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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Open plan how far?

21 replies

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 15:23

Would you prefer a seperate cosy living room and an open plan kitchen dining family space or knock it all out to make one huge space.At teh moment have a kitchen diner with adjoining open plan to small tv area.there is a 14 foot square room next door which I was going to make a cosy adult evening space but it has lovely floor length windows and I think I should just knock it into one.Dp not sure.No toys or anything to consider as ds is 14 and has all his junk elsewhere

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lalalonglegs · 15/04/2009 15:39

As long as I had some area that I could keep separate and a very powerful extractor fan (cooking smells being a big turn-off imo) then I would go for very open as I think you tend to use the space more. In homes where rooms haven't been knocked together, there always seems to be at least one room that no one ever goes into.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 15/04/2009 15:44

I have separate living room and open plan kitchen/diner/family room. Generally I spend the daytimes in the open plan area (the light is fab) and evenings in the living room. This suits us best I think as we have 3 teens so we all felt we would need some separation

Original poster

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 16:29

There would be no other seperate if I did this.our bedroom is quite private and has a sofa etc and there is a loft room(soon) which will have big tv and pool table so am hoping ds and dp will use that.I am after the light from the other room and the feeling of space.

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lalalonglegs · 15/04/2009 17:23

I think if you already have kitchen, dining room and lounging area in one room, I would leave it as it is. Misread and thought you had another 14 ft area as well as room you wanted to knock into. Can you not put long/bigger windows in current room?

Original poster

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 20:10

The kitchen is 18x10 and has a dining table and double glass doors to terrace and garden there is a square arch to a small 11x9 room with floor to ceiling storage and a tv and sofa and it has an open fire in the wall.there is another 14x14 room beyond these two which I could add and then move the table from the kitchen to the tv room.I have a lot of windows already but there is more sun in the other room and it would flood in if we knocked through.Not sure how we would be with no room that could be closed off.

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daftpunk · 15/04/2009 20:13

deffo prefer separate cosy living room...i have been in houses that are open plan... very nice, but would get on my nerves after a few weeks.

you need somewhere downstairs to escape to.

Original poster

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 20:16

I have to decide soon.The builders doing the loft can do the knocking down but just not sure.Am seduced by the look of it but may not work in practice if the only peace i get is in my bedroom.I don't really know what to do

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daftpunk · 15/04/2009 20:18

i'd keep it as it is..from what you've described..your house sounds fab.

Original poster

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 20:23

Am thinking of keeping it as is now dp is getting fed up.he has just decided on open plan and I have changed back again!

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lalalonglegs · 15/04/2009 20:34

I know that you are really experienced and have probably thought of this but, if the wall is supporting, might it have repercussions on the loft work if it is removed?

ohdearwhatamess · 15/04/2009 20:49

Separate every time for me. We are very open plan here and the noise drives me potty - there's nowhere to escape to when dcs or dh are watching tv, extractor fan noise means I can't watch tv or hear myself think when dh is cooking, and nowhere to escape to when people visit.

Original poster

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 22:47

lala you are right but we would have to support the walls again like we did in teh kitchen.A structural report will be needed though but can get one in 48hrs luckily.

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ickletickle · 16/04/2009 08:39

it really depends on how big the spaces are, which only you can judge really. but having a private area is preferable - a toy/chaos free area!

lalalonglegs · 16/04/2009 09:06

We were thinking of knocking through a couple of rooms after we had converted the loft and it was much more complicated (and expensive) than I would have anticipated - bldg control wanted some sort of pin driven through to below foundation level. We decided to leave it as it was...

Original poster

noddyholder · 16/04/2009 10:01

lala I am beginning to think it might be best to leave it too.I am going to turn the door of the smaller tv room so that it opens into the hall rather than the room and glaze teh upper panels for light.That should help with positioning furniture.I could have a smaller archway rather than take the whole lot down which may not need as much structural stuff.Don't want to jeopardise the loft in any way need to get all the drums and guitars up there!

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mrsmaidamess · 16/04/2009 10:02

Separate living room. You really need somewhere to 'get away'

deanychip · 16/04/2009 10:04

The other thing to consider if fire safety.
We were told that under no circumstances would we have had planning permission granted for our loft conversion had we been open plan. This was specifically for fire regs.

crumpet · 16/04/2009 10:09

It is likely to affect the resale if you don't have a separate area, if this is a consideration. It would put a lot of people off. Can yo unot use the money instead to put french windows out to the garden from your kitchen/tv area

Original poster

noddyholder · 16/04/2009 11:15

have spoken to our builder and he says no would involve major works and not worth it for me.The room is already fairly light from midday.i have huge glass doors in kitchen and can't put more in as they wouldn't go anywhere iyswim.I have enough room just wanted the look really so will go back to the drawing board.Could put an arch between the two rooms but not take out all the walls so will think about that.I know what you all mean about seperate space though.

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Helium · 16/04/2009 22:41

We're considering going really open plan but actually I'm wondering whether I need a seperate utility room - do I really want to hear my washing machine going wherever I am downstairs..?!!?!

Cosmosis · 17/04/2009 15:25

Our downstairs is totally open plan (apart from the loo!) and we love it. We were careful to choose quiet appliances, and our washing machine is in the garage, but we don't find we have a problem with either noise or food smells. TBH the noisest thing we have is the kettle!

However, I know it's not for everyone and our house was on the market for a long time before we bought it so I think it did put some people off.

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