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

1. Not Being Flexible About the Room’s Location Don’t make the mistake of thinking your utility room has to be on the bottom floor or next to the kitchen. “It may need to move up or down in the house, depending on other needs and use of spaces,” says interior designer  Claudia Dorsch . The solution.  Be clear about how you want to use the space when it comes to deciding on its position. “For example, don’t put a utility [room] on the ground floor if you plan to dry and iron everything on the top floor,” says Cat Hoad of  Absolute Project Management . “Perhaps a cupboard on the same floor with the washing machine and dryer in it would be better, if plumbing and drainage can be arranged. This is usually straightforward if there’s a bathroom nearby.” Eva Byrne of  houseology  advises against using up valuable space and light next to a yard. “My rule of thumb in a modest house is to locate the utility room toward the middle of the home, where it’s darkest and it won...

1. Integrated Chopping Block and Knife Holder This island in a Chicago-area duplex penthouse, designed by  Jaffe Architecture + Interiors , features a thick end-grain butcher block contiguous with a sleek, light-colored countertop. Look closely and you’ll see a stainless steel knife holder built right into the block. Design note:  Mixing materials — especially wood and stone or quartz — is on-trend for kitchen island countertops. Blackband Design 2. Dog Bowl Station With Pot Filler Pet owners may drool over this kitchen island, which is in a modern Mediterranean-style kitchen on Southern California’s Newport Coast.  Blackband Design  equipped a niche at one end with two dog bowls and a pot filler for easy top-ups. Marble and mosaic tile protect the wooden island and floor from sloshing water. 3. Removable Inset Cutting Board Owners of beautiful edge-grain wooden island countertops might think twice about using them as cutting surfaces. New Orleans-based  NOLA Bo...

  1. Clean Up Before demolition starts, look around and see if there are things in your yard that you know you won’t use after the renovation. If they’re still in good shape, you can recycle, donate or sell them. Nurseries usually will take back larger nursery pots. If you’re feeling ambitious — and you’re an experienced gardener — you also can dig up healthy plants that won’t be part of the new design and offer them to other gardeners. Amy Pigliacampo Interiors 2. Pack Things Up Place things you will be keeping, especially if they have personal value, in a safe place for the duration of the work. Move potted plants as well so they won’t be damaged. You’ll feel less stressed as the crew works, and the team won’t have to worry about damaging your things. If you don’t have a storage spot, or if you have larger items that aren’t easy to set aside, be sure to let the crew know and they can take extra care. “We can move items from place to place as we work,” says Aaron Gorski of  L...