The ONE thing that annoys the crap outta me is absolutely EVERYONE extolling the virtues of the "open concept" main floor. They go into a perfectly nice Victorian house and immediately start ripping out walls so you can see everywhere on the main floor from the kitchen and vice versa. (ESPECIALLY on Flipping Boston)
Why in the world would you want that? Kitchens were enclosed from the rest of the house for a reason!
Ever boiled cabbage? Or fried fish? Do you seriously want guests to your home to be greeted with those smells when they walk in your front door?
Also, the heat produced by the kitchen, while providing welcome warmth in the winter, can make the rest of the house unbearable in the summer!
Remember Dutch Doors?
Great idea, huh? Rarely used anymore....although I plan to have one in my kitchen!
Both my grandmothers had kitchens that had doors that shut. And doors to the outside so cooking smells and heat would not be trapped in the house. No dutch doors, sadly.But they had screen doors, so the dogs couldn't run in (and I couldn't run out!).Also, it always seemed a bit magical to me as a child, when, at holiday dinners or other special occasions, the kitchen door would swing open and out would come the turkey or ham or birthday cake in all it's splendor!
So, I am looking for a house that is decidedly NOT "Open Concept", or, if is, some place where I can put some walls back up!
WELL i HAVE ANOTHER OLDIE FOR YOU TO USE - working Exterior window shutters. Yes they were originally used manly for light control, privacy, and protection from the elements, but, it has since been confirmed that they help keep down the temp in summer by stopping the direct sun light from heating the interior of the house.
ReplyDeleteMy great-grandmother's house had *pocket* shutters. Similar to pocket door, they slid into the wall and could be pulled out easily to shut out light, cold, etc. Easier to close quickly than exterior shutters! Of course, her house was built in the 1700s and the shutters were also there to protect against Indian attacks!
DeleteI like the open floor plan in some homes,it really depends for me on the house & the layout. A small a frame is much more suited to an open floor plan where an old Victorian or ranch house would be mutilated. I like my grandma's kitchen, she had shutters all along the kitchen wall so she could open them to talk to guests & then close them when she was in the busiest part of cooking.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're happier though, making plans & knowing things are moving along, happy for you :)
I'm with you Lamb, no open concept for me either. And I had forgotten about Dutch Doors, I'll have to figure out where I can put one when we remodel the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE dutch doors! If we ever get another front door (hopefully soon), I want to splurge and get a dutch.
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