Open Concept

[articx]

I've been watching renovation shows on HGTV and many people want open concept. This means to open up the space by removing a couple of walls, like the one separating the kitchen and living room.

What do you think about open concept?

[oldbuddy]

We did that about 6 years ago when we removed a wall between the kitchen and dining room. We absolutely love the results and the new view from the kitchen that was always dark before.

[6265AT99]

Definitely makes for a beautiful living space but I think the drawback is heating and cooling.  With all that "space" I think it would be definitely more expensive to heat or cool it.

[Nancy5]

My house has the open concept plan and we love it. Our family room is definitely a room and sometimes I feel 'trapped' in it

[mrisha]

I like the idea of open concept.  It really opens up your whole house.  You can see what is going on with your family, friends and other things that may happen.

[aflyingmonkey]

I have an open concept house, with vaulted ceilings in the formal living room/dinning room.   It is a pain to heat & cool that is for sure. It's warm upstairs then you go downstairs & it's freezing... you can't turn up the heat too much to warm it because the upstairs then gets like an oven -- we have portable heaters now to combat the differential.  It's pretty though & very spacious, & other than the heating issue it creates a positive home environment.

[Tresbn00]

I think that the open concept is great for entertaining-especially if the 'open' is happening around the kitchen.  People tend to hang around the kitchen because there is always one person slaving away on appetizers and dinner. 'Open' can go to far though. I had a client who's house was determined to be unfit for living quarters because they had removed all of the load bearing walls. When you stepped in certain parts of the upstairs bedrooms you would see the floor give/move downward by about two inches.  When I asked them about this they said that their kids lived in these rooms and the floor didn't move as much when the kids were in their rooms. You really have to be careful about what you are doing if you are doing your own renovations.

[gaylasue]

My house has an open concept.  The living room, dining room and kitchen are all open areas.

[UGetPaid]

I love the open concept.  My wife and I have been dreaming for the past two years about building a new home (many things need to be properly aligned before we can afford to do that, but no harm in dreaming).  Just about every modern layout that we have seen includes an open concept kitchen/great room.


I have commented to my wife how so often when we are watching a TV show or movie together in our living room, we have to pause it when one of us gets up to fetch a drink or a snack from the kitchen.  With a combined room, that would no longer be necessary.  (There are LOTS of other advantages, but this is the one that comes first to mind.)


In that same situation, we would then only have to pause the TV when one of us gets up to go to the bathroom.  I don't think any of us are ready yet for THAT variation on the "open concept"!   

[KarenWitty]

I like it as long as it is not a supporting wall ha!

[pmagalei]

I like the idea but the budget and cleaning up afterwards is not easy for me.  If I have enough in my budget, I would consider doing something like that at my house. It would be a great project though!

[natashaspy]

we have an open concept with our kitchen/den/dining room.  I absolutely love it.  you can cook and still be part of the conversations in other rooms without a problem.

[Penwoir]

I've been watching home make-over shows for some time. I particularly like Flip my House. We purchased our house brand new about 8 years ago and one of the main reasons we liked the house so much, was the open plan of the layout. So, from the kitchen area I can see into the lounge, I can see the kids playing and I can also watch tv whilst doing the washing up. But from the same position I can also see into the dining room when my other son might be doing homework at the kitchen table. So, to all tense and purposes, I can see everybody doing everything... just as it should be. I feel it makes for a more connected family, and for a nosy mom, that's essential!