Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1482387
Open concept or a closed floor plan? BY METRO Open concept homes have become increas- ingly popular in recent years. An open concept home is one in which the rooms flow into one another with limited obstruction from walls or other barriers. Ac- cording to the National Association of Home Builders, 84 percent of new single-family homes have full or par- tial open layouts. While they may seem like a new trend, open floor plans are anything but. Early American homes featured open, often one- or two-room units built around the central kitchen/hearth. This maximized warmth and functionality. Homes evolved as incomes grew, and soon homes had several smaller rooms with specialized functions. What's old has become new again. However, before diving head first into a new- home purchase or a big renovation to realize an open concept dream, consider the pros and cons of this type of setup to determine if it's really right for you. The benefits Open floor plans fa- cilitate the flow of natu- ral light throughout a space and can promote airflow, helping to reduce warm or cool pockets of air in other- wise closed-off rooms. Open homes make socializing easier, even when people are doing different things. While someone is cooking dinner in the kitchen, he or she can still inter- act with someone else playing video games in the family room or pay- ing bills in the home office. Entertaining also is easier, as mingling with guests is much more convenient when walls are not getting in the way. A smaller home can feel much larger if it employs an open con- cept. The square foot- age is not divided into smaller quarters, which sometimes are rooms (such as formal dining rooms) that are only used a few times per year. This eliminates underused spaces and opens up sight lines in the layout. The value of real estate has risen dra- matically since the onset of the COVID-19 pan- demic, and prospective buyers may prefer an open concept plan be- cause it can help them minimize building costs. Things to consider Open layouts are not for everyone. The same sense of space that oc- curs when walls are taken down may make rooms feel cavernous and less cozy, par- ticularly in homes with ample square footage. In addition, privacy can be hard to come by when all rooms feed into one another. When the kitchen is not separate from the family room space, that makes it easy for noise to compromise the area's comfort levels. There is no hiding from noise in an open floor plan, as sounds from voices, television shows and appliances tend to echo and blend to- gether. And if the home is a single-story layout, those noises from the main living areas also may carry to adjacent bedrooms. Smoke and smells are another thing to consider. When some- thing on the stove spills over, a small range hood will not be practical for clearing smoke from a large space. Though the aroma of freshly cooked food is enticing, it can make it hard for cooks to keep guests out of the kitchen. Open concept homes are popular, but home- owners should weigh the pluses and minuses to see if this trend is truly right for them. ContactSandyLek at slek@bayareanewsgroup.com for more information on how Bay Area News Group can help you advertise in digital and print. "I'vebeennonstop sincemarketingbegan..." "BayAreaNewsGroupwasextremelyhelpfuleverystepofthe way–creatinganeffectivead,advertorial,digitalcreationand placement.Wereceivedhigh-quality,high-caliberexposure andI'vebeennonstopsincemarketingbegan,settingupmany appointmentsthroughouttheBayArealikeneverbefore– EastBay,SouthBayandMarin!Manyhavemadeappointments toviewourConcordADUandenjoyedseeingtheADUinperson." Thank you for sharing your success Katherine Noe Anderson of Perpetual Homes. ~ Perpetual Homes H12 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section