Analysis: ‘Older houses were not built for modern lives’

Rather than someone stuck cooking in the kitchen while someone watches television in a different room and then all moving to a different room again to eat, all these activities can happen in the same open-plan space.

Historically, in older houses in the Scottish winter, it was a necessity to close the door on a room, pull the curtains and turn the radiator up so that they could be heated to a tolerably warm level.

However, due to advances in building techniques, improved insulation and double glazing technology and the introduction of underfloor heating, open-plan living is now a realistic option in the Scottish climate.

By far the biggest growth area of our domestic market is the remodelling of Victorian and pre-war houses to form bright, airy family living spaces that extend out into the garden.

It just makes so much more sense to bring together the kitchen, a relaxed sitting space and a family dining area.

Older houses were not built for modern family living or for spilling out into the garden.

This type of project updates houses to the way we want to live in them now. Often these commissions are for families that see open-plan living as the ideal setting for young children to grow up in.

As babies they can play safely within sight of a parent in the kitchen, an eye can be kept on slightly older children as they play in the garden and homework and computer use can be monitored at later stages.

We have had older couples coming to us who are also looking for open-plan living spaces to comfortably look out and enjoy their gardens in brighter settings. We often find that dining rooms are only used for a few days a year and as such are largely a waste of space within houses.

We have also heard recently that despite the subdued housing market, a bright, open-plan living space created competition between buyers which lead to a quick sale with a premium over the asking price.