Does Open Plan work with older kids/teenagers?

Alikay

We have a similar set up to yours, OP, a big lounge, dining room and sun room running the length of the house (46 feet). We've got it split into a main living room, smaller lounge/study and dining room by means of a couple of pairs of double doors. This means we do have the option of going open plan for parties and family gatherings but the rooms are a manageable size and versatile the rest of the time. Heating is no problem as each room has a radiator (living room also has a fire which we never use, but looks nice ).

The only minor drawback is that the middle room is a bit trickier to furnish what with 2 sets of doors, plus the one into the kitchen, but we have a big desk plus large shelving units and a sofa and somehow it works! We used double glazed safety glass doors into the sun room (actually an extension with proper tiled roof and windows/french doors to 2 sides) to keep maximum natural light, and solid doors into the living room for privacy when both sitting areas are being used for different things.

It probably sounds rubbish from my description, but everyone says what a lovely layout it is, and its worked well for our family with young adults and pre school children and their different needs.

Mojisola

We've got a kitchen and living room/diner all in one but there's no way I'd knock through into the sitting room.

If one of us wants to watch the TV and the other wants to read/listen to music or the radio/use the computer/make phone calls/etc, it's very useful having separate spaces.

sweaty_betty

I'm another one in favour of separate living spaces. We have just had a kitchen diner built onto the back of the house and were tempted to open it up into the back sitting room to make it L-shaped, but instead we've gone for french doors, which we can open to create the open effect, but still shut them and keep the rooms separate. We also have a front room that I'm hoping will be the quiet room while OH plays on the xbox loudly in the back!

Spendless

Mine is similar to how Alikay describes we have a living room that opens up to a kitchen and dining area and you walk through that to a conservatory which runs the width of the house.
All are sectioned off with double doors so you can just be in one part of the house or you can open up all the doors and have a complete open plan area which we do when entertaining.

sooty&sweep

Hi
We currently have a through lounge dining room & kitchen. We are planning to extend downstairs to create a family space made up of kitchen, dining & living area with a woodburner but also dividing off the lounge. We like being open plan but I dont want to have to watch kids TV or football & I also want an area we can easily keep warm when watching tv during the winter. Keeping a large open plan area warm so you can sit comfortably is hard work & expensive.
Jen

cr1mson

Thanks for all the replies. You have all given me a lot to think about.