All new homes by Redrow are designed to offer you the perfect mix of open plan areas – social spaces that are designed to be the lively hub of your family home – and separate rooms that are more suitable for quieter relaxation, contemplation, home working and watching TV.
So, what's the big deal about open plan homes? We take a look at how the home has evolved to suit this trend and why it’s so popular.
The history of the open plan living concept
In order to truly understand the modern popularity of open plan living, we need to take a little trip back in time.
In the Victorian era, houses were made up of several, separate rooms, all with a distinct purpose. Kitchen, entertainment spaces and dining rooms or ‘parlours’ were all kept apart, reflecting a more formal way of living. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that open plan living came along. American architect Frank Lloyd Wright pioneered a movement of combining rooms to create a more flowing space.
The concept of continuous, combined spaces is more popular than ever today. Some people choose to knock walls through in older properties - though there is a very real question of whether renovating is really worth it, with the risk of injury and mounting DIY costs.
Open plan homes by Redrow
There is an easier way to achieve open plan living, of course. Buy a new build home.
From three-bedroom homes ideal for couples to family-friendly five-bedroom houses, our entire Heritage Collection is built around the core principles of open plan living. The majority have utility rooms and smart storage solutions to keep the space looking clean and spacious, something that’s harder to replicate when renovating a second-hand home.
Our Heritage Collection homes are all configured around the central hub of an open plan dining and kitchen area, often with a relaxed family area too, which features sofas and a TV. Our customers tell us that often it’s this part of the home where they spend the most time together. And, while most of our homes have a separate lounge and even additional rooms for use as a home office or playroom, the fun tends to happen in the open plan spaces, where there’s room to spread out and be together. Our ‘all purpose’ kitchen/dining/family rooms usually have the added benefit of patio doors out to the garden, which can be thrown open in the warmer months to create a seamless transition between your inside and outside living spaces.
Alysha Alli, head of Redrow’s in-house interior design team, says: “Our homes are designed to flow from one room to another from the moment you step through the door. It’s important to keep your work and home life apart if you can; so being able to close the door on work if you're working from home - or at least tuck your working space away – and devote time, space and energy to family is key to getting the balance just right.
Benefits of open plan living
One of the major benefits of open plan living is how it encourages sociable living and gives your home a real hub. Gone are the days of someone cooking dinner in the kitchen, while the kids are in the lounge before all sitting in the dining room to eat. Open plan means this can happen together.
Creating a larger space isn't the only reason people like this way of living. Open plan layout often means connecting the indoors with the outdoors. At Redrow, all our homes have either french or bi-fold doors which create a sense of connection with the garden, an increasingly important area to many home buyers. This also had the added benefit of letting much more natural light into the home.
While it sounds great, some do have concerns about this way of living, especially about heating and privacy. Fortunately, homes in our Heritage Collection can help with both. Underfloor heating means you don’t have to worry about your big space being cold and separate living areas give you a sense of retreat when you need it.
Still not sure if open plan living is for you? Why not take a virtual tour of The Henley , one of our most popular four-bedroom homes.
If you’d rather experience the open space in person, search for your nearest Redrow development and book an appointment to explore our show homes.
