Separate kitchen - is it annoying?

[AntiHop]

We currently live in a flat and are planning to move to a house. Our living area is open plan, so I can do the washing up or prepare food whilst still being in the same room as my 3 year old. I find this so handy, as I can just get on with stuff whilst she plays. I love that fact that DP and I can have a conversation whilst one of is in the kitchen, and other in the lounge.

We can only afford a small house. The typical layout for the small houses we've seen are a lounge with a small separate kitchen down a corridor. Those of you who live in a place like that - is it frustrating? Would you leave your 3 year old alone playing whilst going into the kitchen to prepare food? Will I get used to it? I am dreading it!

[MyDcAreMarvel]

I can't think of anything worse than an open plan kitchen. Noisy,smelly, messy.
My youngest is 2.5 followed by 3.5 and I leave them to play. I would hear if they were hurt.

[Angryosaurus]

A lot of young children will not be left to play! They will join you in the small kitchen with their lego all over the floor. Could you knock a wall down to make it open plan? You could always replace it again when DC older!

[NapQueen]

We have a separate kitchen and have a 2yo and a 6yo. Its great! Get to keep most of the food and bin smells out of the living room. Can shut the door on the mess. And at 3yo of course they are fine playing in another room!

[dudsville]

I moved from open plan to a house with doors. It's fabulous. Up in the night or just want to keep others asleep while you get on and do stuff? No problem! Noisy dishwasher or washing machine or fan? No problem! Cooking smelly food or using chillies so hot that it makes you cough? No problem! Want to make a cake in secret??? I think you can see where I'm going with this. Doors. Best thing ever.

[Fairylea]

I would hate an open plan kitchen for the same reasons as the first reply. I think you’ll get used to it.

[KanielOutis]

I love open plan but DH hates it for all the reasons stated above. We are in a flat, with the kitchen at the other end of the flat to the living space. It’s only nice now because I ripped the old kitchen out and made it sort of open as a kitchen diner. Before it didn’t work at all.

[sukitea]

It isn't safe to have Lego over the floor and young children playing in a small kitchen.

I too would hate open plan because of the cooking smells and I leave dishes in the sink and close the door. A 3 year old generally can be left to play/watch as long as you can hear what is going on and there are no immediate obvious hazards.

[sashh]

I think this is why hatches were invented, you keep the child out of the kitchen but you can still talk to them / see them.

I'm annoyed that my kitchen is off my living room, would prefer it down a corridor so you can't hear the washing machine or dishwasher.

[scaryteacher]

We rented an open plan house, and whilst it was interesting, I am now glad we are renting one with a separate kitchen, dining room and sitting room. I have no plans to ever live in an open plan house again, and won't be knocking down walls in my house in UK when we are back!

[perhapstomorrow]

Watching this thread with interest as we are purchasing a house with a small seperate kitchen. We have a kitchen diner at the mo and the plan is to eventually put an extension on rear and open everything up. However, part of me is looking forward to being able to hide myself away in the kitchen. It's just the thought of having to cart tableware and food from kitchen to dining room I am not looking forward to!

[Angryosaurus]

Of course it isn't safe sukitea that is my point Unfortunately my 19 month old can climb stair gates and doesn't understand that. At 3, a lot of children still want to be under your feet while you're cooking, which is why a small separate kitchen is my worst nightmare...

[dudsville]

Oh thought of another advantage. If you have company and want to cook in peace out hide away you can!

[JoJoSM2]

I'd hate living in the kitchen. Much prefer lounging around in some other beautiful room with the kitchen put of sight.

[Angryosaurus]

Another pro of open plan- me and school age DC can chat and help out as I cook, bake, do homework etc.

We're fortunate enough to have separate reception rooms as well now, but in our first house it was small but open plan, and I would chose that every time vs a small separate kitchen.

[namechangedtoday15]

I think it depends how you live. We moved into this house with 4yr old twins and a 10mth old. Separate kitchen. Had a very small table in there but nowhere for playing etc. Hated it with a passion. Felt cut off from the rest of the family when I cooking, get myself stressed to death running backwards and forwards to playroom/dining room to check 4yr olds, baby in kitchen with me but had to be in high chair or else it was dangerous. Completely anti social when we had people round. Couldnt afford to do anything so we lived like that for 5 years before knocking down walls and extending - it is so, so much better now being open plan.

[Bluntness100]

I slso have lived with both and prefer a separate kitchen. You can leave your three year old to play or put a cartoon or something on but just check on them, normally they will follow you anyway.

I prefer separate as I don’t like the smell of cooking in my lounge or to look at dirty dishes, hear the dishwasher or washing machine going,

You will adapt.

[babsthebuilder]

I prefer kitchen on its own. I can hear the kids well enough.
I hate the thought of the kids wandering in the kitchen if I’m not aware.
If they want to follow me they can play in the hall outside the kitchen door, not under my feet.
When we move our kitchen door, I’ll be having a gate on and leaving them sat on the otherwise while I do their tea.

[Ropsleybunny]

We have a large kitchen dining room with double doors to the lounge. I love it ❤️️

[4yearsnosleep]

I had both. Currently in the first house we've ever had that has a separate kitchen and I hate it. I'm always stuck in the kitchen and can't see what my daughter is up to. I'm a social cook, but I've almost stopped having people over for dinner. We're about add an extension and I can't wait! However, in a small terrace I wouldn't worry too much as it probably is small enough to see what going off

[Ishouldbedoingsomething]

Have had both

Definitely prefer separate kitchen. Ours are now older and it’s annoying if one wants to watch TV the other wants to do homework etc

Also love being able to close the door and pretend the mess isn’t there if someone pops round

[Orangebird69]

I hate open plan. I have a sitting room and and separate kitchen diner. I've been in the kitchen numerous times with ds in another room since we've lived here (he's just turned 2) and not even thought about it... I'm eithe very slack or have baby proofed without knowing it. 🤔

[Cathster]

I've had both, although the open plan kitchen/living area was pre-children. I hated it, we could never have the washing machine running when the tv was on.

Currently we have a separate kitchen, dining room and living room, hate having a separate dining room and carting food etc back and forth so that is going shortly. I do love being able to shut the kitchen off in the evening. 2 yo DD can entertain herself in the living room while I'm cooking, either with toys or tv.

[Fourmagpies]

3 year old won't be 3 forever. I love separate rooms and as DC have got older (now 7 and 10) it's essential! We have a hatch between kitchen and lounge which was great when they were younger for keeping an eye on them.

[dudsville]

We use trays to carry stuff between kitchen and dining room. The dining room also subs as a separate seconds lounge. Wonderful to have the extra space if anyone has a friend over there's space to hoSt without the house otherwise grounding to a halt around that event!