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With open-plan layouts more popular than ever, entirely open plan spaces come with their own set of challenges: noise, lingering cooking smells, the inability to (quite literally) shut the door on the washing up. What has instead evolved is semi-open plan ‘connected’ spaces, which flow from one to the other, but also retain an element of separation.

“We are encouraging customers to lean towards ‘semi-open plan’ where the main living spaces are merging into super spaces with multiple personalities (living/dining/kitchen or hallway/dining/study),” says Merry Albright of Border Oak.

“These spaces are high impact and hard-working, providing that much sought-after sense of space and light. But for these super rooms to work and look good, we are creating smaller functional spaces – utilities, boot rooms, playrooms, pantries and so on – where practicality takes priority.

“There are some tricks with semi-open plan living:

• consider zoning the big space with architectural features for definition and interest;
• explore ways of creating a sense of journey through the layout;
• and keep a long line of sight but retain an element of interest with an unexpected or quirky feature for interest.
• Oh — and a lot of fitted cupboards!” concludes Merry.