Sep. 27, 2011 - What is a Great Room?

What is a Great Room? If you are confused by this term, you are not alone. Given many people who use the term do not have the same definition of what it actually is, you will see a few different uses meaning different things.

1) Originally there was no "Great ROOM", there was a "Great Room CONCEPT". At that time, it was used for an open floor plan where there is no wall between any of the INFORMAL rooms. There was still a Formal Living Room and a Formal Dining Room at the front of the house. The rear of the home was one huge room "room" incorporating the Kitchen, Family Room and everyday informal dining space, utilizing the Great Room Concept.

Often this space also included a table and usually some barstools at a kitchen counter that extended into the living space. Originally that was called "a breakfast bar". Now barstool counters are more commonly seen as part of an island IN the kitchen space. In smaller homes you have to watch for that placement and note the encroachment if someone were actually sitting there. Some block the refrigerator. Some block the walkway. Some would have the barstools knocking into the dining spaces chairs at the table. Always look at a space and the amenities from the standpoint of how you would actually USE those spaces, vs how "impressive" they are.

2) Some builders who were not fully aware of what "great room concept" meant, thought it was a way to show how GREAT they were and put an awesome Great Room AWAY from the kitchen, and smack dab in the middle of the house, fully visible when you opened the front door. These are kind of funny really, for a lot of reasons.

I still remember the first time someone I knew bought one of the first of those. It was John Orobono. He had alreaady entered into a contract to buy it when I met him. He called me to help him sell the home he was moving from, not to buy the home he was moving in to.

I ran into him later, after he had moved. He said, "Ardell, the new house is great! But the "Great Room" is so BRIGHT that I have to hide in the closet to watch the football game on a Sunday afternoon!"

In the floor plan pictured above, they have a "den" to that purpose to the right of the "Great Room", highlighting the fact that they are not necessarily all that "great" for watching TV in.

Love that John Orobono. It's been almost twenty years since I've seen him, and he has at least 3 lines that are in my all time favorites and most quoted, after all this time.

3) Today, and likely appropriately so, you see "great room" used instead of "Family Room". Some day we will not see "family" room at all, given it refers to a "family unit" and not really appropriate as a real estate term. Great Room is as good of a replacement as any to put the focus on the real estate...vs who may or may not live in that house. 

Now someone has to come up with a new term for the "Master" Bedroom...because really...who is "The Master" of that house these days? :)

Sep. 28, 2011 - RE: What is a Great Room?

Seems like lately I have been seeing a great room and a formal living room.  Home entertaining must be comming back in style!

Oct. 16, 2011 - RE: What is a Great Room?

The trend in Canada to call the Master Suite is "Owner's Retreat".

I agree some Great Rooms have double height spaces which looks very spacious and open when guests coming in the house, but they're not functional at all. 

If anything the dining area should have more focus since it encourages people to gather around the table and socialize.

Nov. 18, 2011 - RE: What is a Great Room?

 Your blog is very sensible. For me a great room is when i check-in in a five star hotel having the superior suite room. It simply the best. But you are right details like should take into consideration, for perfect home. 

Dec. 29, 2011 - Guest house in Gurgaon

Great room is single living room area. Usually the area is separated from the kitchen with by a breakfast or low counter top. The dining area is also included in this one large space. Great for family & entertaining because the slave cooking in the kitchen can socialize with everyone too.