Who likes open concept when the kitchen is open to the living or family room?

[Lewkat]

Our house was Victorian formal and there was a swinging door between the kitchen and dining room. Our Kitchen had a walk in fire place that one could actually cook over. There was a small foyer off the kitchen leading to the stairs, the den and the living room. The den and living room were separated by glass French doors. Across the hall from the living room was the library. All had pocket doors which I loved. Now my apartment is an open area except for the bedrooms and bath. I prefer the former.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

@CinnamonSugar, I have nearly the same phone as you do. It’s rarely used. The sound is far superior to any of my other phones. Considering the weight, I don’t know how I’d talk for a couple of hours at a time.

? @Jules. How did we go from a pic of my living room to phones ?

 

[hollydolly]

I understand what @Jules was talking about regarding the vintage phone in your livingroom @CinnamonSugar . As a collector of Vintage phones myself, I could see how Jules' eyes would be drawn to that phone.

 

[squatting dog]

? @Jules. How did we go from a pic of my living room to phones ?

Never mind the phone, I'd like to know more about the really cool pictures of cars on the wall.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

I understand what @Jules was talking about regarding the vintage phone in your livingroom @CinnamonSugar . As a collector of Vintage phones myself, I could see how Jules' eyes would be drawn to that phone.

Oh, I see! Lol I forgot that was in the pic. It wasn’t a true antique, just a modern phone in that style. But yes, it was very heavy/cumbersome. I mainly got it to go with the decor.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

Never mind the phone, I'd like to know more about the really cool pictures of cars on the wall.

No magic story, @squatting dog, just a couple prints from a local boutique. I was trying to make my living room “male friendly” when I redecorated... I aimed for what I loosely term the “English Gentleman’s Club” look

 

[fuzzybuddy]

I don't like that open concept either. I don't want to see dirty dishes as I watch TV. Yeah, I know I can wash them. so I won't see 'em. I don't think the open plan is for watching kids. I think it's more us fat ass Americans not being ten feet from food.

 

[RadishRose]

Basically, I don't care for open concept for all the reasons already stated.

However, a lot depends on design and decoration. I've seen some open concept arrangements that are just beautiful an would prefer some of them over separate rooms.

 

[StarSong]

IMHO, the smaller the square footage the better the argument for an open floor plan.

We added a wall with a "hatch" (love that term @hollydolly) when expanding the kitchen in the late 80s. Our kids were young and the kitchen was like Grand Central Station. I didn't want kitchen noise, mess and chaos spilling into the rest of the house so a hatch was the perfect solution. When we remodeled again a few years ago we reduced the size of the kitchen eating area (now the bistro).

The hatch is on the other side of the bistro table.

Just past the bistro is a step-down formal dining room (seating for 12).

 

[Butterfly]

I don't like that open concept either. I don't want to see dirty dishes as I watch TV. Yeah, I know I can wash them. so I won't see 'em. I don't think the open plan is for watching kids. I think it's more us fat ass Americans not being ten feet from food.

And if I have guests (in the past, not now), I don't want them looking at the mess in the kitchen, either.

 

[StarSong]

When all of this is over, I want an invitation to @hollydolly's Spanish retreat!

 

[hollydolly]

When all of this is over, I want an invitation to @hollydolly's Spanish retreat!

You'd be welcome..but first we've got to get over there ourselves.. haven't been able to go in well over a year

 

[Pepper]

If I had an open concept kitchen how would I have been able to sneak in spoons of ice cream?

 

[Kayelle]

I must be dense, I still don't know what a "hatch" is even after a fellow Cali. girl said she had one too.
Could it be a skylight? I have one in the kitchen and love it except when it hasn't rained here for months. Ugh.

 

[CinnamonSugar]

I must be dense, I still don't know what a "hatch" is even after a fellow Cali. girl said she had one too.
Could it be a skylight? I have one in the kitchen and love it except when it hasn't rained here for months. Ugh.

@Kayelle, it's an Opening between kitchen and dining area

 

[Butterfly]

I call that a pass-through window. I have one, too.

 

[Ken N Tx]

It’s very popular these days, open concept. I hate it. Our last house, very modern, had the kitchen open to the family room.

When we built our house,21 years ago, the plans showed an open concept. The wife said that when she is done in the kitchen she did not want to see it again!! We drew it out of the plans and did a pass through opening..

