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Original poster

To open plan or to not open plan?

31 replies

ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 15:49

We're currently renovating and cannot decide how to set up our living area - do we keep separate rooms, knock into a big open plan living/dining/kitchen area or a mish mash of the two e.g. opening a hatch/window type thing in the wall between the kitchen and lounge so that you can see through but the rooms are still separate. There are too many options. We simply can't agree or stick to a decision so I'd like to canvas opinions on what others would do in our situation.

We are a young couple with a baby and quite frankly have no idea what we are doing or what would be most practical for living with a baby!

Some of my thoughts are:

Separate rooms...

  • how do I cook in the kitchen whilst watching the baby? It's a small kitchen and dining area is in the living room so sitting him in a high chair in the kitchen with me wouldn't be ideal as I would have to carry it back and forth all the time.

Open plan...

  • control of smells from the kitchen would be tricky
  • control of noise whilst baby is in bed (the stairs would lead into the open plan area)
  • hallway would be knocked out so the front door would open straight into the kitchen. Not sure I'm keen.

Can anyone give any opinions to a clueless couple please?!

OP posts:
PeterPipersPepper · 13/01/2022 15:54

The solution is: two separate rooms with sliding pocket doors

LakeShoreD · 13/01/2022 15:57

For me ideally a hybrid- open kitchen and diner even better if there’s some space for some soft seating plus a separate adults lounge/future teenage den. But when DD was a baby/toddler we did have the one single open layout in our flat and actually it was great and it held niche appeal as when we sold it went to bid and all the buyers were weirdly single blokes! I know I wouldn’t have liked it so much with other kids though.

beggingforsleep · 13/01/2022 16:06

It would cost more but can you move the kitchen in to the lounge/dining area if it's a bigger space and have the old kitchen as the lounge?

Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:06

@PeterPipersPepper

This sounds interesting. I've just had to Google what those doors are (told you...clueless). Am I right in thinking the door slides into the wall?

OP posts:
Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 13/01/2022 16:08

Personally I would hate to see items from another room mixed together..

Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:09

@beggingforsleep

I did suggest this to my other half but he wasn't keen. The kitchen is quite long and small so I don't think it would be practical as a lounge. I'll try to get a floor plan to show you because that would probably be helpful!

OP posts:
Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:11

@Santaisstilleatingmincepies

like in the open plan scenario? That was one of my issues too. Don't get me wrong, I think open plan can look stunning but I'm the type of person that couldn't sit in a living space being able to see a dirty cup on the side in the kitchen space. But my reasoning was, it would go straight in the dishwasher haha.

OP posts:
PeterPipersPepper · 13/01/2022 16:13

@ChrissyxJingle yes that’s right. They push back into the wall. So you can be open plan or closed off depending on your needs. I think the ideal layout is kitchen/diner with space for a sofa, and separate sitting room for the evening, but pocket doors might be a good compromise if it’s not possible to combine the kitchen/diner.

NLisa · 13/01/2022 16:14

Watch my home made perfect on Netflix it is very interesting.

NLisa · 13/01/2022 16:15

Your home made perfect

oncemoreunto · 13/01/2022 16:16

Open plan is great with young kids and not great with teens.
Open plan isn't good for WFH either.

So it kind of depends on how long you plan on staying where you are and how you live now.

ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:22

@PeterPipersPepper the kitchen/diner with space for soft seating and a then a separate lounge area would be perfect. That's exactly what I wanted but we don't think it will fit into the space we have. I've never liked the idea of having a dining table in the lounge. It just doesn't seem right. I guess we could divide the space with those doors so that the kitchen/diner is one part and the lounge part is separate. It just means the lounge area would be a bit smaller than we planned which we can live with.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:24

@NLisa thank you! I need something new to watch on Netflix so I will definitely watch that.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:28

@oncemoreunto

We plan on staying for as long as we can really but maybe we will have moved on by the teen years. WFH isn't too bad as we have a separate office for that on another floor.

OP posts:
PeterPipersPepper · 13/01/2022 16:28

@ChrissyxJingle that could work - as I imagine you would only close the doors when you’re relaxing in the sitting room in the evening, or when someone is watching TV and doesn’t want to disturb others? So could make it a cosy space - kind of like a snug - and then during the day keep the doors open

BlingLoving · 13/01/2022 16:28

Are there windows on the side or only at the front and the back?

Personally, I think it is absolutely essential to have at least two separate spaces downstairs. What that looks like may well vary based on each family, but, for example, we have a kitchen/diner and a lounge. This is essential. It means that if one of us is cooking/tidying up in the kitchen, the other one can be watching TV or hanging with friends in a different room.

I don't know how big your space is but I'd be inclined to take some of the space from the current lounge/diner to create a kitchen/diner (perhaps, based on your picture, move the kitchen wall so that it runs alongside the lounge from where the storage ends) and then leave the lounge as a lounge. It works as it is, but I do see the benefit of having a small bit of space in the kitchen for small children or even for older children who may perhaps do homework while you're cooking dinner.

BlingLoving · 13/01/2022 16:29

[quote ChrissyxJingle]@PeterPipersPepper the kitchen/diner with space for soft seating and a then a separate lounge area would be perfect. That's exactly what I wanted but we don't think it will fit into the space we have. I've never liked the idea of having a dining table in the lounge. It just doesn't seem right. I guess we could divide the space with those doors so that the kitchen/diner is one part and the lounge part is separate. It just means the lounge area would be a bit smaller than we planned which we can live with. [/quote]
If you create a kitchen/diner, that problem goes away. Yes, you lose the soft seating, but I don't think that's a train smash. And buy comfortable dining chairs (or stools!) Grin

loopylindi · 13/01/2022 16:30

Be aware too that the more 'open plan' your rooms are the more they will take to heat to a comfortable temperature. What's adequate in a kitchen with cooking and movement is not adequate in the sitting room where there is less movement. Of an evening when you are relaxing you will want it warmer and any heat provided by (say) a fire will waft off into the kitchen

minipie · 13/01/2022 16:31

I would make the back room into kitchen/diner, with a small sofa or large armchair if you can fit it. And the front room into a snug as a tv watching/quiet/tidy space.

I see the front room is quite long and thin but that could work for a snug I think, if it’s mainly an adult/tv room it doesn’t need so much space. Or to make it wider you could knock down most of the wall between hall and front room - keep the bit of the wall near the door so you have a porch area to hang coats etc and hide the buggy.

minipie · 13/01/2022 16:32

Oh and if you can, put your washing machine somewhere not in the kitchen as it’s so noisy. Maybe you could put it in the cupboard behind the wc.

AndSoFinally · 13/01/2022 16:32

If you go completely open plan so your front door opens into your kitchen, then you're going to end up with the toilet opening directly into the new kitchen space 🤢.

I would definitely try and keep a hallway of some description. Otherwise you're staring at coats, shoes, etc, and it's cold!

Alicetheowl · 13/01/2022 16:33

We moved into an open plan type arrangement. Think about heating. Is it a space where the radiators were designed for a cosy living room,but minimal elsewhere? Can be chilly. Also, when you choose a washing machine, you need to spend a bit more for a quieter one! You can't just shut the kitchen door.

Original poster
ChrissyxJingle · 13/01/2022 16:37

Sorry I re-drew the plan as I did it the wrong way around! The green bits are the windows. There are patio doors in the lounge.

To open plan or to not open plan?
OP posts:
oncemoreunto · 13/01/2022 16:47

As well as needing more heating, sounds also bounce round a lot more in open plan spaces.
So the house seems much noisier.