When I bought my fixer-upper, the first thing I did was draft plans to tear down the wall between the kitchen and the living room. Like everyone else, I bought into the open concept dream of seamless entertaining and unobstructed sightlines.
Three years of living in that echo chamber completely changed my mind. I grew tired of the smell of dinner lingering in the living room fabrics and the constant racket of the dishwasher competing with the TV.
So, in my latest renovation, I brought back the walls but with a modern twist. I installed pocket doors and partial partitions. Now, I can open the floor plan when hosting, or close it off for acoustic privacy and cozy zoning when working from home.
The biggest trend right now isn’t tearing things down it’s intentional separation. Before you smash through your drywall, consider whether you really want an open space, or just a smarter one.
