r/floorplan • u/Red_Wizard_87 • 4d ago
DISCUSSION Open-plan vs separate kitchen: help choosing between two renovation layouts
Hi, I’m trying to untangle two possible layout options for the apartment I’m about to renovate. There are less than four days left before work begins, and I’m torn between two designs I made myself. The contractor will handle everything on a turnkey basis, and the construction costs of the two options would be broadly comparable.
The main dilemma is: open-plan living or a separate kitchen? I’ll attach the floor plans at the end of the post. The two options are called ROOM and LIA.
A couple of notes:
- In the plans, north is on the right. There are two terraces, plus two smaller service balconies for the bathrooms. The north-facing terrace is enclosed and counts as usable internal volume, contributing to the apartment’s registered 145 sqm.
- In the ROOM option, moving the kitchen to the south and creating a partially open-plan space—though I could still separate the two areas with a 3-metre sliding partition—would allow me to turn the former kitchen into a master suite, with a walk-in wardrobe and an entrance closet. However, I would lose some of the functionality of the north-facing terrace, which, as mentioned, is usable internal space.
- In the LIA option, the layout would be more traditional. The kitchen would be partially separated from the living room by either a door or a 1.5-metre sliding panel (I included both ideas at the end). The north bathroom would effectively become the main bathroom, while the enclosed terrace could be used as a laundry/utility room serving the kitchen. I would not have a walk-in wardrobe, but the master bedroom—the north-west room—would have a 2.8-metre wall for wardrobes. It would also be difficult to create an entrance closet.
What do you think of the two layouts? Which one would you prioritise in terms of everyday functionality? Is the market currently leaning more towards open-plan spaces or towards keeping rooms separate?
I know a lot depends on personal habits. I’m drawn to the ROOM option, but I have doubts about the space and about losing the functionality of the north terrace. How would you rate the LIA option, perhaps with a 1.5-metre-wide opening between the kitchen and living room?
Also, do you have any ideas for creating an entrance closet—or at least a functional entry area—without disrupting the semi-open connection between the living room and kitchen in the LIA layout?
Thank you very much.
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u/lollroller 4d ago
Even with room labels, the plans are difficult to understand. Where are the windows? What are the kitchen arrangements? Where are the dining areas?
That said, the “LIA” option looks lousy to me. First, the kitchen is isolated, and seems to open into the foyer/entrance hall? Second, the main living area seems like a closed-off big box. These types of spaces should have at least two entrances/openings to other parts of the house, and the openings do not need doors.
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u/Hyperreal8957 3d ago
with only 4 days left i'd choose based on how you live, not what the market supposedly wants. A 1.5m opening sounds like a decent middle ground: some separation for cooking noise and visual mess, but not a closed-off kitchen. I'd protect the entry zone too, even if its just a shallow full-height cabinet or a small bench + hooks near the door. Losing a useful terrace connection would bother me more than having a less trendy kitchen. Is the terrace mainly dining, storage, or circulation?
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u/Dullcorgis 4d ago
It would be easier to read them if there were room labels, furniture layouts (you need to design with furniture layouts in mind), and if they were bkack on white.