PSA: A comment on my floor plan made me rethink open concept

I posted my kitchen remodel layout online last month, and someone pointed out the noise issue. They said 'your living room will echo into the dining area every time you run the blender.' I always thought open floor plans were the best for family time. But after they said that, I added a half wall with a built-in shelf between the kitchen and living space. It breaks up the sound without blocking light. Now I'm glad I listened, even though everyone else seems to want one big room. Has anyone else found a small change that fixed a big design problem?

2 comments

2 Comments

taylor_moore8d ago

You said a half wall "breaks up the sound without blocking light." That's a good fix, but sound really travels over low walls. Did you test it with the blender yet? A solid panel at the bottom would stop more noise from sneaking under.

blair_fox77d ago

Yeah, I ran the blender test last night. The low wall cut the worst of the motor whine, but you're right, the lower rumble still gets through. I added a 12-inch tall MDF panel right at the base as a test, and it trapped a lot of that vibration. Did you seal the edges with foam tape when you tried it?