Die-hard fans of home improvement channels know that one of the first things people do when they want to remodel a home or just make a recently purchased home their own is knock down some walls. The trend of creating one or more large rooms that integrate multiple rooms into a single living space has been growing for years and it seems that the practicality and flexibility of this design is just too hard to resist. Families love them because they promote interaction, eliminating the walls that would typically separate family members and restrict communication. Other homeowners enjoy the ability to rearrange furniture and add seating to entertain their guests in style and comfort. However, is an open floor plan right for you? Let’s unmask some of the pros and cons so you can decide which floor plan reflects your luxury living lifestyle.
Social Time vs Quiet Time
The idea behind an open floor plan is that there are no walls in the main living area restricting interaction between the members of a household. The dishwasher of the family can still carry on a conversation with everyone while making sure the suds are flowing and the dishes are clean since the kitchen overlooks the great room or family room. The down side to this is that if someone is watching television or reading a book and not carrying on a conversation, the clinking and clanking from those pots and pans may interfere with their relaxation.
Entertaining: Is It For You?
The host/hostess will certainly admire the ease of entertaining in an open floor plan home if they take a hands-on approach to entertaining. Without the separation, the host can oversee everyone and ensure their needs are being met while tending to all of the little details in the kitchen. If they are hosting a large party, guests will feel more at ease with a vast open space in which to move around as they mingle with other attendees. Of course, if you prefer the mess to stay in the kitchen and out of the sight of your guests, this may not work for you unless you have a catering kitchen at your disposal (check out our Cordoba model to see what we mean).
Let’s Shed Some Light
One of the best advantages of an open floor plan is the natural light and breezes that can flow through the open home if your doors are open. Take a breath of fresh air while the sunlight warms your face or open your eyes to appreciate the beauty of your backyard view from multiple areas of your home. Unless you’re an expensive painting – or just own one – you can certainly appreciate the wonder of natural light.
Still can’t decide if an open floor plan is right for you? Take a look at these luxury custom homes in Naples, FL and Sarasota, FL to see what style is more appealing.
Examples of Open Floor Plans
Girona
The Girona is one of our most popular villa floor plans, ranging from 3,518 to 3,857 A/C square feet and 4,804 to 5,812 total square feet. The key to the Girona’s design is the spacious great room nestled between the dining area and kitchen. This direct access offers an open space with a view: The great room has wall to wall sliding glass doors that open up to the outdoor living area and your amazing view.
Delfina
The Delfina is a four bedroom plus den, four and one half bathroom single family home that offers the perfect space for entertaining. It comes ideally equipped with a large family room that resides directly next to a gorgeous kitchen and living room, all of which open up to the outdoor living area or verandah. Food and relaxation come together for some fun in the optional, adjoining game room.
Claiborne
The Claiborne is designed to accommodate from 3 to 4 bedrooms, and 3 and one half to 4 and one half baths with overall dimensions ranging in size from 4,457 to 5,354 A/C square feet and 5,653 to 7,118 total square feet. This large single-family home combines a great room, kitchen, and family room to create an open, easy living layout for families and guests alike. The Claiborne’s great room and family room open up to allow for full enjoyment of our Southwest Florida weather.
Examples of Closed Floor Plans
Traviata
The Traviata is one of the larger Reserve Collection homes with more than 3,700 sq. ft. under air and 5,600 sq. ft. of total area. The four-bedroom, four and one-half bath home features a family room and living room that are separated by a kitchen with walls that create three distinct rooms for more privacy. One of the more appealing aspects of this floor plan is that large sliding doors in the family room and living room allow homeowners to open up their home to the lanai and summer kitchen so you can still take in our beautiful weather and your backyard view.
Iliana
The Iliana floor plan features a clear separation of space with a wall, powder room, and pantry between the formal living room and dining room. Even the dining room is set away from the formal living room to create a division of the two areas. The kitchen, however, does overlook the family room and breakfast nook to encourage interaction between family members, making this floor plan a good compromise between the open and closed debate. Aside from the carefully crafted main living area, the Iliana has multiple design options that can accommodate three to four bedrooms and three-and-one-half baths to five-and-one-half baths in 4,262 to 4,686 A/C square feet of living space. Other features include a study, two-car garage, and many luxury upgrades.
Find the open floor plan that’s right for you by taking a look at Our Homes or scheduling your private tour of any London Bay Homes models in our award-winning communities.
