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Whether you're buying off a developer's plan or purchasing an untouched grandparent special in the heart of downtown, being pro or con about walls is currently a decorating hot topic.
A decade ago, we were all Mellencamping our walls. The kitchen/dining room walls came tumblin' down, the hallway/living room walls came crumblin' down and the tiny vestibule made way for wide-open spaces.
But these days, having separate areas to entertain in, retreat to and close off is becoming more popular, and it seems that one-room living is passé.
If you live in a loft, it's perfect. Light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, unobstructed views of the city, cement floors throughout and sleek furnishings to match -- it all works brilliantly.
But let's get real. If you're squished into a semi-detached home with a couple of toddlers, a shaggy dog, a whack of winter coats, toys galore and nowhere to put your husband's authentic Maple Leaf Gardens "red seats" chair, except in your romantic-themed first floor, you've got problems.
That said, I must confess my starter home has an open-concept living/dining room, and although I'd love a bigger house with "real" rooms, mine does work.
Here's why: I have an entrance where an old, charming glass door barricades winter coats, mucky boots and wet pets from the living space. The previous owner (who did the one-room reno) added a circular column (air vent) in the middle of the room that makes a dramatic dividing statement between the living and dining room areas. And apart from an extra-wide door space, my kitchen is enclosed and not visible to those sitting at the table or relaxing on the couch. The success of my layout is that it's not a true all-in-one space because certain areas are defined.
Blowing out the walls can be the biggest expense for a new buyer, so before you send out invitations to your sledgehammer party, here are some things to consider. Having private rooms allows you to be more diverse and less demanding with your decor. Your living room can be modern with leather furniture, neutral palettes and black accents, while your dining room can be bohemian chic.
Remember this: Two small rooms equal two different looks. One big room equals one giant look. And one look usually means starting from scratch decor-wise, so that the dining room table works with the living room couch and the hallway sconces. Not so easy to do all at once, unless you've got an unlimited budget and access to Sarah Richardson's Rolodex. And you better like your new one-room look, because changing your mind a year later will cost you big-time.
Wide-open spaces also mean fewer furniture placement options and a more casual approach to your decor.
My girlfriend just bought a house and blasted away all the walls on the first floor. But just days before she was set to drywall the perimeter, she thought better of it and decided to add a few half-walls and entranceways so she could have a backdrop for paintings, hutches and writing tables.
When she assessed her bulging collection of household possessions, she realized a true open-concept space would leave her with few decorating options. Now her main floor is spacious but still has good house flow because she's created a traditional entrance and a cluster of openings so there are barriers between the kitchen, dining and living rooms.
Mix and match extra-wide door frames with half walls are a good compromise and a more current approach to opening up your space.
Another knock against one-room living is it isn't the best option for clutter hounds. Truth is, everything is on display, so anything that you don't want your friends and family to see needs an assigned spot in a basket, box or bin. My sister's tactic to living open-concept with young boys was to give each member of the family a basket that sits on a shelf at the entryway. Keys, mail, rubber balls and toys go into the basket when not in use, and once a week everyone has to find a proper home for their knickknacks. The flip side is that separate rooms allow you to shut the door on clutter.
Considering that a decade ago, practically every homeowner knocked down the walls of their starter semis, an untouched, fully walled home is hard to find. So don't stress if you happen to purchase an open-concept starter -- there are a few things you can do.
Build a half-wall beside the front door so you create a formal entrance. Use your furniture to define spaces. A couch with a console table behind it can create a perfect room divider between two entertaining areas.
And never decorate around the perimeter of one great space. Create many groupings and vignettes so the floor plan is more visually interesting.
And hang tight, because the truth is, open-concept may be out right now, but give it a few years -- it's just bound to come back in.
--CanWest News Service
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