This week we respond to a recent piece arguing that open floor plans should fade from fashion. Over the years we’ve torn down walls and widened openings in our homes to create a brighter, more flowing feel, but there are real reasons why an open concept isn’t always the best choice. In this episode we walk through the pros and cons of open-plan living, explain situations where you should resist the urge to remove walls, and offer practical fixes if you’re stuck with a layout that doesn’t quite work. We also share a simple curb appeal upgrade we completed in a single afternoon, Sherry’s top picks for extra-long curtains (and why they’re worth the investment), and one more gripe: the sudden proliferation of storage units in neighborhoods everywhere.
You can download and listen to the episode from iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or TuneIn Radio — or stream it from the player on the original post. Use this page to find any links, photos, or notes we mentioned during the show. If you’re reading via a feed reader you might need to open the post to access the audio player.
What’s New
- We replaced our mailbox post with a new metal post and installed a black mailbox for a neighbor as well. Below are the product names we used, and a quick photo recap of the project.
- We also added adhesive metal house numbers in a dark bronze finish on the front of the post; they’re a great scale for that placement and give a clean, modern look to the entry.
What’s Not
- We referenced the full line of Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines paints when choosing colors for a project.
- We also revisited an early reader’s kitchen redesign from 2013 that appeared before she became known for her later design work — a fun reminder that great ideas evolve over time.
Open Floor Plans
- We discussed a recent House Beautiful article questioning whether open floor plans are always the best option and weighed the arguments for keeping some walls intact.
- Here are a few times we’ve navigated the open-versus-closed dilemma in our own homes:
- Widening doorways in our first house — and in one case actually closing a doorway back up to create separation.
- Cutting a large opening into a previously closed wall in our second house to improve flow while retaining some definition between rooms.
- Opening up the living room and kitchen in our current home during a remodel to allow better movement and sightlines, but stopping short of a fully open plan.
- Decorating a very open living room and kitchen in our showhouse where careful furniture placement and visual anchors helped make the large space feel intentional and cozy.
- For reference, below is the closest photo showing how totally open our current house might have looked if we’d removed the wall entirely. Instead, we opted for visual separation with built-in bookcases and a deliberately wide doorway to balance openness and structure.
- Here’s how the space turned out after we left a wide doorway rather than eliminating the wall completely — the built-ins provide storage and a sense of boundary without making the rooms feel closed off.
- Leaving that partial wall also gave us room to add significant storage on the other side with built-in bookcases, which proved to be a major functional win for everyday life.
- We also highlighted a friend’s living room makeover where she debated removing a wall — in her case the TV sits on the opposite side, so preserving the wall kept the spaces useful for different activities.
We’re Digging
- Sherry rounded up several favorites for 96-inch (and longer) curtains that work surprisingly well even in homes with standard eight-foot ceilings. Long curtains visually lengthen a room, add softness, and instantly elevate a window treatment. Some recommended retailers include West Elm, Pottery Barn, Wayfair (where you can filter by length), and Ikea — and a tip: wash cotton curtains before hanging to avoid a shortened fit.
- Many of the curtain options we featured come in neutral palettes and washable fabrics that make them durable for family spaces while still delivering a tailored, relaxed look.
- John has been reading So, You’ve Been Publicly Shamed and recommended it after hearing about it on a recent podcast. The book explores modern public shaming and the social dynamics behind it; during the episode we mentioned a related real-life example discussed on the show.
We also shared a quick note about Delta Faucet products and a few modern finishes we love — they offer a range of durable kitchen and bath fixtures that pair well with updated curb appeal projects.
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