living space

While the general structure of a western home – floor, roof walls – haven’t changed much in the past several hundred years, the internal spaces continue to morph and evolve over time.

From one- and two-room structures, to homes that had formal parlors or outdoor kitchens, the living spaces included between a home’s four walls are directly related to the period in which it is designed and built. Leaving some to wonder, family room vs great room, what’s the difference and which do I have?

Open floor plans affect the way we think about our living spaces

In an era where energy efficiency and automated heating and cooling are the norm, we no longer need to divide houses up into small, easily heated or shut off spaces. Instead, we have the opportunity to open things up, build bigger for cheaper and have access to other conveniences that free up our home’s interiors.

The open floor plan is a prime example of this. Within the open floor plan concept, you may notice that living spaces are noted, or named, differently on different sets of plans or in various real estate listings. Knowing the difference will assist you as you design – or re-design – your living spaces, and especially if you plan to list your home in the near future.

Is there a difference: family room vs great room?

Yes, there is a difference when it comes to a family room vs great room. One is very specific, and the other is a more all-encompassing space, often comprising the totality of the communal living spaces in a home.

A family room is a casual space designed for the family who lives there

Before we had the addition of “great room,” larger floor plans started dividing common area living spaces into two different spaces: living rooms and family rooms.

The former is a more formal space, one that has the newest, nicest and highest-quality furniture and furnishings, and where important or less familiar guests are directed upon their arrival. The idea of a formal living room is a luxury because it offers a place that is always clean and “put to rights,” since – in most cases – kids and pets aren’t allowed in there as often.

Family rooms, on the other hand, are designed to be casual. Perhaps the family uses the old couch from the living room in the family room. The television lives in the family room, as do some toys and the scuffed coffee table that can handle spilled snacks or the inevitable art projects. Kids and guests alike are a little less reserved in the family room, which makes is a more comfortable space overall if you’re going to spend any amount of time there.

Often, the family room is located adjacent to the kitchen because it provides close proximity to refreshments and allows parents to keep an eye on the kids while adults prepare for, or clean up after, mealtimes. In an open floor plan where a kitchen connects to the family room (a common design feature), homeowners need to be thoughtful about their kitchen colors and finishes, likewise with the family room’s, because there are clean lines of sight from one to the other.

A great room is all encompassing

And that brings us to the great room. The great room is the heart of a home built with an open floor plan, where a single space contains the living room/family room as well as the dining room. Obviously, there will be free-flow and continuity between the various living areas, so you’re relying on furniture pieces and area rugs to define spatial boundaries.

Also, as you can imagine, the formal living room area (if there even is one) will not be quite as formal in a great room belonging to a family with three kids because it’s nearly impossible to isolate it from the other living areas. Other features you may find – or choose to include – in a great room include a home office space, the household library or a child-friendly play corner that houses the children’s favorite toys or arts and craft supplies.

Of course, the entire great room is exposed to itself, so the overall backdrop is typically more neutral, with different, complementary colors and patterns being used in the various sections within the whole. Accent walls can come in handy here to create more definition between spaces, as do thoughtful furniture arrangements.

As a professional interior designer, I’m always happy to talk you into remodeling. It can prevent the sale of a home you love, add usable square footage to a small space and will re-energize an outdated or bland home design. At the same time, I am the first one to admit that remodeling or renovating a home should only take place when the owners have a clear set of goals or a vision for what is about to take place.

3 Examples of When Remodeling Your Home is NOT a Good Idea

Believe it or not, there are times when my recommendation to clients is,”take a pass on the remodel this time around.” While creating beautiful and functional living spaces is a passion of mine, so too is leaving behind a design that is truly suited to my clients’ needs and will serve them well in the long-term. The following are three examples of when that simply isn’t possible.

You simply don’t have the budget for it. A cheap or poorly executed remodel is akin to a cheap or poorly executed cosmetic procedure. It’s so worth it to save a little longer so you can afford the professional who can do the best and most lasting work for you. If you want a $50,000 kitchen remodel but you only have $25,000 to spend, you will wind up going cheap in all the wrong places, which leads to a kitchen that is frustrating and can’t hold up to daily wear-and-tear. Instead, I am happy to consult with you in order to design temporary fixes that will help you enjoy your current design a little longer while you prepare to save and/or finance a remodel that brings 100% satisfaction.

