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Original poster

Open plan living: is it compulsory?

42 replies

greencottage · 04/09/2015 20:04

Just that, really. Planning my new kitchen at the moment and every magazine/Houzz image I look at integrates the kitchen and dining room, and maybe even the living room too. I easily could knock the kitchen through to the dining, but I quite like a separate dining room. I also like a separate living room. I like to be able to close noise/smells off in different areas. But thinking ahead to a possible future buyer when I move on, will it be a wasted opportunity if I don't do the whole open plan thing now while I can?

OP posts:
JeffsanArsehole · 04/09/2015 20:07

I think a lot of people like it

I hate it, I like a series of small rooms plus a spacious feeling kitchen/diner

Lweji · 04/09/2015 20:08

I prefer to have options, which for me means wide/double doors that can be left open or be shut as required.

MyNightWithMaud · 04/09/2015 20:08

I have heard - possibly on MN, so it must be true - that the open plan fad is about to pass and the mood is reverting to single rooms, for all the reasons you mention.

PrimalLass · 04/09/2015 20:09

I'll never buy another house that doesn't have a kitchen diner, or one that can be created easily. I had a small kitchen for a year each in this house and the last one, and I hated it.

Marmitelover55 · 04/09/2015 20:10

I love open plan. We have open plan kitchen/diner/snug and study, but have a separate sitting room too. Can't imagine going back to the previous 4 pokey rooms!

BrianButterfield · 04/09/2015 20:11

I think it makes sense in some cases - friends had a tiny dining room where you couldn't even walk around the table, so knocked through and now have a lovely kitchen diner. But we have a kitchen you can fit a small table and chairs in, and a dining room big enough for sofa, telly etc, so it suits us much more to have them separate. We still have a big table for full family meals but it also works as a second reception room which is very useful.

Finallyonboard · 04/09/2015 20:11

I have separate rooms and hate it but I'm not motivated to renovate. Open plan will be at the top of my wish list next time.

WhatTheJeffHasGoneOnHere · 04/09/2015 20:26

We have a big kitchen/dining/family area but also a separate living room. I wouldn't have one big open plan space, I like being able to shut somewhere off.

HoneyDragon · 04/09/2015 20:29

I couldn't not have a kitchen diner. But I have a separate living room.

I love my kitchen diner though, I never leave it.

Marmitelover55 · 04/09/2015 20:34

I know I have barely set foot in my sitting room for the last year since we had our extension!

Gusthetheatrecat · 04/09/2015 20:40

I think there is open plan and open plan. In most houses a separate dining room makes no sense as it's small and un-used. So a big kitchen diner reflects modern life rather better, most of the time.
On the other hand, I have seen some houses that have been so completely 'open-planned' that there are almost no internal walls at all. Where the front door opens straight onto a big living room / diner / kitchen / bi-fold-doors to the garden. This feels like a triumph of design over real life to me. I think normal family life requires a few doors: when you're on the phone, or need some space, someone is doing homework, or you are cooking something smelly.
That said, I think you should do what you want, and what reflects how you want to live. If that means keeping a wall that could be knocked down, I think the Phil and Kirstie effect would mean that you could easily say to potential buyers, "And you can easily knock through here to make a big kitchen diner" and they can then see what's possible without you having to live with something that grates!

BaxterDawes · 04/09/2015 20:42

We have the ubiquitous big kitchen/dining space. It's the best thing we ever did. It's such a lovely space for everyone and is great for dinner parties and drinks parties too.

We still use our separate sitting room every day, but the kitchen area has become the heart of the house.

I am a surveyor and I can't see any signs of this trend changing any time soon. What I have noticed lately is a real trend in people having exposed brick walls in their mahoosive kitchen/living areas, often with exposed steelwork.

Dismalfuckers · 04/09/2015 20:50

I much prefer a separate kitchen as I like to cook and potter in peace with the radio on, not kids' TV.

And in the rare occasions we have guests, I don't want them in the kitchen either.

So I say fuck off, open plan!

Flingmoo · 04/09/2015 20:51

Having things too open plan is also less convenient when you have a little toddler and don't want them running around in the kitchen, being able to shut them in a separate living room with DP is handy while cooking ,cleaning etc! Having said that, when they're older open plan is probably better as you can then keep an eye on them while doing kitchen stuff.

poorbuthappy · 04/09/2015 21:56

It all depends doesn't if?!!! If you have 2/3/4 pokey rooms then it makes sense. But if you have 2/3/4 spacious rooms then it doesn't!!

greenfolder · 04/09/2015 22:05

Have your house the way you want to use it. If it's easy/obvious that the 2rooms could be knocked through then buyers will see that. In a previous house we had open plan cos that worked well with the kids. In this house we have a kitchen diner with a conservatory that can be closed off and a separate lounge because that suits us as a family.

SquinkiesRule · 04/09/2015 22:06

We have a living/dining room with a doorway into the kitchen and another separate living room in the front of the house.
I'd like to open the doorway from the kitchen that would give us a long room across the back of the house with Kitchen one end dining in the middle and living area on the other end. It'd still leave a proper front room that is closed off from the smells.

Original poster
greencottage · 05/09/2015 08:58

Interesting, thanks! I like the idea of opening up the dining room but having bifold/sliding doors to section it off. I think that would fit the bill both ways. So next question, anyone done it this way, and what did you use for doors? Sliding or bifold, glass or solid? Where from?

OP posts:
WhatTheJeffHasGoneOnHere · 05/09/2015 10:19

My in laws have done this and have wooden bi folds and the track sits up the top. Works really well.

hackedoffnow · 05/09/2015 10:28

I am of the small minority that likes a small kitchen. I love the peace of cooking with radio 4 on and no noise - it is an escape away from the mayhem. I would never knock the wall down and let the circus in! I also like to leave the room away from all the cooking smells and steam.

I do think that when things become ubiquitous they become a bit naff.

RingDownRingUp · 05/09/2015 11:02

I hate open plan living with a passion! I like separate rooms where people can do their own thing in peace without disturbing others.

Trills · 05/09/2015 11:16

Unless you are planning on moving soon, have your house the way you want to live in it.

Notoedike · 05/09/2015 11:31

We have an open plan kitchen/dining/living with another sitting room.
I love it. The only option that I really don't like is separate kitchen and dining room, i like the kitchen to be the centre of the home.

itmustbeglove · 05/09/2015 11:35

Am a big fan of our open plan.
We have a big kitchen with dining area at one end, with french doors onto the garden. We all live in here, mostly only using the sitting room at night to watch telly or in the winter for the fire.

I don't think there's a right or wrong way, it's what works for your family.

hackedoffnow · 05/09/2015 11:38

If I hear someone else say "the kitchen is the heart if the home"Hmm since when? It's where you cook and eat.

Long live small cosy rooms and not a bifold door in sight!