Old houses / New ways of living
The pleasure of connection. The beauty of separation.
One of the enduring pleasures of a period home is the character of its individual rooms. A doorway frames a view, a fireplace creates a natural gathering point, and the proportions of each space contribute to the architectural rhythm of the house.
Yet the way we live has changed. Kitchens have become social spaces, family life moves easily between cooking, dining and relaxation, and homeowners increasingly want interiors that feel connected rather than compartmentalised.
Open-plan living can offer a beautiful solution, but in a historic property it deserves a thoughtful approach. The aim is not necessarily to remove every dividing wall. It is to discover where a greater sense of openness will improve the home, while protecting the proportions, details and atmosphere that give the building its identity.
01 / Read the architecture
Understand the House Before Changing Its Layout
Period houses were often arranged according to a clear hierarchy of spaces. Formal reception rooms occupied prominent positions, kitchens were more separate, and smaller rooms provided privacy and practical functions.
Although this arrangement may not suit contemporary family life in every respect, it can contain an architectural logic worth retaining. The positions of windows, fireplaces, doorways and principal walls establish the character and scale of each room.
Before considering structural alterations, it is useful to identify which elements make the property special. Original cornices, timber floors, panelled doors and chimney breasts can all influence the most appropriate design direction.
A successful renovation begins by asking how the existing layout can be improved, rather than assuming that complete openness is always the answer.
02 / The spaces in between
Sometimes a Wider Doorway Is More Beautiful Than an Entirely Open Room
There is a particular elegance in moving from one well-proportioned room into another. The experience of a period home often depends on these transitions: an entrance hall leading into a drawing room, a framed opening towards the dining room, or a view that unfolds gradually through the property.
Creating a larger opening between adjoining spaces can introduce a greater sense of connection without removing their individual identities. Where appropriate, glazed doors or carefully detailed internal screens can allow rooms to feel open while preserving the option of privacy.
This approach is sometimes described as broken-plan living. Rather than combining the entire ground floor into one continuous space, it creates a series of connected areas with subtle degrees of separation.
For a Georgian or Victorian home, that distinction can be particularly valuable. The architectural rhythm remains legible, while circulation and sightlines become more natural for contemporary life.
03 / The social heart
Creating a Kitchen That Connects With the Rest of the Home
The kitchen is often the starting point for a more open arrangement. In many older homes it was originally a practical, enclosed room, quite separate from formal dining and reception spaces.
Contemporary kitchens frequently accommodate far more than cooking. They have become places for informal meals, conversation, entertaining and everyday family life. Improving their connection with adjoining rooms can transform how the house is experienced.
Yet the most successful kitchen designs still benefit from a clear sense of structure. A generous island, a dining arrangement, carefully positioned cabinetry and a comfortable sitting area can each have a distinct purpose within the larger composition.
In some properties, a sensitively designed extension creates the space and natural light needed without making substantial changes to the principal historic rooms. Our guide to kitchen extensions for period homes explores this approach in greater detail.
04 / Defining each space
An Open Room Still Needs Intimacy
One of the most common difficulties with open-plan living is the loss of definition. Without a thoughtful furniture arrangement, a large space can feel more like a passage between activities than a sequence of comfortable rooms.
The key is to create distinct settings without rebuilding the walls between them. A dining table beneath a carefully positioned pendant light can establish one area, while an arrangement of sofas and armchairs defines another.
Rugs, occasional tables, bespoke cabinetry and changes in lighting can introduce a quiet sense of separation. The result is a room that feels connected but never undefined.
In period properties, these arrangements are most successful when they respond to the original proportions. A fireplace can remain the centre of a sitting area, while views towards historic windows or the garden guide the positioning of furniture.
05 / Continuity and character
Let Materials Connect the Old and New
In an open-plan period interior, materials play an important role in establishing a sense of unity. When several activities occupy adjoining spaces, the relationship between flooring, cabinetry, walls and furniture becomes more visible.
Timber can provide warmth and continuity, while natural stone introduces a contrasting architectural quality. Carefully selected textiles soften the interior and help create an atmosphere of comfort within generous spaces.
Consistency does not require every surface to match. A kitchen may need practical stone flooring while an adjoining sitting area benefits from timber and a generous rug. The important consideration is how the materials meet and whether their tones, textures and proportions feel compatible.
Bespoke joinery can strengthen these connections. Cabinetry, shelving and discreet storage can echo the language of existing architectural details while accommodating the practical requirements of modern living.
06 / A place to retreat
Preserve the Pleasure of a Separate Room
Not every activity benefits from an open environment. Quiet reading, working from home and more formal entertaining can all be better accommodated in rooms with a greater sense of enclosure.
Period houses often offer a wonderful opportunity to preserve these intimate spaces alongside a more sociable family area. A drawing room with its original fireplace, a beautifully proportioned study or a smaller morning room can bring variety to the wider home.
There is real value in allowing the house to offer different experiences. A generous kitchen and family room can provide connection, while quieter rooms offer privacy, calm and a change of pace.
In this way, contemporary openness and traditional character can reinforce one another rather than compete.
07 / Beyond the visual
Designing for Light, Sound and Everyday Comfort
A more open layout changes how a property functions in ways that are not always apparent on an architectural drawing. Sound travels more readily between connected spaces, cooking aromas can move towards sitting areas, and lighting needs to accommodate several activities at once.
These practical details should be considered early in the design. Upholstered furniture, rugs, curtains and other soft finishes can help create a more comfortable acoustic environment. Kitchen ventilation requires careful planning, particularly when cooking and relaxation areas share the same volume.
Lighting should be layered rather than treated as one scheme for the whole room. Task lighting at kitchen worktops, decorative lighting above a dining table and softer illumination around seating areas allow the atmosphere to change throughout the day.
Heating, storage, circulation and privacy also deserve attention. The success of an open-plan room depends on its ability to support everyday life just as much as on its visual appearance.
08 / Before building work begins
Structural and Conservation Considerations Matter
Opening up a period property may involve alterations to walls, doorways or other parts of the building's original structure. Such changes should never be considered solely as decorative decisions.
Some internal walls provide structural support, while others may form part of the building's historic character or fire-safety arrangement. An architect and, where required, a structural engineer should assess the proposed changes before work begins.
Listed buildings may require listed building consent for alterations that affect their special character, and structural work may require building regulations approval. The specific requirements depend on the building and the proposed work.
For this reason, an early discussion with the appropriate professionals is essential. It allows architectural possibilities, conservation requirements and interior design ambitions to be considered together.
Homeowners beginning a substantial project may also find our guide to renovating a period property helpful when planning the wider renovation.
The Kings Interiors approach
Bringing Old and New Into Balance
Open-plan living within a period home is most successful when the design begins with an appreciation of what makes the building special. A more connected layout should improve the experience of the home without removing the architectural qualities that give it character.
Sometimes that means opening two rooms into one generous family space. In other properties, a series of carefully considered openings and a more fluid arrangement provide the right balance between connection and privacy.
At Kings Interiors, we approach substantial residential renovations through considered spatial planning, material selection and interior detailing, working with the appointed architects, contractors and specialist consultants as appropriate to the project.
Based in Berkshire, our studio creates refined residential interiors for private homes across the Home Counties, London and the wider South of England.
Discover how our full-service interior design approach supports substantial home renovations, from early design decisions through to the finished interior.
