Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

  1. Minimalism (Almost) Never Comes Cheap “Clean, sleek lines” is what my clients ask for. Think single sheets of material, no seams, no handles and no grout lines. The most common misconception I come across is that this is a cheap look to achieve. People are fooled by the apparent simplicity of the aesthetic. But to achieve a truly beautiful minimalist look, the detail in the build needs to be precise. Fuse Flooring Some of the simplest-looking spaces I have worked on have been the most expensive, due to the immense detail and meticulous planning required. Specifying no cabinetry handles often means pricey opening mechanisms or hand-cut cabinetry. No seams in stone means buying oversized slabs and having an expert stonemason on hand to book-match the ends perfectly. And no grout lines means either huge tiles that take two tilers to lay (doubling the labor cost), or porcelain sheets that can be cut and installed only by a stonemason — onto a wall that most likely has to be straig...

  At One End of a Galley Kitchen Whether you have a wide kitchen with a bit of space to spare or a compact kitchen with nowhere else for the pantry to go, using a tall cabinet at one end of the kitchen can be a beautiful solution. This sort of layout creates an appealing symmetry with a tall cabinet at the other end for a fridge or other appliances. Woodstock Furniture One downside of this solution that should be noted is the loss of some counter space, compared to using standard upper and lower cabinets with a stretch of counter between. However, using a tall full-depth cabinet provides a great deal more storage capacity and gives the kitchen a weighty and mature air. Plus, it gives you more surface area to paint in a rich hue if you so choose. If you have a nearby island to act as prep space, losing a little counter may be well worth the trade-off. Edmondson Interiors In a Standalone Cabinet Rather than adding a full set of cabinets to a wall, consider using a single cabinet (eit...

  1. Take Stock of Existing Views Start by taking note of current views or sightlines from windows and glass doors. What do you look out onto from your most-used rooms of the house? Are there areas that could benefit from more privacy, or are any views obscured by overgrown plants that could use pruning? Could any windows be enlarged (if it’s in your budget) to open up views? Coates Design Architects Seattle 2. Think of Windows as Picture Frames What would you like to see inside each frame versus what you currently see? Look out one of your home’s windows and take note of where your eye falls. Does it land on something that you find attractive, like a well-placed pot or an eye-catching plant, or does it go straight to a garbage bin that could use some screening? Note which views could be improved and how, to create an action plan. s 3. Consider the Foreground and Background Similar to how an artist might think about the composition of a painting, consider the overall composition of...