It won’t add enough value to your home. If you plan to age-in-place, remaining in your home for the next several decades, resale value is less of an issue. However, if there is any chance you will be selling your home in the next decade, you want to think very carefully about your remodeling plans. While its a rare remodeling project that will recoup 100% of the investment, the right interior design will definitely add value to your home. However, if the scope of your project can’t come close to being returned to you via a future home sale, I highly advise scaling your design back a bit so it makes financial sense.

You’ve remodeled your home more than once in the past 10 years. Just like the shopaholic is convinced that world peace is possible if he or she can just find the right wardrobe combination, I have met a few serial remodelers in my time. Sometimes, clients approach me to remodel their homes and, when I arrive for the consultation, I’m greeted by a beautiful, obviously fresh remodel or renovation that completely suits their needs. This raises a red flag for me. Are you just trying to keep up or compete with neighbors or friends? Do you find yourself bored and remodeling or redecorating is something to fill the space? Either scenario can result in an empty or vapid design experience, which is unsatisfying and always a challenge for the designer-client relationship. If you have invested in multiple remodels in a relatively short period of time, it might be time to meet with a designer who can implement a timeless design that you can redecorate more frequently and easily as your tastes and current trends continue to cycle.

One of the first questions clients typically ask is, “How long will my interior design project take to complete?” Of course, as you may have guessed, there is no straightforward answer to this because there are so many variables to contend with . There are project averages, however, as well as a few guidelines I can provide so you can plan for the road ahead.

Basic timelines for typical remodels are:

• Bathrooms: 2 – 4 months
• Kitchens: 4 – 6 months
• Living rooms or bedrooms (not including the bathroom): 2 – 3 months

These times are all based on the idea that your design, order/lead times and installation move forward in a timely manner and that there aren’t any unforeseen complications or changes made midstream.

Are you working with an experienced interior designer?

One of the most important steps you can take to streamline the design and build process for your remodel is to choose an experienced interior designer. She will be instrumental in facilitating the progress of your design and should be able to give you a fairly accurate timeline once you’ve signed off on the final design.

Do you have a clear idea of what you want?

This is one of the most important factors that will affect the duration of your project. The first step with any remodel or interior design project is to hire your interior designer and get to work on the plans. The more specific you are in what you want, the easier it will be to put the plans together. That being said, you also want to be flexible enough that you can be open to any changes that might need to be made due to structural limitations or budget.

Also, if you change your mind back and forth throughout the process, this can also affect timing because it can take longer to return products and re-order new ones, a process that causes delays with construction and/or furnishing installation.

Will there be construction or structural changes involved in the process?

Not surprisingly, the more construction or structural changes that have to be made, the longer the project will take to complete. If construction is involved, it also involves more entities. You may require an engineer to evaluate whether or not the desired structural changes are possible. Then your architect will draw up the plans and the contractor and subs can start the build-out.

Sometimes, structural changes are very straightforward and you don’t need the assistance of an engineer or architect. In these cases, construction moves forward more quickly, assuming there are no unforeseen issue when they break into interior wall spaces. Of course, any complications that come up – interior plumbing or electrical work that wasn’t to code, mold or mildew damage, a beam that turns out to be load bearing and can’t be removed – all need to be dealt with before the project can continue.

Do you already know what materials and finishes you want?

Usually, the answer to this is, “No.” Perhaps you know what sink you want, or you have an idea of which kitchen cabinets you want, but most of the materials and furnishing selection happens with your interior designer. Once you’ve made your selection, items need to be ordered and delivered – this process takes time. For instance, the average lead time for cabinets is anywhere from 10 to 14 weeks, and it can take longer for certain custom items.

While a living room remodel may only take a few weeks to a month to actually design and install, the lead times for certain custom furniture or art pieces can be much longer.