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This clever interiors trick is the secret to creating multifunctional spaces — and it was integral to the design of many English country houses of the past
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On the face of it, open-plan spaces offer plenty of upside: flexibility and, often, an uplifting feeling of airiness.
The result might be a succession of seamless spaces, but it might not suit those who may crave the reassuring embrace of four walls.
(Image credit: West One Bathrooms)There is another way to achieve a similar result that was integral to the design of many English country houses of the past.
The Courtyard Room at last summer’s WOW!house, designed by Sims Hilditch, demonstrated how glazed walls can be employed to create spaces with dedicated functions without fragmenting them.
The choice of steel frames might maximise light, but the result can feel more like an office than a home.