The open concept floor plan, the holy grail of home design…or is it? It may be that walls are coming back into fashion for a variety of reasons. Some of the top home builders in SC are adapting to the current trends and listening to what customers want, and it seems many families are looking for a little more privacy in the form of separate rooms. If you’re in the planning stages of a custom home, consider the pros and cons of the open concept floor plan. 

Pros and Cons of an Open Floor Plan 

• Pro: Home feels bigger. Perhaps the biggest benefit of the open floor plan is the wide open space. Your home feels larger because it is mostly one large open room with furniture as the only definition between spaces.  
• Con: Can be noisier. With no walls to separate each room, the noise from the kitchen bleeds into the living room and the noise from the TV drifts into the dining room, etc. It can get especially noisy when entertaining large groups.  
• Pro: Better air circulation. Air flows easily in an open floor concept, making the HVAC system more efficient.  
• Con: Less privacy. There’s not much privacy in an open floor plan home, which could be an issue for some families depending on your preferences. A family full of introverts may struggle.  
• Pro: Room for furniture. The open floor plan gives you plenty of options for furniture. Feel free to get the large sectional couch or the dining table that seats 10 or 12.  
• Con: Kitchen smells spread. When the kitchen is open to the rest of the rooms, the lingering scents from food can spread easily, which may not be pleasant.  
• Bonus Pro: The View. If you’re building a home with a lake view, an open concept home can offer better sight lines from anywhere in the home. 

Pros and Cons of a Closed Floor Plan  

• Pro: Noise control. Individual rooms separated by walls and doors can help control noise within your home. Close yourself in the office for peace and quiet while the kids play in the living room.  
• Con: Rooms feel smaller. You may find that your rooms feel smaller and that your home feels more cramped overall.  
• Pro: More privacy. Privacy is important to some, especially introverts, who need time to themselves to rest and rejuvenate. Having separate rooms, even in the living areas, makes this possible. 
• Con: Inhibits air circulation. More walls and closed off rooms can inhibit air flow for your HVAC system, but it isn’t necessarily a problem. Simply open doors whenever possible and be sure your HVAC system is in good working condition.  
• Pro: Kitchen smells are contained. When the kitchen is more closed off you can keep cooking smells more contained.  
• Con: Furniture options are more limited. Smaller spaces do limit your furniture choices, but choosing the right pieces can help make smaller rooms seem larger.  
• Bonus Pro: Resale Benefits. More rooms can look better on paper when it comes to listing your home to sell in the future.  

Customize your Floor Plan with Total Quality, One of the Premier Home Builders in SC 

After considering the pros and cons of open and closed floor plans, you probably have an idea of which style you prefer. One of the biggest advantages of working with a builder to design a custom home is that you and your builder can create a floor plan that works for you. It can be completely open, completely closed off, or some combination of the two. Enjoy the freedom you get when working with one of the most elite custom home builders in SC. Call Total Quality today: (864) 868-5253.  

Living on the lake is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. You can never be too cautious about water safety, especially when you have small children. Before you even start looking at Lake Keowee homes for sale, learn all you can about water safety. Here are some tips for keeping your toddler safe when you live on the water.

Water Safety at Home

It’s easy to get complacent when you’re home, in the comfort of your own back yard. But this is the riskiest place for drowning. Follow these tips:

• Lock all exterior doors, including front doors that don’t lead directly to the water.
• Use a chime system so that if a door is opened, you’ll know.
• Consider fencing in the back yard with a childproof latch so that kids can play in the yard without being able to reach the water.

Safety Near and in the Water

Whether you’re hanging out on your own private dock or swimming/wading in the water right off your own property, this is another place for extreme caution.

• Adequate supervision. Keep your eyes on your children at all times or make sure someone else you trust is watching. Always make sure a responsible adult is keeping an eye out for trouble. If that designated person needs a break for any reason, be sure to appoint someone else to keep watch.
• Put the phone away. Phones are incredibly distracting and pull your attention away from the water in an instant, often without even realizing it. Plus, your phone is at risk for water damage when you have it out near the water. The safest option is to store it some distance away from the water.
• Make sure your kids can swim early. Swimming lessons can start for babies as early as 6 months. Survival lessons are available for kids of all ages that teach them to float on their back in the water and not to panic in case they accidentally fall in. The earlier your child learns to swim, the better.

Boating and Watercraft Safety

When you have your small child/children out on a boat or jet-ski, there are some additional water safety tips that you should take into consideration.

• People of all ages should wear a life jacket. This goes for everyone, whether you can swim or not. Boating accidents can involve head injuries that could leave you unconscious. In that case, a life jacket can literally save your life. Make sure the life jacket fits properly and is put on correctly. Life jackets often have an easily forgotten strap that hooks between the legs to keep them from riding up and sliding off. Be sure to secure that strap, in addition to the front clasps.
• Wear, and have your kids wear, non-slip water shoes while on the boat to prevent accidents or falls.
• Enroll the whole family in a boating safety class.

Find Lake Keowee Homes for Sale through Total Quality Homebuilders and Waterfront Properties

Now that you and your entire family, including the tiniest one, are prepared to live on the water with these safety tips, you can start checking out Lake Keowee homes for sale. Total Quality Homebuilders and Waterfront Properties specializes in both custom home building and real estate, so whether you’re looking for an existing home or a lot to build on, TQ can help. Call today to see what’s available now: (864) 868-5253.