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It depends on the house in question. If it's a normal or smaller house, then open floor plan can make it feel less claustrophobic. There are certainly negatives to open floor plan, but to me I'd rather one big space.
A bigger house can have the square footage to have a mixture of both.
Now if it's a really big house, then you can have big rooms that are separate. You will pay for it in maintenance and cleaning.
Big windows can also make a space feel a lot larger, but usually only during day light hours.
My almost 2100 sq ft. house is for the most part, open. It was built in 2003. The only room not open (beside the obvious beds and baths) is the kitchen. It is walled off. I'm glad as its the perfect floor plan for us. We aren't always cleaning the kitchen (I know we should) but if it was open, I would feel obligated to. Thats just something in my head I guess.
62 windows! We have 13. That's counting the garage and the glass block in the master bath.
I think I only have 15! Which is enough, believe me, for all kinds of light. My house is full of natural light. The windows are tall and I don't have curtains over most of them. The only rooms without lots of natural light (windows) are one bathroom and the laundry room.
One point being left out is you have to clean all of those windows.
I like windows, but like all design elements, moderation and function should play a part. Maybe just my cynicism, but some of today's designs look more like marketing. "Let's put a window here. It will look great in the picture!"
If your house has a mountain or water view, you may not mind cleaning all those windows.
Thankfully, where I live I can hire someone to clean my windows and it's super reasonable. YAY!!!!!
I don't have tons of windows but I do have very tall windows and some transoms so in order to clean the windows well I'd have to get up on a ladder, and ladders and I don't play well together.
I was shocked at how reasonable the prices to clean windows are but it's all in the tools. I don't have all the tools and don't want to go buy them either.
I can see the appeal of both; for me personally, I like my walls (and 8' ceilings).
The entrance/exit between living room and kitchen is wider than a door, but still there is a wall between the two and I love having the living room darker for streaming (and napping ) and then walking into a brighter kitchen.
I can see the appeal of both; for me personally, I like my walls (and 8' ceilings).
The entrance/exit between living room and kitchen is wider than a door, but still there is a wall between the two and I love having the living room darker for streaming (and napping ) and then walking into a brighter kitchen.
This is what I like. A clear divide but wider than your average door opening between the two. You can still communicate with those in the kitchen but you aren’t in the same room.
I think open floor plans gained popularity for two reasons:
* They are easier to film on TV
* They allow women to spend time with the family while still being restricted to the kitchen (it's called compromise)
I think open floor plans gained popularity for two reasons:
* They are easier to film on TV
* They allow women to spend time with the family while still being restricted to the kitchen (it's called compromise)
Sure. SO can fill my wine glass while he is cooking.
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) and then walking into a brighter kitchen. 
