Open-plan kitchens and living spaces have become the default in many modern homes, but do they really suit every lifestyle and every stage of life?
How do you choose to live?
For a number of years now, modern residential design, especially on the Costa del Sol, has followed a fairly consistent pattern. We've seen open-plan kitchens, open-plan living rooms, floor-to-ceiling glazing and large multi-purpose living areas becoming almost the default idea of what a modern home should look like.
And for many people, it works brilliantly. Large sociable spaces can feel bright, relaxed and contemporary. They work particularly well in holiday homes and are great for entertaining or for people who enjoy spending most of their time in one connected living space.
But after many years working with buyers on the Costa del Sol, and after living in very different styles of property myself, I increasingly find myself wondering whether one particular design formula really can suit everyone.
There is no doubt that many buyers love open-plan living. Others discover that they prefer a little more separation between spaces once they have actually been living in the property for a while.
The reality is that people live very differently. Some people cook every day, others hardly cook at all. Some work from home and others want quiet spaces to retire to in the evening. Some families enjoy everybody being together in one large space, while others need separate rooms for different functions and atmospheres, even different television programmes.
There is absolutely no right or wrong answer, but there may be one question that is worth asking, and that is whether the design of modern homes is becoming too focused on one particular direction.
The Costa del Sol climate definitely adds another dimension to the discussion. Large glazed spaces can look spectacular in photographs, particularly in summer, but year-round living brings different considerations. In the warmer months, too much direct sun through large windows can become tiring. It is also fair to comment that during the winter months, and particularly in the evenings, large open spaces and double-height rooms can be more difficult to heat. This is not something that many people take into account.
Traditional Mediterranean homes evolved completely differently. They tended to include shaded terraces, separate rooms, thicker walls and spaces with different seasonal uses. That was not because people disliked open-plan living. It was purely because homes were designed gradually around the climate and daily living patterns.
It's interesting that many people who move into highly open-plan homes eventually start re-creating smaller zones again, a quiet sitting room upstairs, a reading corner or even a partition to create separate areas. Many families need a separate television room and sometimes simply a smaller room that feels cosy and is easier to heat during the winter evenings.
This is not saying that modern design is wrong, far from it. Many contemporary homes are beautifully designed and work exceptionally well, but perhaps the most successful homes are the ones that offer flexibility rather than assuming one style of living suits everybody equally.
Over the years I've lived in everything from traditional to highly contemporary houses, including even an 18th-century farmhouse. My personal preferences have changed several times, and perhaps that is the point. What feels ideal at one stage of life may feel very different later on.
Ultimately, we believe that finding the right home is a far more basic requirement than simply following fashion. It comes down to understanding and appreciating how you want to live, and this is one of the questions we always ask potential buyers when helping them find their ideal property.
If you like modern, recently updated homes, we always have a selection of interesting renovated property for sale on the Costa del Sol.
You can also explore our latest Costa del Sol property listings.
And if you would like to talk things through, call us on (0034) 952 90 52 00, WhatsApp us, or email info@michael-moon.com and we will be happy to discuss the options with you.
