Help! Should a family room be separate from open plan living?

9 years ago

Our children are only 2 and 4 so I am trying to peer into the future. We are building a new house, the living areas look like a big barn with a cathedral ceiling. At the moment, the design has the family room separate from the open plan living. This was done on the advice of older rellos who think that teenagers will be better off in their own space. Now I am wondering, is it okay to have it as an extension of the lounge room? It will suit us more when they are still small, as it will be more like a play area, since they want to play wherever we are, and better with keeping an eye on devices as they get older. Is keeping them so separate as teenagers a dated idea? Is having their own bedroom a good enough retreat for moody teenage boys? And in that case would the joined family room be a bit useless?

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bigreader

9 years ago

My kids are 4 and 6 and already we are needing separate living spaces. They like to watch different things on TV. I want to watch the news with them in another room. One may want to do craft with a friend in the kitchen area whilst her brother watches Star Wars with Dad. Etc etc etc.

And there may be times when your teenager kids have friends over and you want/need to see them but not hear them.

Maybe consider having the rooms connected with glass French doors or similar. You can see when needed but different activities can be accommodated.

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Comments (13)

antonia_d
9 years ago
I would build for the future. Your children will want their own space. I have a young child and at the moment we all hang out together in our living area. However I know it's only a matter of time when he will want his own space. We recently completed a renovation where we created an entertainment room downstairs so he can hang out with his friends when he is a teenager rather than gallivanting the streets.
mellyshea thanked antonia_d
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We agree, a rug could help define and delineate the different spaces! It looks like you may need some specific and quite large sizes - look for rugs that can be ordered in custom sizes to take the stress out of trying to make stock rugs fit! You have an absolutely amazing artwork on the wall there - perhaps use these blues and golden tones as inspiration? Blues would looks great with the wooden cupboards and accents. Some suggestions: https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/aegean-sky-blue/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/dover-light-blue/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/mars-light-blue/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/morgan-grey-2/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/soraya/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/venus-beige/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/handknot-collections/contemporary-hand-knot/twill-blue/ https://www.designerrugs.com.au/rug-collections/designer-collaborations/akira-isogawa-hirameki/batik-ubud/
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User
9 years ago
It depends on your parenting values and philosophies, but as a general rule, I find (a bit of safe) absence makes the heart grow fonder. Just keep all internet devices where you can see them.
mellyshea thanked User
Vy
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have a 13,18,20 years old..you really need a separate living area for them to hang out..in a different part of the house..that way they don't disturb the adults.

i wouldn't do it as an extension or part of living area..when they are little it's hard as you need to keep an eye on them been there done that..

when they are older it's a case of not only containing their mess..their rowdiness..noise..friends

our apartment is divided into 2 ..kids bedrooms their bathroom and study, mezzanine in the front.

our bedroom kitchen and living area out the back as the entrance to the apartment is out the back ..they need to go past our bedroom to sneak out..
mellyshea thanked Vy
User
9 years ago
As a party thrower myself, you may find having the family room adjoining the loungeroom to be great for entertaining, especially if there's an alfresco off it. A concept I like from palaces, is an enfilade, where doors join the rooms but can be opened up. In these designs the enfilade of rooms flowed from most formal near the public entrance to the building, to the private, maybe more messy areas further on into the building.

The modern term for this and similar layouts, is "broken plan".
mellyshea thanked User
bj605
9 years ago
A separate area for the kids is a great idea. I'm not sure about having it adjoining your main living space, but you still want to have it somewhere you can keep an eye on them I think. My kids aren't teenagers yet but I'm thinking a games room type space in the back yard away from the house but where they are in full view is what we will do.
mellyshea thanked bj605
PRO
JMR Building Contractors Pty Ltd
9 years ago
A good way to achieve a open plan feel for a family room but still be able to close this area off when needed is to build cavity sliding doors /wall that hide in the stud work that can be pulled out to close of the area off when the need arises.
mellyshea thanked JMR Building Contractors Pty Ltd
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
JMR, do you mean hiding in the studs like this?
mellyshea
Original Author
9 years ago
bah ha ha! I
PRO
JMR Building Contractors Pty Ltd
9 years ago
We wish!
User
9 years ago
I'm sure you are all "built" !!!!
Vy
9 years ago
hehhehe JMR...Tribbletrouble ..when we were in Hawaii we saw lots of tradies none of them looked like that..they were all covered from head to toes :)
Mwenje
8 years ago
Definitely separate areas, the kids appreciate it and so do the adults. It gives you a moment to exhale lol.

Help! Should a family room be separate from open plan living?

bigreader

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Help! Should a family room be separate from open plan living?

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