Why do proporty developers think this is a good idea?
Discussion
"This" being...
My issues is the number of new build properties where the "kitchen" is some units stuck on the wall of the lounge.
The one in this image is actually quite a large room overall, so what's wrong with sticking even a breakfast bar in there to separate the kitchen from the rest of the room?
This isn't actually the worst example, often it's just a rectangular room with the units on one wall.
Obviously it saves on construction costs if you don't have a wal between kitchen and main room... and you can also claim the single room is larger but it just looks odd. Often the "kitchen" includes a washing machine and / or dishwasher which obviously make a noise. You wouldn't put a washing machine in the lounge but that's effectively what this is.
My issues is the number of new build properties where the "kitchen" is some units stuck on the wall of the lounge.
The one in this image is actually quite a large room overall, so what's wrong with sticking even a breakfast bar in there to separate the kitchen from the rest of the room?
This isn't actually the worst example, often it's just a rectangular room with the units on one wall.
Obviously it saves on construction costs if you don't have a wal between kitchen and main room... and you can also claim the single room is larger but it just looks odd. Often the "kitchen" includes a washing machine and / or dishwasher which obviously make a noise. You wouldn't put a washing machine in the lounge but that's effectively what this is.
I've been looking at new build houses that suit my intended lifestyle. My mate has a new Charles Church which has a nice kitchen with a family room area which I love. Basically the width of the house at the back is a kitchen and living area but they have a seperate lounge which works well. I went to look at a few more modest new builds and I can't believe just how small they were. The layout of the rooms is fine but most new builds seem to have rooms that are all a quarter to half size too small. Don't even get me started on a double bedroom. If you can fit a double bed but can't close the door or put durniture in then it's not a double!
I've no idea why you'd want a kitchen as part of your main lounge though. Must be the new thing to make houses as small and impractical as possible whilst maintaining the biggest profit margin. Not for me.
I've no idea why you'd want a kitchen as part of your main lounge though. Must be the new thing to make houses as small and impractical as possible whilst maintaining the biggest profit margin. Not for me.
strudel said:
You'd be surprised how many people only need an oven or microwave to cook, because everything is prepared from the supermarket. Houses are just too small now, compare a modern house to that of one built in the 70s or 30s.
I have a house built in the late 30s, and it's pretty bloody tiny. Just saying. General population growth combined with more people wanting their own home (as opposed to living with family until marriage and then creating their own family) means that there needs to be more smaller houses and this is a consequence of that.
I'd hazard a guess that the idea of a dining room, study or spare bedroom is already a thing of the past in most new builds and a kitchen rather then kitchenette in the lounge is already join that list for many.
I expect that it won't be long before single garages are being converted into studio apartments.
I'd hazard a guess that the idea of a dining room, study or spare bedroom is already a thing of the past in most new builds and a kitchen rather then kitchenette in the lounge is already join that list for many.
I expect that it won't be long before single garages are being converted into studio apartments.
Land for new development is artificially scarce and people are sufficiently desperate that they'll buy fundamentally badly designed property. All the new devs I've seen have stupidly pokey rooms, houses far too tightly packed, inadequate parking, poor landscaping of communal areas and virtually nonexistent gardens. I suspect in a few years we'll be demolishing them just as enthusiastically as we knock down 60s tower blocks now.
ATG said:
Land for new development is artificially scarce and people are sufficiently desperate that they'll buy fundamentally badly designed property. All the new devs I've seen have stupidly pokey rooms, houses far too tightly packed, inadequate parking, poor landscaping of communal areas and virtually nonexistent gardens. I suspect in a few years we'll be demolishing them just as enthusiastically as we knock down 60s tower blocks now.
One of the houses I went to see was a 4 bed detatched with a drive that would only take a small car and nowhere else to park another car outside the house. Surely most people who buy a 4 bed house will have more than one car!We looked at about 35 houses when we bought our first house at the start of last year. I was amazed at the size differences for similar money.
We ended up with a 4 bed detached house with: Den (converted garage), large sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, w/c and conservatory - so 5 rooms downstairs.
We looked at plenty of houses for more money with just a kitchen/diner and sitting room.
New builds were ruled out fairly early on due to being extremely built up and not very big.
We ended up with a 4 bed detached house with: Den (converted garage), large sitting room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, w/c and conservatory - so 5 rooms downstairs.
We looked at plenty of houses for more money with just a kitchen/diner and sitting room.
New builds were ruled out fairly early on due to being extremely built up and not very big.
Chris Type R said:
strudel said:
You'd be surprised how many people only need an oven or microwave to cook, because everything is prepared from the supermarket. Houses are just too small now, compare a modern house to that of one built in the 70s or 30s.
I have a house built in the late 30s, and it's pretty bloody tiny. Just saying. 
toon10 said:
I've no idea why you'd want a kitchen as part of your main lounge though. Must be the new thing to make houses as small and impractical as possible whilst maintaining the biggest profit margin. Not for me.
Apparently because it means you can socialise while cooking a meal for your guests. An activity which happens on approximately 5% of our evenings but is apparently more important to my dearly beloved than being able to hear yourself think on the other 95% of days when you are sitting in the lounge and the washer is performing its spin cycle. 
Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 5th August 13:39
budgie smuggler said:
Apparently because it means you can socialise while cooking a meal for your guests. An activity which happens on approximately 5% of our evenings but is apparently more important to my dearly beloved than being able to hear yourself think on the other 95% of days when you are sitting in the lounge and the washer is performing its spin cycle which.
Exactly what I was about to say. I had a flat with the same set up, sat watching a film and half way through you had to pause it to let the washing machine do its thing !! Edited by sunnygym on Tuesday 5th August 13:43
I used to have a kitchen/lounge like that and the whole flat used to smell of food when we were cooking, it was awful. But then if the kitechen is tiny you don't want to feel claustrophobic.
Ideally I'd live in one of these http://www.sothebysrealty.co.uk/forsaleoffice/Canf... just been having a look. I reckon I could live with a pool and a hot tub for when I get bored of the jacuzzi...
Ideally I'd live in one of these http://www.sothebysrealty.co.uk/forsaleoffice/Canf... just been having a look. I reckon I could live with a pool and a hot tub for when I get bored of the jacuzzi...
It's what some people want.
My cousin is an air hostess and lives alone in a 2 bed flat.
She's just remodelled her flat and has removed the breakfast bar and cupboards to form something very similar to your pic - she uses the room 10x more as a lounge so wanted the space.
She only turns the washing machine on when she's not using the room.
However I agree with you and personally would want some degree of separation.
My cousin is an air hostess and lives alone in a 2 bed flat.
She's just remodelled her flat and has removed the breakfast bar and cupboards to form something very similar to your pic - she uses the room 10x more as a lounge so wanted the space.
She only turns the washing machine on when she's not using the room.
However I agree with you and personally would want some degree of separation.
Open-plan is a great way to live....if it suits you. We moved from a Victorian house with separate lounge, dining room and kitchen because it wasn't practical to convert it.
Now we have a large open-plan area combining all three and absolutely love it. Using more of your living space, more of the time combined with the social aspect and the lovely spacious feel is perfect for us.
I can see that it wouldn't suit everyone, people with small children springs to mind and we do have a separate utility room which helps.
Some people would hate it....we love it!
Now we have a large open-plan area combining all three and absolutely love it. Using more of your living space, more of the time combined with the social aspect and the lovely spacious feel is perfect for us.
I can see that it wouldn't suit everyone, people with small children springs to mind and we do have a separate utility room which helps.
Some people would hate it....we love it!
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