2. misc-audio
  3. 185968-128813

Rant: PSA to builders, housewives, and general complaint

In our search for a new house, I’m seeing some disturbing and annoying trends, mainly, living rooms where the ONLY place to put a TV is way high above a fireplace. This leaves zero flexibility for tv placement, additional audio components etc. Most don’t even have plugs. I'm also in Texas and there's ZERO need for a fireplace.

Not to mention all the "open concepts" we’re seeing where the living room is strangely shaped and the kitchen is basically in the room where you hear all the kitchen noise and you’re 100% accessible to your spouse and their conversation (ramblings).

This isn’t a problem if you have $2m to spend but for most of us, we’re limited in where we can set up our toys and this does not help.

Thank you for listening.

dtximages
kennyc
1,192 posts
 

My wife and I like the open concept kitchen to share in the room’s activities.  
OP- costly but you can move walls - seen it done on TV home improvement shows 

dtximages OP
363 posts
 

@kennyc yeah you're right it's costly but many modern homes don't allow much wiggle room for this, not without damaging the overall value of the home.  Many times there are staircases or other obstacles or it's already an open concept to begin with so you're just creating new problems.  I agree there are many options if you want to do ALOT of work and spend a ton of money.

It's just a rant about a trend of "weird" living rooms that offer little options other than just a tv - often only above a fireplace. I know they're not thinking about my rig when they design a house, but it's almost impossible in 'many' of todays designs.

uncledemp
712 posts
 

I’m my opinion, the open concept is good for a couple of reasons. 
 

1. If the house is on the smaller side, the concept stretches the square footage a bit by not dividing the space too many times. 
 

2. Many people like being able to cook, eat, socialize, listen to music/ watch tv as a family/group, rather than apart. 
 

If I had choice, I’d take the open concept living area with another area for a stereo. But in the end, spending time with the people I love is a priority, I’m the CLO! (chief love officer)
 

 

stuartk
2,392 posts
 

@charles1dad

Smart! When we built our current house, I’d just barely tipped my toe into audio and regrettably, didn’t give much thought to it when we were in the design phase. I seem to have lucked out, though. Despite the fact that the living room is the only room large enough to accommodate a system and that furniture inhibits idea positioning of monitors, I’m extremely gratified by the degree to which I've been able to refine the system. 

 

@uncledemp

I’m my opinion, the open concept is good for a couple of reasons.

1. If the house is on the smaller side, the concept stretches the square footage a bit by not dividing the space too many times.
2. Many people like being able to cook, eat, socialize, listen to music/ watch tv as a family/group, rather than apart.

I can’t argue with this -- it makes perfect sense, given your priorities!

 

stuartk
2,392 posts
 

@larsman 

No worries!  

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