To Knock Down Walls, or Not?

"Open Concept" has been the buzzword of real estate for 20 years. We see it on every HGTV show: sledgehammers swinging, walls falling, and a cramped kitchen becoming a massive great room.

But recently, architects are seeing a shift back toward "broken plan" or traditional layouts. Why?

The Cons of Open Concept

1. Noise Travel

Without walls to dampen sound, the dishwasher running in the kitchen competes with the TV in the living room. If someone is blending a smoothie, the whole house knows about it.

2. Lack of Privacy

Sometimes you want to read a book while someone else cooks. In an open concept home, there is no "away."

3. Heating and Cooling Costs

It is much harder to heat a massive, open volume of air than it is to heat smaller, contained rooms.

The Pros (Why we still love it)

• Light: Light from windows travels further.
• Socializing: The cook isn't isolated from the party.
• Perceived Space: It makes small footprint homes feel significantly larger.

The Compromise: "Broken Plan"

Consider using half-walls, glass partitions, or large open bookshelves to create zones without fully closing off rooms.

Visualizing the Wall Removal

Before you hire a structural engineer to take out a load-bearing wall, build your current house in RoomyLab.

1. Draw your existing walls.
2. Select a wall and hit "Delete".
3. Place furniture in the new open space.
4. Does it actually function better? Or do you just lose wall space for your TV?