Speaking to architect in 2 hours - help me decide on open plan living!

[Tryeng]

Help! Speaking to architect to finalise plans in a couple of hours! Still very torn re open plan living.

This house will be multigenerational - kids and grandparents.

So far we have a large separate “drawing room” (architects words not mine) which will fit 3 sofas around a fireplace to accommodate everyone. In addition to nieces/nephews when they visit.

Parents have a smaller snug for their own use in the main house. Will have an annexe but mostly just to sleep/get away from dogs & kids.

Im torn whether or not to increase sq footage of kitchen in order to stick a sofa and chair in there. But I also like the idea of having the kitchen as a social space where we can talk away from screens.

I’ve attached the image I showed the architect and which she has incorporated. Would you extend so that to the other side of table there is a small living space?

Never lived in a house with such an open space. If you have this set up how does it work for you? DH and I would sit in there when kids are older and have their friends over.

Obviously saving money would also be nice. Parents are contributing to overall cost and they don’t mind either way.

I would definitely do that. I am in a smallish house ( extended 60s semi ) but we have three reception rooms which are so useful. That area could accommodate guests when you are cooking in the kitchen

If you can have an open plan kitchen/diner plus space for a sofa, and also having a separate living room then I’d definitely do that. It’s my dream to have that kind of space. A living room you can close the door on and be cosy. And also a nice comfy place to sit in the kitchen and chat to others whilst cooking sounds amazing. It’ll draw the family together which would be so lovely.

Yes. We have 3 separate areas in our open plan room - a kitchen, a dining room and a living space. It works well and is a much nicer space than when the living space bit was separate. We also have a separate TV room and study. I think it's sensible to balance open plan living with some rooms that are smaller and can be used to get away everyone.

Do it, it will be lovely.

A sofa in the kitchen/diner is a must so people can sit and chat to the cook.

Personally I hate open plan living. I like to be able to shut the door on a messy kitchen if I have guests round and I don’t like sitting around food smells. Plus with a multigenerational house with lots of people I’d rather a number of different spaces where people can do their own thing and get a bit of privacy, rather than a few big spaces.

That doesn't apply if you have a separate living room I think.

We have two sitting rooms. We don't have a sofa in the kitchen but we have a dining area to sit at and discuss and a breakfast bar to perch at.

I don't like sofas in kitchens unless there is a divisible space. My parents is in a U shape. Dining room at one U end, living room the other and kitchen at the top side next to the dining space. Glass window between dining and seating. That works well.

I am not a fan of open plan unless there is also a separate sitting room.
But you sound as if you have the perfect set up, with snug for parents, sitting room that fits all and a big open plan kitchen/dining/living room.

And yes absoultey put a sofa in that room. It makes the room mutli use, heart of the home, it is frinedly and welcoming, teen swill flop on it, visitors sit and chat on it, you can put your feet up on it.

win-win

We are having a separate snug and the living section of the open plan is divided by a large piece of carpentry into which we are considering pocket doors to enable it to be closed off. I am having study and DH a garage complex including office, car workshop, bike workshop and another workshop.

My friend has done this and put a penguin log burner in the snug area. It is gorgeous

Snug

Yep two sitting spaces.
I have this set up, a large family room/kitchen/dining and then a lounge.

Teens will want to game/watch TV so two spaces are handy.

Agree with this. I think that when three generations are all living in one house, open plan is absolutely the last thing you would want.