open plan living room and kitchen vs separate

sharp910sh

Hello. I am looking to rent a 1+ bed property with my partner to move closer to our jobs. The problem is currently we live in a place with a separate kitchen and living room. It seems like all the places I want to rent within out budget have a open plan layout.

This seems very annoying, as we like to cook and enjoy our living space. So we can have a open plan layout but the whole kitchen living room will smell of cooking and the noise of cooking and washing machine. There is also a extractor fan hood above the cooker. Which will we have to use to reduce the spreading of the smell. But as a result it will be difficult to watch TV. Due yo the noise.

Is it really that bad?? I have a family member who has a open plan living room kitchen but it smelled very bad.

I don't see why properties don't have a separate kitchen.

Marmaduke123

They don't have separate kitchen and living rooms because it takes more space to do that. I agree, a bad idea.

cliffsgirl

I live in an open plan kitchen Livingroom. The cooking smells aren't a problem with the extractor fan and opening a window. The washing machine does make a noise but I don't find it a problem you can hear the tv Ok. I like the open plan as you don't feel locked away cooking or whatever and you can chat to the other people in the living room.

Elfbert

I love our open plan flat. I wouldn't want to buy anywhere with separate rooms now. I hate being stuck in the kitchen when people are over for dinner or something.

We just open our balcony door/window to get rid of any cooking smells - although as we don't eat any meat or fish it's very rare anything does really smell.

The washing machine is slightly annoying, but we tend to stick it on the timer to run just before we get home from work. Lots of new builds put the washing machine in a cupboard in the hallway though, which is far more sensible. Dishwashers can be very quiet, so that wouldn't bother me (but we don't have one).

System

The 1 bed flat I lived with my ex had a separate kitchen.

I currently live in a flat with open plan kitchen and lounge.

My washing machine is quiet apart from when I do the towels. Use scented candles or an air purifier.

What annoys me are more developers are putting in poxy kitchenettes. Just four cupboards, an oven and space for a fridge freezer. Not even plumbing for a washer

franklee

I have lived in open plan and the only thing that bothered me was the washing machine noise. It would have been better to have a utility room for that. We used to run the dishwasher after watching TV so that wasn't so bad. I think open plan is often a ruse to save hallway space disguising that the property is small. If more than one person lives in the property it's nicer if there are two rooms so you don't all have to be doing the same thing, like watching the same TV programme etc.

sharp910sh

Yes the washing machine does seem like a big annoyance. As currently our washing machine (very cheap) is very loud, the whole house shakes. But this place does seem to have a modern washing machine.

What I do not understand is why all these new build style 1 bed or even 2 bed flats have a open plan living room. I could understand if it had a open plan kitchen and dining room, with a separate living room. But all open plan would annoy me. hmmm decisions!

dgtazzman

Having lived with both, it's all a matter of room sizes and layout, really. I prefer open plan as it's far more social, more interaction, you can talk to somebody while cooking if they are watching TV, bringing things to the table from the kitchen is easier without door to pass, etc., but you do need the room to make it work. If it's a small area all crammed together, then separate would be better, imo.

Cooking smells have never been an issue, anyway, if whatever you are cooking smells good, what's the problem anyway? If you burn something, you're going to make a stink anyway, open plan or not.

Just put the washing machine on at night when you go to bed, that's that problem solved.

Rollinghills

We lived in flat with an open plan kitchen / living room. Actually I think it was OK. For a flat of a given size, open plan maximises the use of the space. I'd rather have an open plan kitchen with lots of cupboards along the wall rather than a tiny one with no space. Or a decent kitchen but a very small living room. Now we are buying a house and I want a separate but *big* kitchen where we can eat, people can come, sit and chat etc.

Everyone talks about the washing machine but with 2 people in the household how often do you wash? Before we had a child I did 2 washes a week as a maximum, you put them on timer while you're at work, over the weekend etc. Not an issue for me.

bouicca21

Can't stand open plan unless there is a separate living room. Fish is delicious but the smell lingers and is not ok. Yes an extractor fan copes with it but I've never had one that didn't sound like a plane taking off, nor do I want to listen to my dishwasher or washing machine.

fairy_lights

I absolutely hate open plan kitchen living rooms, I understand that in a small 1 bedroom flat its often all there's space for but that doesn't make me dislike them any less. I hate having all the dirty dishes and kitchen mess on display when you're trying to relax, and the extractor fans in flats I've lived in have never been effective. Garlic prawns might smell delicious when you're cooking them but you don't want that smell hanging round the next day!