Open plan configuration preference

[LuckyAmy1986]

Would you rather have:

a) an open plan living, dining, kitchen and conservatory all in one big space

b) open plan kitchen/diner that leads into conservatory and a separate living room?

DH and I cannot agree on this!

Absolutely B.

Or as someone else said, no open plan at all. What attracted us to our current 1930s semi is that it has kept the living room, dining room and kitchen separate. So many houses we saw had combined living/dining/kitchen areas in various combinations.

I love our dining room. It acted as a sort-of playroom when the kids were younger and I now see it as an "extra" room where someone can be to do a different activity if they don't want to be in the living room with everyone else.

Thanks so much everyone, some very good points made, and some food for thought too. SO pleased that everyone has said definite no to A as DH is really into open plan (think he was watched too much My Dream Home where they are always banging on about clear sightlines!!!0

B but also the ability to divide off rooms.

Open plan looks great in makeover programmes, less good when you have three generations or even just teenagers in one house and different listening/working requirements. You need to be able to shut the door on the different noise sources or simply for some privacy.

Re conservatory - depends on its age. A modern type with good insulation and roofing should be fine all year round.

Open plan looks great in makeover programmes, less good when you have three generations or even just teenagers in one house and different listening/working requirements. You need to be able to shut the door on the different noise sources or simply for some privacy True - looks good, practical maybe not so much...!

Similar arguement rages here. I am also team B but have compromised so we've taken out the wall between the kitchen/dining and living areas and replaced with big divider doors so it can be closed back off again.

B... would not like everything open plan at all.

Don’t go open plan at all we have an open plan kitchen diner play room it’s huge and a separate lounge. Now looking at putting a wall back in so we can make an office as DH uses front room as an office and I use the spare bedroom.

I hate the dishwasher on when I watch TV or bearing the washing machine. Miss my front room!

I think that excessively open plan look has had its day. Most people want some separation between spaces.

Yeah you really don't want everything all open plan. We stayed in a holiday let like that once, big barn conversion all open. It was awful, kids noises just echoed about the whole thing, the tv could be heard everywhere, kitchen mess was visible from every part of the space and it just looked constantly messy.

Our house started off with kitchen and diner as open plan with living room separate but we have now tweaked it further so that we have a sitting area in the dining room and put a huge table in the kitchen instead as we found with young kids it works better to have one open plan dining and living/playing space and then an additional lounge which is separate.

So they can play while I cook or watch tv while I'm baking or clearing up dinner which is lovely but then after dinner we can move through to the lounge and shut the doors on the mess. Which is a win win situation for me.
There is a conservatory off the kitchen but it's a small one and we use it as a utility room which is great as noisy washing machines can be shut away.

That said, what I'm describing as open plan isn't totally open. It's an old wattle and daub cottage so the open bit is actually solid wall up to about sitting height and then just open between the beams, with a big arch in the middle. So you can see through and walk through the opening without doors but there is some divide, and on one side we have closed up a section and put shelving up so it's only semi open.

It works well as feels like one space but as some sense of distinct spaces within the one larger area. You could easily mimic that with open shelving or similar as a compromise.

So they can play while I cook or watch tv while I'm baking or clearing up dinner which is lovely but then after dinner we can move through to the lounge and shut the doors on the mess. Which is a win win situation for me
this is actually a really good point because I hate being around mess but also don't always want to clean up straight away after a meal. I don't think I could relax if I was trying to watch tv while having all the dinner mess in the same room!

Definitely B.
All open plan was IMO a fashion that is on the way out. It looked good in photos but for too many people just isn’t practical for everyday life.

I love open plan spaces but would only do it if I had a second living room that was separate.

I'm thinking open kitchen/diner, leading onto conservatory but keep doors on so that can be separate if need be. And definitely keeping separate living room. Definitely!

Very open plan kind of works when you have babies or little kids who you need to constantly watch and who go to bed early. Works far less well with older kids who watch tv independently, have mates over and want privacy, and who don’t go to bed when you want to watch R rated Netflix shows 🤣

Definitely b. I spent Christmas at a relative’s very open place and while it looks amazing, it just was a pain with the kids and there was much more noise. I realise how often I try to escape mine at home.