i like open concept. my space is not large, so open makes it seem larger.

We kind of have a half open kitchen w/dining area. I would like to take down the wall between the kitchen/livingroom, but there is a fireplace in that wall. It is also where the TV is, and would mean that we would have two less walls and the wallspace would be gone off of those two walls, so maybe it is not such a good idea...

Interesting discussion- I thought I wanted an open plan until I realized all the wallspace that we would lose...

Okay... some of these comments are good news to me! My little kitchen is almost a galley & I've wondered over the years if I should have changed the floor plan to "lose" the wall between the kitchen & family room..... GOOD.... looks like I've saved myself some $$$

I like a separate kitchen. :P

Well I have had both and now am very happy with an L shaped arrangement with the kitchen in the small part of the L and an island seperating it from the dining room. If I could only figure out how to stop the island from being a catch all drop zone, it would be perfect!

I love (and have) an open floor plan, however, with 4 cats, I'd love to be able to close off the kitchen while I'm cooking. They want to "help" a little too much! :shock:

We live in a 100+year old farmhouse and I can tell you...I hate that it is full of walls! We have been looking at home plans and preview homes and think we have found a great floor plan. In it, the kitchen is separate but the breakfast area does open next to the huge great room. We are so looking forward to open space!!!

I've had both. Depends on size of kitchen. If it's big closed if space is small open

We just moved from an open concept to walls and I really like it except when a football game is on and I am in the kitchen cooking.......

Mine is some of both. The end where the stove is built in, is enclosed for three feet and then opens to a two height counter top. That counter seperates the kitchen area from the family room. It does make both rooms feel bigger.
I need a better designed exaust vent over the stove. I know the vapors from cooking settle on the family room furniture. That is my major complaint about the open plan. ;-)