Let’s talk about this. It might make many of you uncomfortable. Maybe you saw it on TV and got sucked into the light and freedom of it. Maybe you went to a friend’s house and they encouraged you to do it. Possibly, you could have been attracted to those three little words on a shiny piece of new construction. OPEN FLOOR PLAN. I get it. Really, I get it. You have kids and you want to be able to make dinner while watching them watch TV, and soon after watch them eat at the table. You can also see who is at the front door and the backdoor.  You don’t even have to leave your post behind the stove and between the sink.  However, I do not find anything chic about the convenience of an open floor plan. In fact, you are doing yourself a disservice if you like design (If you are reading this I am assuming you do).

I spoke of this in just a small comment at the end of my last post. The comments I received from readers were very reaffirming. Think about going to a restaurant- do you ever get annoyed sitting at the table right by the kitchen door? I do. It makes me wonder why it is so common in our homes. Do we not deserve peaceful meals? Do you want guests to see the mess of your kitchen preparations in the same eye line of your beautifully set dining room table? Do you really want to display your china cabinet in your living room? Do you really want to walk in the front door and see straight into your kitchen and the backyard? Do you not want the mere privacy of being able to close the door to a room? I would hope your answer is no.

We’ve become so ingrained with the idea that the open floor plan is a positive thing. Like I mentioned above, it does have it’s benefit, but to me it is lacking. It is lacking intimacy, poise, and genuine purpose. This article from the BBC says it all, so does this article from Yahoo, and so does this article from Slate. I will quote them below. Really, I am just happy to know I am not alone in this trend to kill the open floor plan. Mr. Builder- do NOT tear down this wall!

Pictures of some of my favorite closed kitchens below.

“…here is one distressingly popular design choice that has spread throughout HGTV’s stable of shows like black mold through a flooded basement, and I can no longer abet its growth by keeping silent. I’m talking about the baneful scourge that is the “open-concept kitchen.”- Slate Article

I love the simplicity and thoughtful detail of this kitchen, from the exposed shelving on the island to the splash of windows above the second area of the kitchen. A functional and chic enclosed space. Via AD

 

I love the color combination of this kitchen. Very sophisticated gold hardware and a walk-in pantry that is worthy of praise. Via House Beautiful

“Oh and did you know the open-plan kitchen can lead to uncontrolled snacking and is perhaps to blame for the recent obesity epidemic? It also encourages shouting; who needs to walk to the next room and merely talk when you can stand still and yell at the top of your lungs to announce dinner?” – BBC ARTICLE

Entering the kitchen through a pair of doors, love that. A clever way to display pots and pans. Mick de Giulio via AD

Beautiful enclosed kitchen. Love the siding all around the room. Suzanne Kasler via AD

“If I can see my kitchen all the time, I can’t relax,” Roxanne said. “When someone walks in the kitchen, I’ll impulsively start wiping down the counter, even if it’s already clean. An open kitchen is very impressive looking – but it really depends on how you’re living.” –Yahoo Article

Pretty enclosed hues via Veranda