Separate dining room or knock through?

gettingtheresometime

Is the wall a load bearing wall and the cost of ensuring the house doesn't fall down outweigh the potential benefits?


Personally I don't like the combined dinning room / kitchen setup

westernpromise

phill99 wrote: »

The reality is YOU live in the house and have to enjoy the space. Do whatever is right for you, not what some unknown potential purchaser may or not want at an unknown time in the future.

Agree 100%.

Arrange the house as you like. This is the best guarantee someone else will.

It applies to classic cars too. Don't buy one because you think it'll appreciate. Buy it because you like it. If you do, others will too and so it'll appreciate; and if it doesn't, at least you like it.

PasturesNew

Don't forget - there are still a lot of "daft headed" people that'll want/dismiss a house simply because they like (or not) the sofa in the pictures

EssexGirl

casper_g wrote: »

Many people like a kitchen-dining room, but others prefer separate reception rooms (e.g. buyers from cultures that prefer separate social spaces for women and men, or student landlords who want to maximise the number of bedrooms).

Or people like us who have lived open plan for many years and our next property will have doors downstairs to be able to create cosy living spaces.

Morata_

Cheers all. Totally agree with the “you live in the house, how do you like it” comment!

We both like the separate reception rooms so will stick. It might not be the best use of the space but we need only worry about what we like rather than adding value!

We brought last May and intend to be here for around 4 years, once my partner degree finishes, so nothing imminent.

hazyjo

Could always put large doors in for a bit of both. I've put something like this in between my lounge and dining room. Mine are completely solid, panelled wood though. We mainly use it as two rooms as we do or watch different things, and use as two rooms if I have friends over, but open them up at night when we're sitting together or if we have family or mutual friends over where we're all sitting together.

https://www.doorsofdistinction.co.uk/interior_doors/images-pairs-divider_doors/images_large/freefold-white-glass-doors.jpg

(Didn't use that company - so not recommending)

I agree with the above in that you should do what's right for you. When you do sell, you will never please all viewers anyway. We love having the option of 'both'. Best thing we did to the house!

Also don't forget, these preferred styles come in and out of fashion. It was very 70s to have a thru-lounge. 80s/90s was more about separate dining rooms, and it all changed again to be kitchen-diners later on. Who knows what will be in fashion in another ten or so years' time.

TBagpuss

Iagree with previous posters.
Do it f you would prefer it open plan (unless you are about to sell)
Don't do it f you prefer separate rooms.

It's unlikely that it would alter thevalue as it is down to people's pesonal preferences.

AnotherJoe

Do what you want for you.
Years ago i sold a house with a kitchen diner and all he comments were "oh i woudlnt want that I want separate".
15 years later on TV shows everyone is knocking through and open plan is all the rage since " a kitchen diner is much more convenient you can cook and watch the kids" etc.
Give it another 10 and it will be change back.
I doubt it will add value since its trivially easy to do so dont think you can spend five hundred and make five thousand. If i was selling I certainly wouldnt do it for the sake of the sale since sods law says your best prospect for a buyer will want it how it was before.