Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I was always thinking "open" open everything up because i am always in the kitchen and feel left out of the party when we have one. In our apartment everyone stood in the kitchen when having parties to talk/mingle/eat but we had a partially wall up separating the living room where some people sat down to watch tv or have a separate convo. Our electrician quested my thoughts on opening the kitchen up because he had done it and said he hated it. He reminded me at thanksgiving in our apartment people were in my way in the kitchen and i chased them to the living room - if i didn't have that partial wall they would be still bothering me and watching me clean dirty dishes.

I am still very undecided but i have time but figured to throw this up here.

Message edited 1/25/2010 1:46:15 PM.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I like half walls with nice countertops where people can set things down or lean on but that are not open entirely. I think they call them pony walls??

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

We have an l-shaped living and dining room. The wall between the kitchen and dining room is cut out and has a shelf. I like this because I can be in the kitchen and see what's going on in the dining room and can hear what's going on in the living room.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I have a completely open kitchen/dining/living room in my apartment and I hate it for large sit down dinners like Thanksgiving. I hate that everyone can see the dirty pots/pans dishes and I hate that I don't have any privacy when I want to meltdown when the turkey is done 2 hours early. Having it somewhat open is fine but completely open is def. a no no for me!

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

DW is the chef in the house, and she wants a little privacy when she's working in there. I like it a little open, but definitely not wide open to everything. When we do the kitchen this year, we're going to just have a large doorway (about 2 doors width), so it doesn't seem totally closed off, but it isn't open, either.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I love how open our floor plan is. I enjoy it for Christmas when we have about 16 people over. Since we have the large island, that is my half wall I guess. Yes everyone can see into the kitchen, but I don't really care. My family is there to help out also so I don't miss anything that is going on. If I had a larger wideline Hi-Ranch, I might have left some sort of a wall up though. What does your look like now? You have pics?

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

i love the open floor plan and how it looks. my sister just remodeled her house and has an open floor plan and it looks great and flows well

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

Having lived with my parents in their partially closed off kitchen and now in my own home where it's completely open - I DEF prefer completely open.

It's AWESOME when entertaining.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

My kitchen was closed off for the first 18 years we lived in our house. Four years ago we opened the wall up between the kitchen and the dining room and have lower cabinets with a counter top there with stools. I love it! I wish we had done it so much sooner. It makes a small area seem so much larger.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

ours is totally open, and I love it. dh designed our home, and had it built. there are some things I wish he had done, but I love our home. especially are floor plan.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I like it partially open, like with a breakfast bar separating a kitchen/den and a wide doorway to the dining room.

It keeps non-cookers out of the kitchen but still accessible to talk, and you can stay involved in what's going on in the other rooms.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I voted OTHER.

I can't say just one layout/design appeals to me more than another. They all have their pros and cons. Sometimes during the holidays I wish I could close off the kitchen completely to keep guests out while I prepare things. Other times I wish it was more open because I find people like to gather and socialize in there while I'm preparing the foods. Then there are times when I wish there was a half wall/bar that divided the kitchen and family room because then I could socialize without guests being in my way.

The only thing I want is a bigger kitchen.

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

Re: Kitchens - what do u prefer?

I have an open kitchen which opens to the family room. The dining room is off the kitchen through a door way.