Open Plan Living Space

May 31, 2015 by Rob Kahl

You may have noticed by my absence that I was away last week. I know you were all waiting by your inboxes for the latest property blog but surely even estate agents are allowed some time off?

I would like to say that I went away somewhere glamorous like The Maldives or New York (where my colleague Daniel was) but with a 2 year old daughter and a house extension to pay for those types of holidays are a dim and distant memory.

We actually went away to Centre Parcs in Elvedon and it was a great time. Once you have children it all makes sense and they are so geared up for families like ours that life is very easy. Basically, if any of you are parents you are well aware that if the children are happy, then you are, and that was definitely the case.

One of the factors I like about Centre Parcs is the accommodation. I know it is not great quality but the layout of the cabins work really well and it was one of the deciding factors in the plans for our house and the extension we are about to undertake.

I went away with my wife, daughter and my mum. The open plan living space worked really well and the areas are well defined with furniture for dining and sitting and of course, there is the kitchen space.  it enables a family (ours in this case) to all be doing different things, but still be connected, involved and makes for a very sociable space.

It made me think back to properties that I have sold years ago that didn’t have this open plan living space and whether it is a passing trend that will eventually go out of fashion. Years ago when dealing with properties, especially new builds it was all about the number of reception rooms. Properties were built with lounges, separate dining rooms, studies and breakfast rooms and kitchens were more functional spaces only used to prepare food.

Nowadays, this is very much not the case. Lots of properties only have a lounge and a kitchen if you list the rooms but the kitchens can be huge open space areas with dining, lounge and play areas all incorporated into vast arenas making the kitchen/family room the real hub of the home.

This is all very well but it got me thinking, will we tire of these open plan living spaces? Will there come a point where of an evening we don’t want to look at the dishes from dinner that have still got to be cleared away or smell the curry that was cooked hours ago? Will we eventually not want to live amongst all of the children’s toys always with the risk hanging over of us that we might step on a rogue piece of Lego whilst barefoot!

These types of rooms all look great when they are dressed up for glossy magazines or T.V programmes or even when someone has tidied up for weeks before a sales viewing, but,do they really work with the practicalities of every day life?

I guess I will have to wait and see because I am about to find out with my own property and give in to the fashion or trend myself and have a large open plan kitchen, lounge, dining room. One saving grace may be that I will retain a separate sitting room and will have a utility room to hide stuff in as well.

I think these rooms or style of living are very much here to stay. We live in a much more casual time (I do not even wear a tie to work anymore!) so the days of formal dining rooms seem to be behind us and children are involved in family matters rather than being seen and not heard. The open plan, relaxed living spaces are much more sociable and welcoming and seem to still be as popular as ever.

This article is by Rob Kahl @ Scott & Stapleton Estate Agents
Tel: 01702 47 11 55