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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask why open plan kitchen/living rooms are appealing

114 replies

alliecat567 · 26/01/2016 20:08

I'm looking to buy a 2+ bed flat at the moment and approx two thirds of them have open plan kitchen living spaces. I just don't see what the attraction is. Why would you want your cooking smells intruding your living room, and why would you want to look at your fridge / sink etc whilst relaxing on the sofa? Can anyone tell me what the benefits are?

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 26/01/2016 20:12

Nope. No benefits as far as I am concerned.

IguanaTail · 26/01/2016 20:13

It's part of the casual dining/cooking thing. You cook while family and friends sit around, tinkly laughter and casualness going on. Like in Friends.

(Not at my place though - I shut the kitchen door so that the smell of cooking or the hum of the washing machine or dishwasher can't be heard.)

LHReturns · 26/01/2016 20:13

Two reasons for me:

  1. One larger room instead of two separate smaller rooms suits my style - I like big spaces.

2 it means I can sit drinking wine on the sofa, half watching TV, half chatting to my DP as he cooks for me!!

Youknowitmakessense · 26/01/2016 20:13

The benefits are that developers squeeze more units in led square foot, and make more money.

It's not about the occupier just about a Return on Investment.

Youknowitmakessense · 26/01/2016 20:14

*in per square foot

Youknowitmakessense · 26/01/2016 20:15

I love a kitchen big enough to eat in, but like a separate lounge area.

Also not keen on lounge / diners but just a preference

eggsinthefridge · 26/01/2016 20:16

Definitely more space!
Our living room and kitchen open plan seems HUGE, but if there was a wall, it would be two smallish rooms, nothing special. I don't mind it terribly, and would rather have it this way than the two small rooms. We are in a flat too though and have no children. If i were to move to a house, I'd rather the kitchen and living room be separate.

emotionsecho · 26/01/2016 20:17

I hate all this open plan living/kitchen stuff, noise, smells and more area to heat. I like separate rooms.

ExtraBlessings · 26/01/2016 20:17

For me the pros outweigh the cons.

Pro:
The big upside is I can cook/ clean up while DS sits at the breakfast bar eating his snack or plays close by

When we invite people over I can have my fair share of the conversation and company while getting the food ready

With good ventilation I don't perceive any problem with food smells

I like how my kitchen looks so I enjoy seeing it.

I don't have to go from room to room each time someone thinks of something else they want on the table

Con: we can hear the bread machine/dishwasher while relaxing in front of the (I don't mind this in the slightest -They are labour saving devices and I'm grateful to have them in my life)

Moln · 26/01/2016 20:18

Would only be appealing to me if there were another room that was separate. In other words there still was a separate sitting room and a very big kitchen. I much prefer kitchen area in one part with a huge table and loads of chairs around it in the other part, rather than the couch and tv.

Lottapianos · 26/01/2016 20:19

I have open plan and wouldn't recommend it. Cooking smells and noise from the bloody washing machine when you're trying to watch TV are the main problems I have

LHReturns · 26/01/2016 20:19

It is actually our family room / TV / playroom that is open plan with the kitchen. We have a separate living room on another floor (town house in central London).

Cantseetheforest · 26/01/2016 20:19

Kitchen diners are fine - preferable, in my view. Don't like traipsing through to another room with a hot dish. Lounge diners or open plan kitchen-diner-lounge is a horrible idea and I would never buy a house with that set up.

Original poster
alliecat567 · 26/01/2016 20:22

God i hadn't even thought about the noise from the washing machine. Disliking the idea even more now.

OP posts:
madmother1 · 26/01/2016 20:23

Mine is do together. I downsized when I got divorced. The only draw back I feel, is that now my kids are teenagers, there is no where separate that they can entertain their friends. It's either me up in my bedroom or the kids up in theres. I would much rather have a separate living room.

londonrach · 26/01/2016 20:23

I didnt get it either and actively avoided all flats with the kitchen and lounge together and no separate lounge when we looked for rented flats. We eat alot of fish, who wants to smell that afterwards...

Tamponlady · 26/01/2016 20:25

We have a though lounge then dining room that leads on to the play room perfect for us as we can keep and eye on the kids while watching telly

To be honest when we lived in the other house the playroom was behind the kitchen she simply wouldn't stay in there on here own

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 26/01/2016 20:27

We have my ideal set up - light, open plan kitchen, dining room and sitting room; washing machine etc in utility room with door closed, and a separate family room with door. I'd hate being shut in a kitchen. I like cooking with my family buzzing around, but at a distance.

I much prefer open plan.

LHReturns · 26/01/2016 20:27

Our washing machine and drier are not in the kitchen - I agree that noise would be a turn off....

I love our open plan kitchen, dining, family room style, but clearly a personal thing. I will actively choose this in our next house - but maybe it is a very urban thing because space is at such a premium? We live in SW1 in central London, and giant open plan kitchen / eating / living spaces are fairly fashionable and desirable.

Muskateersmummy · 26/01/2016 20:28

I like a separate lounge and a kitchen with dining space. Or totally open plan. I hate if your having people over for dinner either one person is stuck in the kitchen away from the conversation or the conversation happens with everyone getting in the way in the kitchen! My ideal is a kitchen with a big island and then a nice dining table and a separate lounge. Then everyone is together for the cooking/eating then can "retire to the comfort of the lounge" after they have eaten...

CwtchMeQuick · 26/01/2016 20:29

I have an open plan kitchen/dining room/living room. How I'd love a wall!
I like the open space because I can see DS all the time. He can play in the living room while I'm cooking and not feel like he's in a different room.
But... The food smells just spread, I can't have the washing machine on if I'm watching TV. Sometimes I want to be able to shut the door on the kitchen and not think about there being washing up, recycling, laundry etc. I have to dry clothes in the designated dining space which makes my living room feel messy even when it's not.
I'm moving this year to a house with walls and doors between rooms. I am so excited.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 26/01/2016 20:30

Absolutely no idea!

I think it has become a thing in order to persuade people to accept smaller living spaces.

FishOn · 26/01/2016 20:33

Our main floor is open plan and it's great for us - very sociable. Hated being shut away in the kitchen while everyone else was having a nice time.

But we do have another sitting room upstairs, and the laundry room's up there too, so no noise issues though.

Woodhill · 26/01/2016 20:34

Its ok. We have a separate lounge & utility room, I'm not keen on people talking to me whilst cooking. I want to be shut off.

Higge · 26/01/2016 20:43

I have a kitchen/dining/living room, separate living room too and then a utility room and a study. I love it - no one wants to go and sit in the living room, it's too lonely. I don't mind cooking smells - I cook a lot!