Does Open Plan work with older kids/teenagers?

cr1mson

Looking to redo our kitchen, add a utility and an extra room at back of house. Hubby keen to go very open plan (apart from utility) so basically downstairs would be all open plan apart from hallway, wc and utility.

I'm not sure how that would work as kids get older not to mention heating issues. We currently have a lounge/diner that runs the whole length of house and would look to add sun/garden room on end so would be even longer and knock wall between kitchen and lounge/diner.

Hopefully that makes sense!

fireyfirenze

not quite sure what you mean about it working with teenagers...do they currently have a room downstairs where they can have their own space and you're planning to take that away, or...?

Not sure about heating but my house is sort of open plan, living room and dining room together and an arch to the kitchen and it's always cold in winter, I ended up hanging a thick curtain over the arch to the kitchen in winter last year to try and keep some warmth in.

traleegirl

We have open plan kitchen/diner/living room and I love it! We have four teenagers and even though we do have another large living room for them they never use it....if they don't want to sit with us they tend to go to their rooms.
As for heating, we have a really good wood burner and only in extreme cold do we need to have the central heating going as well.

peachyprice

Can't quite see what you mean about it working or not with teenagers either. And surely you wouldn't base the layout of your whole house that you're going to be in for decades for the convenience/inconvenience of teenagers who are going to up an leave eventually?

Dunroamin

I think it's much better to leave some separate areas, particularly with teenagers who may want to have their friends round - even for just a couple it's good to have different areas for different activities.

You'll only end up putting all the walls back when the fashion changes in a few years.

Lunar_Eclipse

I'd say it's personal preference whether it works or not.

It wouldn't be our choice with our children, because I want them to be able to invite a group of friends round on Fri/Sat nights and hang out with them without DH & I being there too (or hiding in our bedroom for the evening.) I also want them to feel our house is a safe and welcoming place for them to snog their first boyfriends, without going to bedrooms, which I feel less comfortable with.

I think a large informal open plan area with another reception room would be ideal though. Also, I second the wood burner recommendation, although they are very expensive to run.

Lunar_Eclipse

peachyprice wrote: »

And surely you wouldn't base the layout of your whole house that you're going to be in for decades for the convenience/inconvenience of teenagers who are going to up an leave eventually?

We don't know she'll be there for decades though.

I think you hit the nail on the head by saying they will leave eventually, because whilst the years do fly by, the days can be long and painful with teenagers. I therefore think it's important for everyone's sanity that they/you have a smaller area to retreat to, in addition to the open plan area.

Lunar_Eclipse

Also, does anyone play musical instruments? We have guitar and piano players in our house; gets creative/noisy sometimes!

Counting_Pennies_2

I think it is nice to have a separate space, so if anyone in the household wants to watch tv and others don't that everyone can have their own choice.

Also if teens want to bring back a friend of the opposite sex, I think it is good for them to remain on the ground floor when of a young impressionable age

fluffnutter

Provided you factor in a cage somewhere for the kids, yeah, I think open plan can work.

DigForVictory

+1 for a distinct but still pubic space for teens. They're great fun, but when playing a full weekend game of Risk, I 'd rather all the playing pieces (& uplifted voices) were confined to one room.