What I don't get about open concept homes.

[Baitball Blogger]

Noise. People watching television will be disturbed by the person in the kitchen preparing dinner, or cleaning the plates.

Not to mention that when you have visitors, unless you have large square footage, you'll hear everything that goes on in that house.

[TreasonousBastard]

1. Years ago, when industrial lofts in NYC became cheap housing...

they were "open", but for sanity and personal privacy systems of dividers, mostly temporary, were set up.

I've thought about the possibility of seriously open living space where even the bathroom wasn't walled off. Couldn't have more tha none or two living there, though, and guests would be rare.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. I read an article on micro-living

where the owner of the space made a personal decision not to entertain in the small quarters. But she lived in an upscale complex that had huge amenities with a common area with a beautiful view and an expensive exercise area.

Because, you do realize with an open bathroom your guests will feel uncomfortable. Frankly, I've had nightmares like that.

[Avalux]

3. My house is open except for the bedrooms and bathrooms.

Mostly all one level; about 1800 sq. ft. There's an open loft above the kitchen; spiral staircase to get up there; kitchen, dining area and living room all open - no doorways. I love not having all 'living' spaces not separated off, but bedrooms and bathrooms have doors for privacy.

I'm not sure I would like a completely open floor plan.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I know that open floor plan is all the rage,

but I don't like it, for the reasons you mention. And also, if your kitchen hasn't been tidied up everyone will see the mess. I can understand wanting to be able to watch your kids while you cook, but other than that, I'd rather keep the kitchen a bit separate from the other areas. My house is old (1885) and the kitchen is away from the living room (as they always were in those days). I like it that way.

[Rowdyboy]

5. Our house dates from about 1900 and I love having seperate rooms with WALLS for different

activities. To each his or her own, of course, but I find the "open floor plan" concept overdone and boring.

What really pisses me off is when people buy historic homes then knock down walls to get their desired floor plan. If you want to live like that just buy one of those contemporary pieces of shit that will crumble within thirty years and leave the classic homes for people who can appreciate them.

[pipi_k]

7. Oh, I love

older homes!!!

I once rented a couple of rooms in a huge Victorian home. There were three tenants on the third floor, a doctor on the second floor, and the doctor's mom (he owned the house) on the first floor with a couple of other empty rooms.

Well, some idiot who owned the house before actually PAINTED over all the woodworking on the third floor. The doctor (a new owner) was having the wood refinished, which was a huge project.

And the carriage house in back was also being renovated at the time. I used to imagine what it must have been like to live in that house in the Victorian era.

PS...I last lived there in 1992, and in the meantime it was bought and sold a few times. The newest owners did a lot of renovation work...

here it is...and yes, it's on the very same Mulberry Street where Dr Seuss grew up!

http://mariarebellomarks.andrewmitchellco.com/properties/7_905537/63-Mulberry-St-Springfield-Massachusetts-01105#.Unp6nCfAHG4

[Worried senior]

8. Beautiful home

Didn't think the price was bad for as big of a home as it is but I sure wouldn't want to pay the utilities or have to clean it.

[Kingofalldems]

11. If I lived anywhere near Sprigfield I would be on that house.

Wow. 269,900? That can't be.

[Rowdyboy]

13. I once spent an entire weeks vacation removing SEVEN layers of hideous paint from two pocket doors..

The wood underneath was gorgeous but there isn't enough time in one lifetime to take care of it all. Apparently back in the 1920's and 30's paining woodwork was all the rage. We did manage to restore the woodwork in the parlor but the rest will just have to stay painted.

Our first floor is pretty much finished, including some beautiful wall-stenciling in the foyer done by a very talented friend but the upstairs is still totally unfinished, with holes still in the walls from when we had it rewired 10 years ago. We're doing all the interior work ourselves (as a retired teacher and retired jobs counselor we can't afford professionals) but the house is solid, freshly painted and has good plumbing/wiring etc. We just need time and energy.

Wow, living on Dr Seuss's street is really cool. How much fun it must be to walk the same streets he walked!

[pipi_k]

6. I get the

open concept thing, although I don't really like it much.

I have a small home, so the living room/kitchen area are open, but the master bedroom is separate with separate bathroom, and in fact the toilet area is a whole room in itself.


What I never could understand was high to super-high ceilings.

Lots of wasted space, if you ask me. I like ceilings that are about 8 - 10 feet high. Not 20 feet or more...

[Vashta Nerada]

9. It's just a fad, like popcorn ceilings.

I hate open concept floor plans. I like the idea of privacy in my rooms.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. I love my open concept, even making it more open.

.
.
.

First off, I just moved up to a 900 sq ft home from a 17 foot trailer I lived in for 6 years.

Secondly, it's the first home I ever OWNED.

My kitchen dining living room is one room 30 x 12, and heated with a woodstove mainly.

Bath and 2 bedroom doors removed, - left smallest bedroom door on - privacy for infrequent guests.

I don't get, expect, nor wish too many visitors, so I make the house the way I like it; at my age, I'm not too concerned about other people's opinion of my home.

I like being able to see the outdoors, so frosted bathroom window was replaced with clear thermal pane - a beaty view for over a mile - no neighbors, so privacy not an issue.

Made 24x8 foot sunroom into an en suite bedroom/bath connected to doorless washroom of 6x8 - yep guest would have to walk through my en suite to go potty - oh well . . .

Multiple night trips to relieve my bladder make the short straight walk to the washroom very handy - I'm alone 99% of the time, so . . there ya go.

More walls to come out, more openings to be created - better heat circulation, and better view all around.

I likes it.



CC

[WCGreen]

12. We have about a 1100 area divided by one half wall which is where the kitchen is...

Two bathrooms, three bedrooms and a laundry room are off shoots of that large area...

We really like layout. We also have cathedral ceiling in that large space.

[PasadenaTrudy]

14. In my opinion

you can never have enough doors!

[loli phabay]

15. best thing about them is indoor golf.