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WINDOW SHOPPING HIGH-BACKED ARMCHAIRS
Interiors
Picture: GETTYCosy corners:
Different areas
are separated
using half-walls
and varying
paint coloursT
HE open-plan
kitchen-living
room has been a
feature of modern
British homes for
several decades.
Indeed, back in the Eighties,
knocking down walls to create
a decent-sized living space was
regarded as somewhat essential
for the growing modern family.
But is it now the case that
more and more of us are keen to
reintroduce a greater sense of
privacy and cosiness?
Or, at least, that one big room
does not necessarily work when
some members of the family
want to watch TV, while others
are happy to engage with their
laptops, and the rest prefer
peace and quiet to read their
books or Kindles?
Certainly, Mary Duggan, a judge
for the RIBA House Of The Year
award, believes that the rise of
technology is contributing to a
waning open-plan trend. Instead,
we could be entering the age of
so-called ‘broken-plan’ living.
‘The “broken-plan” layout helps
break up a space and provide a
structure to a large, rectangular
room that, due to its size, may
lack atmosphere,’ says James
Bernard, the director of Plus
Rooms, a design and build com-
pany that has completed more
than 1,000 kitchen extensions
(plusrooms.com).
‘The result, if you get it right,
can be a cosier feel in relaxation
areas and more privacy.’
So how do you achieve the look?
Partitions can be created using
statement furniture, such as
high-backed sofas and chairs,
cupboard units, a bookcase orhalf-wall, allowing the space to be
both free-flowing and divided.
Colour and texture can also be
implemented. Different coloured
walls and different flooring (using
carpet in the living space and tiles
in the kitchen, for example) can
create a sense of division and give
each space its own identity.
Shanti and Tom Sundaram, 61
and 58 respectively, have lived in
their five-bedroom house in South
East London for 20 years.
Their ground-floor layout once
comprised a dining room, kitchen,
living room and utility room, but,
three years ago, they approached
Plus Rooms, having decided they
wanted more space for socialising
with friends after two of their
three children had moved out.
‘We gained more space by build-
ing a rear L-shaped extension. We
didn’t want open-plan, although it
was quite trendy, preferring a bit
of sectionalisation,’ says Shanti.
Instead, they created different
spaces linked by open doorways
and partial walls.
Division between an informal
area, where they have a table and
chairs, and the sitting room was
created by a corner, L-shaped half-
wall. Contrasting bold primary
colours on either side of the walls
compartmentalised the space.
Shanti adds: ‘We knocked down
one of the kitchen walls into the
hallway to create a larger kitchen/
dining room.
‘There is now a much better flowof light and space. We can use the
rooms separately, because of the
divisions, but still interact with
people in different rooms. It’s fun
and easy to live in.’
The five-bedroom houses at
Crest Nicholson’s Upper Long-
cross development in Chertsey,
Surrey, have a kitchen/dining area
that is divided from the living
space with a half-wall — a recent
design created in direct response
to customer feedback.M
ARCUS EVANS,
director of sales
and marketing at
Crest Nicholson
Regeneration, explains: ‘We had
purchasers telling us that they
struggled to envision furniture
placement and how their future
home would look with other
floorplan styles.
‘As a result, we have started
installing partial walls in homes
across many of our developments,
allowing buyers to adapt the floor-
plan to suit their lifestyle.
‘We’re already seeing a strong
response to this new offering and
our sales of “broken-plan” homes
have significantly increased.’
Upper Longcross is a new
Garden Village, which, eventually,
will have 1,700 homes.
Prices for the remaining two
five-bedroom houses start at
£1.2 million (crestnicholson.com).Avril and Tim Pearce, who are
selling their five-bedroom house
in Bramhope, Leeds, have their
kitchen divided from the dining
room by a line of units set into a
slightly higher wall.
‘Opting for a “broken-plan”
kitchen and dining area gave us
the feeling of space you naturally
get with an open-plan layout, but
it also means that when you’re sat
at the dining table, it doesn’t feel
like you’re eating in the kitchen,’
says Avril.
‘You can talk without having to
raise your voice to be heard over
people having a conversation in
the kitchen, but then, as soon as
you stand up, you have the social
benefits of an open-plan design.
‘It’s definitely something
on which guests give us a lot
of compliments.’
The property is for sale through
Dacre, Son & Hartley for £695,000.
(dacres.co.uk).
Ed Heaton, a partner and founder
of buying agency Heaton & Part-
ners (heatonpartners.com), says:
‘We have seen a steady increase
over the past year or so of buyers
looking for “broken-plan”.
‘While open-plan remains pop-
ular, many struggle with planning
one huge, open space, so prefer to
break the space into a number of
different zones.
‘These are typically people who
like to have some structure in
their lives, and “soft” compartment-
alisation can offer exactly that.’by Mary Wilson
Womb
Chair Relax
Edition in
Red, £3,408,
heals.comHouse by John
Lewis Audrey
Accent Chair
in Saffron
Velvet, £149,
johnlewis.
comDesree
Armchair in
Oslo Velvet
Blue, £195,
habitat.
co.ukImogen
Accent
Chair in
Olive, £249,
made.comVEDBO
Highback in
Light Brown
Pink, £229,
ikea.com(^) Daily Mail, Friday, August 30, 2019
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Is it time to
ditch open
plan for...
broken plan?