Great Rooms
It’s very common for us to be involved in a home residential project that includes creating a great room where the kitchen, dining room and living room are part of an open floor plan. They are very popular; in fact, a recent survey reported that 79% of respondents prefer a kitchen and family room open layout. These great rooms have stood that test of time since their beginnings in the 1950’s.
What Are The Best Great Room Ideas?
First, let’s be clear: we leave the best ideas up to our independent architects and designers. They know how to ask just the right questions for your lifestyle, budget, priorities and preferences. For example, they may ask you if you are okay having a television or stereo in use by a family member while you make the meal. If there are children, are you comfortable with what they will want to bring into the room for a period of time? Do you also need another room with a door that closes? We can help refer you to the best professional for you.
Glass walls
Most great rooms we are building have a strong connection to the outdoors. We have installed many window walls; a recent one we did is a 30’ wide glass wall that smoothly opens up the whole great room to the outside.
Signature fireplace
We have installed a variety of fireplaces including full stone walls that extend much beyond the fireplace opening. These walls help to anchor the room with a signature vertical statement.
Acoustic considerations
Sound reverberation will increase with smoother materials for walls, ceilings and floors, and with bigger spaces. Think about how you can soften the acoustics through the use of materials such as thick rugs, soft furniture or through wall hangings.
Indoor/Outdoor continuity
Many homeowners look to maximize the use of their outdoor spaces. Some will create an area where it’s actually more in the home than outside.
Exposed beams
Exposed beam ceilings are perfect for both rustic and modern homes and are exceptionally popular in farmhouse-style homes.
Flexible furniture layout
Some homeowners love to change the layout of their furniture from time-to-time for a quick refresh. If this is what you like to do, make sure you mention it to your architect or designer.
White walls
Walls with a light or white color have been popular for many years now, accented by natural elements of wood, tile and stone.
Playful or bright accents
A great room with white walls is easily filled with personality through a few unusual accents like the red modern rocking chair and turquoise couch will really make a great room pop.
The Benefits of a Great Room
With the extra space, great rooms can accommodate different types of furniture that can be arranged into nooks and sections for multiple purposes.
For example, a great room can have couches for family gatherings, cozy chairs in the corners or around a mantle for reading and relaxing, a bar for entertaining, coffee tables for eating, and unobstructed spaces for children to run and play in.
Because great rooms have open floor plan layouts, meaning they don’t have walls separating the different seating sections, the entire space feels roomy and welcoming to a whole host of activities.
The main thing to keep in mind when it comes to great rooms is their multi-purpose function. While a living room can be a good place to hang out or entertain guests, a great room is well-suited to eat, relax, entertain, live, and play in.
While great rooms often contain short tables for sitting and eating or drinking around, they’re not replacements for dining rooms. However, because of great rooms’ open plan layouts, they often lead into kitchens and dining rooms in a house.
Contact Realistic Builders to start planning the great room to your new custom home today.
