I removed the wall between my tiny kitchen and the dining room. Best thing I ever did but I did have the tiniest kitchen ever! Although open plan is nice in some ways, it’s still nice to have another separate snug/living room for cosy tv viewing etc if there’s space. I find the complete open plan idea a bit cold and lacking cosiness, but that’s just me.

We opened up a long galley kitchen into the dining room, love it!! We do have 2 other living rooms. I wouldn't open up if you don't have separate living room. Not sure of significance of your pics? Only difference is a stool pretty much?

It's nice to have both options like Siobhan. I've always had open plan kitchens and I love it. It's much more social although you cannot close the door on a mess. You have to work a bit harder to keep it tidy. I can see how teenagers would need a space of their own. My sister has broken plan with a large tv room and another sitting room on another side of the house. This works very well for my niece as she is at Uni for when she at is home and wants to invite friends round.

Hi there! I totally understand the dilemma—finding the right balance between open and closed spaces can be tricky, especially with teens in the house who prefer privacy.

One option to consider is a flexible design with sliding or glass doors. This approach allows you to open up the kitchen when you want a more spacious, connected feel, ideal for family gatherings or entertaining. When more privacy or quiet is needed, you can easily close it off. Glass doors also keep the space light and open, so it won’t feel too confined.

This kind of layout gives you the best of both worlds, and if you ever decide to commit to a fully open or closed kitchen in the future, it's easier to adjust. A flexible design can adapt with you over time, which might be the ideal compromise. Hope this helps!

@ellie we have a small office/den room which is occasionally used but not often by the teenagers.

Sorry I realised I asked two different questions at the same time.

the significance of the pics is that one is fitting within the confines of the existing room therefore to add a wall or door back in future would be possible. The other design extends slightly into the current living room so closing it back up would not be possible in future.

What I guess I’m asking is, be bold and go for it, or be more cautious and use a design that gives future options.

I’m probably overthinking it!

I would go for it. I am really not keen on separate kitchens at all now. I cannot see kitchen/diner type arrangements going out of style for a long time if at all. There are so many floorplan dilemma's on this forum for people wanting to remove a wall to turn a separate kitchen into a kitchen diner. My only caveat would be to try and choose quiet appliances like the dishwasher, extractor and washing machine if you do not have a separate utility. Look for quietmark approved when selecting these.

Hi everyone ! i would like some help please ! i have a big sitting room , iam having exdension done to my utilety romm which it be open plan kitchen dinning and small sitting area with tv , i will have my old kitchen in to utilety room , i will have a coridor going in to my kitchen as pasding utilety room ( utilety room will have dliding door ) i was thinking to put glass sliding door to go kitchen which makes it look bigger , 1 qestion is do i put a wood or glass door to my sitying room so i will have exess to open plan kitchen or not ? cant make my minrd up