Convert Your Kitchen to Open Plan: Yea or Nay?

Posted 2:35 p.m. Jun 3, 2014 — Updated 2:35 p.m. Jun 3, 2014

The trend toward open kitchens, which first began back in the 1980s, is still going strong. Decorators tend to love the style and often assume that when you update your home, of course you'll want to convert your kitchen to open plan. But it's worth your while to carefully weigh the pros and cons of an open kitchen before you let anyone start knocking down walls in your home. After all, whichever style you decide on, you're the one who will end up living with the result.

Sociability

One of the most often cited advantages of an open plan kitchen is that it allows you, the cook, to socialize with guests while cooking and plating a meal. Movement from the cooking area to the dining table is natural and flowing. This is great for extroverted souls who are expert at multi-tasking.

More reticent types might need a little privacy to concentrate on their dinner preparations, however, as well as the ability to close a door on dirty dishes and other kitchen mess.

Light and Air

In a small and/or dark home, opening up the kitchen will offer more light and air. Standing at the kitchen counter, you will still be able to enjoy the gorgeous view or dramatic sunset visible from your living room window. And when you're in the thick of whipping up a gourmet feast, you'll be less affected by the heat from multiple appliances hard at work, due to the greater air circulation.

On the other hand, that increased circulation will permit cooking odors and steam to permeate the atmosphere of your living room -- where you do *not* want them to be -- unless you install a fantastic ventilation system. It will also make for much less efficient HVAC. When you turn on the heat or air conditioning, you'll be heating or cooling the entire combined area, resulting in energy wastage and skyrocketing fuel bills.

Family

Open plan kitchens are often popular among parents of young children, who appreciate being able to keep an eye on the kids as they get supper ready.

If you opt for this arrangement, though, you will need to be extra vigilant in toddler proofing the cupboards and stove, since you don't have the option of simply closing your kitchen door to keep your youngsters away from potential hazards.

A frequent drawback of open plan design is the noise factor. There is no easy way to muffle the sounds of various family members running the dishwasher, watching television, playing music and conversing … and if all these activities are going on that the same time, the effect will be more likely to induce a crashing headache than a case of the warm fuzzies.

Space

An open plan home gives the appearance of being more spacious, which tends to increase its curb appeal. When you create a "great room" (as a kitchen/living/dining room combo is sometimes known), you can borrow a little space from the other areas to add to your kitchen. This is particularly convenient and comfortable when you want to entertain a large crowd, for example at Thanksgiving.

At the same time, fewer walls mean less wall space. That is less space for things like cabinets, built-in bookcases or storage shelves, fireplaces, wall art and electric outlets, to name a few. Your furniture arrangements may feel awkward, as if they are floating in space.

Further Considerations

In addition to these factors, there are two important considerations. First, take into account the sight line from various vantage points in your living room: what will you see in your kitchen? And what will the view be from the opposite perspective – from your kitchen to the rest of your open space?

Second is the essential question of cost. Although an open plan home requires fewer materials and less labor and is usually cheaper to build from scratch than one with a traditional floor plan in Michigan, for instance, Detroit kitchen remodeling is a different story. There are major expenses involved. For instance, plumbing and electricity may have to be relocated. You will likely need to replace your flooring. If a load-bearing wall is to be removed, you must make sure that alternate structural support is put in place.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

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