Finding pockets of intimacy in an open floor plan

By LINSEY STONCHUS Open floor plans remain as popular as ever, but evolving expectations of a home have highlighted its biggest drawback: privacy. Couples and families that once lived very separate daytime lives have instead spent extended time under the same roof, testing the practicality of streamlined floor plans with fewer walls and rooms in favor of open living areas. “There has been so much togetherness now, clients are looking for separate spaces, even if it’s a small nook where they can focus or even just spend a few moments alone,” said Nicole Michael, principal CEO of Nicole Michael Designs, Pasadena, California.