British homes are constantly evolving
Open plan living – once the preserve of the urban trendsetter – is now being replicated across the land as today’s householders shun the 20th century traditions of designated dining rooms, hallways and kitchens.
According to an analysis of Britain’s housing stock by Lloyds TSB Home Insurance for its My Favourite Room competition, one in five homeowners have taken a sledgehammer to their Home’s walls in the last 10 years while an equal proportion have similar plans afoot.
To create social spaces more conducive to modern day lifestyles, a third have sacrificed a separate dining room, 18 per cent have repurposed a garage and 12 per cent have ditched a single-purpose kitchen.
While certain rooms are being lost, new ones are creeping onto household particulars. Kitchen/dining rooms – the hallmark of open plan – have grown in popularity by 50 per cent in a generation. Thirty percent of today’s homes now have one with many using it as the social hub of their house – 48 per cent to entertain guests, 29 per cent as a child’s play area and 27 per cent to watch television.
The allure of open plan pulls regardless of a property’s age. A third of period property owners who’ve done work, have added an open plan kitchen and dining room, a higher proportion than any other era of home.
Current planning applications lodged with eight district councils underscores our obsession with changing the layout of our homes. A third of planned works involve opening up internal spaces and more homes are set for change in the near future with research among homeowners identifying 19 per cent will be tearing down walls in their homes.
The kitchen breakfast room is not the only addition being made to the country’s housing stock. Also featuring in today’s homes are the utility room, the en-suite, study, wet room, games room/den, and even gym.
“Property particulars are starting to look very different says Simon Hamilton, member and International Director at the British Institute of Interior Design. “Houses, especially older properties, were designed with people’s lives in mind, with set rooms for set activities, but as times change so does what we want from our homes. With our increasingly hectic lifestyles convenience and sociability have become key – which is why kitchen diners and games rooms have grown in popularity. In the next 10 years, the majority of houses will be designed in this style.”
Recognising that open spaces will make their property more saleable, 10% have spent over £35k adapting their properties with 5% investing over £50k. The work on their property hasn’t always gone smoothly though and one in five (19%) had damage caused during the building work, averaging £8k.
Paula Llewellyn, Head of Marketing Services at Lloyds TSB Home Insurance said: “Rather than moving, people are adjusting their own property to create their dream home and the living space they need and it’s clear to see that open plan living is what modern families want.”
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