open plan living

[bevingtonsmith]

I have a very uninspiring 1970's three bed detached bungalow.
I desperately need a fourth bedroom but do not have roof height to convert loft.
I'm thinking of converting the front room to a bedroom.
I have a long skinny dining room next to the kitchen/utility area that I think would work fab as a large open plan living/kitchen/dining area opening up into reasonably sized back garden.
What are your views on open space living and loss of a separate sitting room?

My house was built in the 1950s and it has an open living/dining room area and I love it. I would knock through to the kitchen as well but there are some technical considerations that have made that too difficult.

Go for it!

Personally I do not like houses that are entirely open plan, I like a snug/living room that can be retreated to - to watch TV without disturbing everyone else, to escape the smell/mess, as an adult space which guests can come to when I don't want them to see the chaos of family living. I also don't see the value in an independent dining room, very few occasions when kitchen/dining is not appropriate and I am never likely to live in a house big enough to justify an entire room for such occasions.

So if I had your house I would happily knock through the dining room to the kitchen, but be reluctant to make the front room a bedroom. However, that's my taste and priorities not yours, and you say you need an extra bedroom, so luxuries like a separate living space may need to be sacrificed if you have no other options.

Good luck!

My thinking is that although open plan not ideal for all reasons stated in the long term I can always convert back to a separate lounge when kids eventually leave (!).
Really happy with the area (Whitstable) and planning this as my forever home.
Thanks for your views.

Is the arrangement we have. Open plan can be quite noisy and dh often retreats upstairs for peace and quiet. I assume if we had the front room he'd be in there. It could easily be changed back in the future.

Our entire ground floor is open plan
It runs - front door, stairs, hall - door to living area - sitting room, dining area/play space kitchen offset at end.
The main thing I was worried about was cooking smells but with good ventilation it's not a problem.