The Benefits Of Open Plan Kitchen and Living Spaces
If you’re considering redesigning your home, you will have come across the concept of open plan kitchen and living spaces. But what exactly are they, and why have they become so popular in recent years? Let’s delve into this modern trend and explore the benefits it offers.
What Is An Open Plan Kitchen And Living Space?
In traditional homes, the kitchen, dining room, and living room are typically separate, enclosed spaces. However, the open plan design breaks down these walls (quite literally) to create a unified, spacious area where all these functions can coexist.
Why Choose Open Plan Designs?
1. Enhances Social Interaction
One of the most significant advantages of open plan designs is that they encourage social interaction. Whether you’re cooking in the kitchen, relaxing in the living area, or having dinner, you’re always part of the action. This setup allows for continuous conversation and shared experiences, making your home a more social, enjoyable place.
2. Creates an Illusion of More Space
By removing walls, open plan designs make rooms appear larger than they actually are. This is especially beneficial for homes with limited space for extending, as it can help create a sense of spaciousness.
3. Increased Natural Light
Without walls blocking their path, natural light can flow freely throughout the open space, creating a brighter, more inviting environment. Plus, it can even save on energy costs by reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day.
4. Increases Resale Value
Open plan designs are a sought-after feature in modern real estate. By investing in such a layout, you could potentially increase the value of your home should you decide to sell it in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, open plan kitchen and living spaces offer numerous benefits, from enhancing social interaction to creating a sense of soace. They represent a modern, practical approach to home design that can significantly improve your living experience.
Are you ready to break down the walls and embrace the open plan lifestyle? At Sigma Homes, we are experts in designing and building homes tailored to your unique lifestyle needs. Contact us today to start your journey towards a more open, inviting home.
Could Prefab and Modular Construction Help the Housing Crisis?
It’s been reported that the ongoing housing crisis has driven rental property prices in Cork up by over 40% and made it more difficult than ever for young Irish families to buy their first home. For years now, Ireland’s building industry has faced challenges to keep abreast of growing demand leading to a massive deficit in housing.
Part of the issue is that the building industry has a massive labour shortage. What compounds this problem is that the industry, and planning authorities, are lagging behind the state of the art in modern construction processes and technologies. The traditional way of building a house requires more labour and longer construction time. The overall result is a greater cost for homebuyers and less output; Fewer houses can be built in the old way – and they cost a lot more. Brick and mortar walls take longer to build. And additional steps are required to insulate, install plumbing, and wire the interior.
How Modular Construction Could Help the Housing Crisis
Ireland could benefit from a move towards greater use of modular construction in homebuilding. Everything from structural steel frames, prefabricated walls and factory-finished flooring could all play a part in producing more affordable, comfortable and beautiful homes faster. Since mofastertion is partly done off-site in a factory, which means that construction of the building itself can take place in parallel with groundwork. This can greatly accelerate building times. Factory-built walls, windows, doors and roofs can all be built more sustainably, with reduced waste materials. The result could be more affordable, better-insulated living spaces with greater quality control under the tighter overwatch of a factory environment.
Are Prefab Homes ‘In Keeping with the Surroundings’?
Many prefab and modular home designs have a different aesthetic from traditional Irish brick-and-mortar homes. Most Irish houses were quickly built in the early to mid-20th century to provide affordable housing. Many were not built to be attractive. However, today, planning authorities are faced with a fresh challenge of maintaining certain design standards with modular homes whilst not hindering their rapid development to aid the housing crisis.
Should the CAO Online System be Revamped to Allow Apprenticeships?
During Ireland’s most prosperous years, it was not plain to see, but now as we find ourselves knee-deep in a housing crisis, the enormous value of the construction industry is laid bare. Every individual in Ireland needs a place to call home. The construction industry is the backbone of our community and economy. It is what enables us to live fulfilling lives. Without basic living standards in place, we cannot progress.
The government’s Housing For All plan estimates that an average of 33,000 new homes must be provided annually until 2030 to support affordability for renters and buyers. However, the plan could fail to reach targets due to a shortage of skilled workers. SIPU’s Adrian Kane stated that Ireland needs a “serious and targeted recruitment campaign to attract skilled tradespeople and apprentices into local authorities without delay”.
Should the CAO Online System be Revamped to Allow Apprenticeships?
While over 83,000 individuals applied for placement through the CAO system in 2022, Core Research’s report, ‘Construction in Ireland 2022: Building a Workforce for the Future’, found that among 300 construction firms in Ireland, 189 had difficulty recruiting skilled workers. The three leading causes were a lack of career options, a negative perception of the construction industry and a large percentage of young people emigrating. The study reveals an enormous deficit of new workers in the construction industry.
Perhaps what is needed is a long-term plan to communicate the value of a career in construction. Construction expertise is becoming more scarce, with half of the firms in the report finding it difficult to find brick layers and plasterers and over a third finding it challenging to find carpenters.
Addressing the Image Problem
By putting apprenticeships in the CAO Online System, it helps it gain legitimacy and value in the hearts and minds of individuals considering a career path.
As countries became, more affluent and third-level education moved from a rare privilege to something accessible to all, professions in the construction industry fell out of favour. For example, a study by the National Association of Homebuilders in the US found that out of 2,000 young adults interviewed between 18-25, only 3% considered construction as a potential career path.
Perhaps to help communicate the importance of the building industry to our lives, construction firms can reach out to local school administrators. To explain the importance and need for skilled construction workers. To show what is exciting and rewarding about designing, creating and delivering homes to people in your community. By raising awareness of the industry’s real importance, we can change the hearts and minds of young people.