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Sigh. There is no "one size fits all" ideal family home. And as families grow and then shrink again, changing over time, needs and tastes change. So thank goodness for all the variety out there - different bites for different likes and all that. It's tiring to hear so many proclamations about what's "better" and what's "worse." Buy what you like. Decorate how you like. It's just not that hard to figure out.
I live in an area that is all built out and filled with houses from the 50s and up.
One my favorite house things to do is watch the listings and find the houses where the people maintained the house, impeccably, for decades, and didn't go crazy constantly ripping out stuff and jamming new stuff in. The houses where you see the classic pink bathroom intact but maintained. And you'll see they often added beautiful things as well....like planting beautiful flowers and bushes, screened porches, that kind of thing. Things that meant they were in it for the long-haul.
I think that renovating can be good and fun and needed sometimes, but it's not what makes a home.
I also think you need to accept whatever decade your house is from. You can do all you want to a house, and go ahead if it makes you happy, but it will always be a ranch or a split or an 80s colonial, and that's ok. Why can't a house just be what it is?
Is this the only reason why you are against open floor plans? Because children don't stay children forever (yes...even after 40 years). I hate to see people pass up on an otherwise beautiful home simply because they aren't "kid proof".
We bought our house when our children were young. I like a one person kitchen. No reason to change. I stay out of the kitchen as much as I can. It doesn't take long to prepare a meal for two people. When our children come back home now that they are 40 and 50 something, we usually go out to eat or bring home a pizza or KFC. Life is more than food. Rachel Ray has nothing on me. I have been preparing 30 minute meals for years. I used to come home every day and see three hungry faces as I came through the door. 30 minutes later we were usually eating. You can't work that fast with any age person mulling around you. I worked Saturdays too and had one hour for lunch. I came home, cooked, ate and was back at work on time.
anyone who designs a home based on trends will be unhappy. these fluff pieces are for selling magazines. interior design is about problem solving and designing for the way people want to live in and use the space. decisions should be based on research, experience and knowledge not a design blog.
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