 

[LindaB]

Having lived in Florida most of my life, I enjoyed the "open concept" style of living. When we moved to North Carolina that was very hard to find at the time so we removed a wall to get the look and feel that we enjoy in our home here. I love not being stuck in the kitchen cooking alone while everyone is somewhere else! Our kitchen is open to the family room and has an eat-in area as well. It flows into an "almost open" sun room. We do have a separate dining room. Another thing we added that you can hardly find here is a large screened and covered patio off the sun room. I love my house!

 

[StarSong]

Mine is larger than that and goes from the kitchen to the family room. Same concept though. We also call it a pass through opening, but since @hollydolly had already referred to it as a hatch I went with her descripition.

 

[StarSong]

Having lived in Florida most of my life, I enjoyed the "open concept" style of living. When we moved to North Carolina that was very hard to find at the time so we removed a wall to get the look and feel that we enjoy in our home here. I love not being stuck in the kitchen cooking alone while everyone is somewhere else! Our kitchen is open to the family room and has an eat-in area as well. It flows into an "almost open" sun room. We do have a separate dining room. Another thing we added that you can hardly find here is a large screened and covered patio off the sun room. I love my house!

Our kitchen has always been command central of the household. Whether just family, or gatherings, or even (especially) large parties I've never had a problem getting people into my kitchen - it's getting them out of it that's the problem!

 

[SeaBreeze]

It’s very popular these days, open concept. I hate it. Our last house, very modern, had the kitchen open to the family room. When ever you cooked, you could not hear the tv over the appliances, or anyone who was speaking. The cooking smells went everywhere, and if you cooked with grease (we don’t) that would be in the air and make the dust stick to the furniture. Nasty.

Yes, you can entertain and be a part of the group, somewhat, with open concept. But when it’s just family, ugh. Plus if you have a kitchen fire, house goes up very fast. I’ll never have an open to the living room space kitchen again. What do you think?

I agree, don't care for that open concept either. We mused about opening the wall between the kitchen and the living when we first bought our house forty years ago, but after weighing the pros and cons, we both decided not to do it.

 

[Ruth n Jersey]

When we were first married and looking for a home I told my hubby I insist on having a dining room. When I'm done cooking I want to be able to go into the dining room and feel like a guest also.
Our second home ,the one we had built, has a very roomy dining room that overlooks the living room. Absolutely no TV in the living room. That was moved to the den after I spent one Thanksgiving with half the guests staring at the football game and the other half trying to have a conversation. The kitchen is right behind the brick wall of the dining room. Sometimes on a really hot day the hubby and I eat in the dining room, even though we have central AC it is cooler in there.

 

[StarSong]

@SeaBreeze, it's so good to see you back again! I missed you.

Regarding open floorplans, I think a lot of this trend has been driven by contractor remodel shows. I'm not one to watch them, but the handful I've seen while in waiting rooms aren't terribly creative. The contractors repeat many of their concepts from one house to the next to the next. Open concept, pendulum lights dangling over kitchen islands, white cabinets, open shelving, recessed cans for other lighting, grey paint, wood floors, included.

Heaven forbid anyone on one of those shows thinks outside the box with, "Gee, a brightly patterned linoleum floor would be just the ticket here."

 

[katlupe]

I have lived with both types of homes over the years. Now my situation has completely changed. I live alone and don't do any entertaining. My apartment is a 338 sq. ft. studio. It is almost an open concept. I have closed off my bedroom in a corner using my dressers for walls. My kitchen is a 3 sided square with a pass through that actually goes to my bedroom area.

I find it easier as a disabled older person to have the kitchen open so I can cook and sit down when I need to. I can see my whole kitchen from my computer since it is open but it is separated by the flooring and the ceiling.

I have been given the choice of moving into a one bedroom bigger apartment and I told them no way. I don't want separate rooms. This is much easier for me and I love the way it looks.

 

[Kayelle]

Our kitchen has always been command central of the household. Whether just family, or gatherings, or even (especially) large parties I've never had a problem getting people into my kitchen - it's getting them out of it that's the problem!

Haaa...I hear you loud and clear @StarSong. Too many people in the kitchen drives me nuts. I would often announce "If you're not part of the solution in this kitchen, you're part of the problem."