Open floor plan and resale value question

we bought a front to back split last year. we did improvements to almost every room but haven't touched the kitchen and dining room yet because that is a big project that we wanted to wait a year or so.

Right now the kitchen and dining room are on one side of house and have a doorway connecting them but they are two distinct spaces. (formal dining room and eat in kitchen) but each space on its own is not huge.

We plan to knock down the wall and make it one big eat in kitchen when we do this renovation. That's what will work for us because we never use a formal dining room.

So my question is, is this always good for resale value. we will probably want something bigger in the next 5-7 years so I do want to keep resale value in mind.

Is this trend of open concept here to stay or will people go back to how it used to be and want formal dining rooms?

Open floor plan and resale value question

I have a FDR and an EIK. I plan to eliminate my EIK and I do use my FDR daily.
My Kitchen, DR and Den are all open to each other, but for various reasons they are separate spaces. There is a step down from kitchen to DR and from DR to den.
For me, I like having the open feel, but also like that they are separate spaces. I would not want a completely open floor plan. I know a lot of people talk about it, but I think the separate spaces is nicer and less of a design challenge.

I suppose that answer didn't help. Just offering another take on the situation I suppose.

Re: Open floor plan and resale value question

I think completely open floor plans are a trend that will end sooner or later. However, I have read many articles that claim the formal DR is a thing of the past.

I don't really know though. b/c personally, I wouldn't want to hose a holiday in the kitchen. I like when it is open, but distinct.

Re: Open floor plan and resale value question

I think while renovating the kitchen will definitely add value, knocking down the wall will probably not have a significant impact on value either way. Some people like the openness and dime people prefer separation.

Many of my clients tend to want a formal dining room, plus an eat in kitchen. But I still have a lot of clients that talk about opening up walls between kitchen and dining areas, especially if the kitchen is a small space.

One thing that seems popular now is to open the wall halfway, creating a more open feel, and perhaps adding a breakfast bar, but still leaving definition between the spaces (and using the half wall on the kitchen side for lower cabinets).

I think it also depends on the area and price point. In an area where starter homes are prevalent, and priced accordingly, one eating space is common. But in higher price points and larger, more formal homes, people expect a formal dining space and a nest in kitchen/breakfast area. Appraisers look at number of rooms as a value factor, too.

I personally like a formal dining room, but in a front to back split where there tends to be a small dining room and small kitchen, I'd lean toward opening it up to one big space (or maybe leaving a half wall). The openness also goes with the style of the house (where other styles are better suited to more formal rooms).

Re: Open floor plan and resale value question

Open floor plan and resale value question

We have a kitchen that was a galley style when we bought, we moved a wall to make it bigger. The kitchen opens to a great room that is a living/dining combo.
It may not be for everyone but it works great for everyday meals and when we host holidays we can seat 30 people at one long table. I've been to parties where tables have to be set up in different rooms to accommodate everyone because the floor plan is choppy.
I really like the idea of adding a breakfast bar if you have the space!

Open floor plan and resale value question

I think it really depends on your personal preference. Before we bought this house we had an open floor plan...kitchen with a breakfast bar opening up to a great room where we had a dining table and our couch/tv. I absolutely hated it. It was just too open for me and we were always in eachother's space. I like my own space lol. Now we have a smallish kitchen that holds a table for 4 and a smallish dining room and I love it. We don't make it "formal" but I like that I can keep everything nice and just worry about cleaning the kitchen every day instead of the whole house. But that being said, DH preferred it the other way but he is not the one who cooks/cleans/does the homework so he lost that battle : ).