The front room is mainly used for the children to hang out in, they are still fairly young and hence still have a fair few toys.

So......one option would be to remove the wall between kitchen and back reception room. That would be great for during the day and I do like open spaces, but I'm just envisioning sitting in this new larger room at night and basically feeling like I'm sitting in my kitchen and that idea feels a bit cold, which I definitely don't like the idea of. I have wondered if internal doors would help? Sort of the folding ones?

So, what do you think? Thanks

[missyB1]

As long as you make sure you have adequate heating I think it would be a good idea. Do you have double glazing? Just bear in mind that you might need an extra radiator somewhere.

[missyB1]

Sorry forgot to say about the folding doors, yes potentially they are a great idea, we are thinking of getting them between our kitchen and conservatory.

[Blacksox]

I love open plan living as long as there is another reception room on the ground floor - I couldn't have just one big space.

I think you should go for it.

[wowfudge]

Why are you looking at remodelling the downstairs? From the sound of it, you aren't keen on the options. How old are your children? How long do you think you will stay in the house? Do you have a floorplan?

If you don't have a downstairs loo, look at adding one as they add value. If you don't have a separate utility room from the kitchen then consider extending to add one. Do you have a garage?

As the children get older, you may want to consider somewhere for them to do their homework or have friends round which doesn't impinge on the adults' space. They may just use their bedrooms for that, but maybe not.

[Purplehonesty]

We have a huge open plan downstairs as it's a barn conversion.

I love the space and being able to see the kids while I'm cooking or baking as I do that a lot.

I don't like not being able to cook
Anything spicy without the whole downstairs stinking for days.

I would have preferred a wee downstairs snug and so when the kids are older one of the downstairs bedrooms will be made into that I think!

It can be hard to make our home feel cosy with the high ceilings but when the wood burner is on that helps.

I would use doors in bwywen kitchen and living area so you have the option of closing them for cooking smells.

[Silverdream]

You could open the kitchen and back room to turn it into the family space and then have the front room as the adult sitting room. That way you'll have a nice cosy evening room and a functional day space.

[mysaladdays]

Thanks for the replies!

The kitchen and external doors need replacing, so we would put double glazed ones in and yes would be good to think about extra radiators, missy
And yes, we could do that with the front room silver , that's food for thought and would solve the problem of wanting to feel cosey sometimes

I suppose it does sound a bit like I'm not keen on the options, it's more of being unsure, I suppose. I realise that there's always compromise to be made with living spaces and I'm just trying to find the right balance for us. Our current use of space is not good and we have the opportunity to do something about it when we're sorting the kitchen anyway, hence the project

[franke]

Just remember that open plan living can be pretty noisy if you've got your main washing appliances in the kitchen.

[Chasingsquirrels]

My immediate thought was to swap the rooms round, so that the front room becomes your evening sitting room and the back room - kitchen becomes a day time living space, play area etc.

Where do you currently eat - it the kitchen big enough for a table? If so then the knocked together space would have a table, seating & storage - great in the day then you just retire to the front sitting room in the evening.

[MrCreosote]

If you are not in the kitchen much, do not open plan. In winter, it is easier to warm up one smaller room than an open plan room.

Just recently moved from an open plan house and hated it at night when I wanted to chill in front of the TV with DW. My new house has double doors from the living room to the dining room and I love it. Can just close the doors at night and cuddle on the couch.

[NotCitrus]

A kitchen-diner opened up and then keeping the separate living room sounds like the best of both worlds - two spaces to chat in, and anyone cooking can have company, (and children can be in there and chat to you while you do useful stuff) but there's always another room if cooking smells or appliances are annoying (personally only the washing machine spin is an issue, and if you have a utility area at the side of the kitchen that would solve that).

Hate total open plan. If doing any remodelling, insulation and heart-retaining glass are worth every penny.

[MirabelleTree]

Agree about front room adult sitting room and opening up the kitchen and other reception room.

[littlestar34]

Hi
We have gone open plan. We reinstated the front room. Added a downstairs bathroom which also houses the washing machine at the back of what was our old kitchen and extended 4m out the back and now have a large open plan L shape which is lovely (or will be when all finished!!!)