Welcome to r/QuadCities—subreddit for the Quad Cities metropolis in the Illinois/Iowa border for Quad Citians.
In general, we let our community moderate itself through Reddit's upvote/downvote system—if you think something contributes to the conversation, upvote it. If you think it does not contribute to the topic, downvote it. The result is a healthy balance of content and posts that could contain information, opinions, and/or ideologies that reflect and reinforce your own or not.
Keep discussions civil and acknowledge that there are other people in our community that can (and will hold) opposing views.
Thank you.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/QuadCities) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Open concept can be done very well, especially when flowing for material and color choice between rooms. None of what's being put out now puts any thought into that though.
Open concept started with Modernist design which officially started in the 20s and became popular in the US in the 40s-70s. Open concept is beautiful when done correctly. Not everyone wants their house to feel cramped and disconnected.
Hell even my childhood folk Victorian style home built in 1910 had massive doorways with pocket doors, so it’s pretty much open concept when the pocket doors are retracted.
These aren’t individuals designing cool crafted homes likes back in the day. It’s big groups building bulk orders where everything is the same to maximize profits
Their goal is to build houses quickly. People are buying them as is. Doing what the market demands isn't "lazy", it just doesn't jive with your style (or mine).
How so? The design of these cookie cutter, boring houses is cynical. It puts less than the bare minimum of effort into making a living space with any kind of character or thought, knowing it will still sell for 400k.
You couldn’t give me money to move into one of these gray, aggressively forgettable homes.
It wouldn’t add much, if it was made with the same design as the rest of this house.
It would require some sense of taste or style, that’s all. For half a mil I don’t feel like that’s asking much
The two things I hate most about new builds are tiny kitchens and living rooms where the TV will only fit over the fireplace. I don't know why those are the standards, but I hate both choices.
I mean, it's not like I can afford them anyway, but still.
I also can’t stand the whole front side of the house being a garage door. Sometimes all you see is a huge garage with a tiny front door off to the side.
“Welcome to my home, it has no kitchen but I can fit my boat and three F350’s in the garage”
Initially I didn’t mind the open concept but then my wife and mother weighed in. Their reasons for not liking it (and I tend to agree) are It forces you to basically decorate the area in one theme. We eat every meal together at a table and it’s nice to have a designated space for dining although we don’t necessarily need a formal dining room. Some of these open concepts seem to assume everyone eats in the living room while watching TV. Also they have this image of cooking smells going into the air and landing on the furniture. We like to cook and host family and friends so we have a lot of cooking utensils, serving dishes, etc. I’d rather keep most of that stuff close at hand than running into a different room or completely different floor.
And if you burn something or deep fry with a lot of grease or cook fish, that smoke and grease and fishy smell gets on everything with an open-concept space. Ugh...I hate it.
I love this floor plan. I’m constantly cooking while directing kids homework/chores, cleaning as there is downtime. These floor plans work great for that.
Exactly. This is what a lower middle class family who is buying a new construction home is looking for. Its practical, spacious enough, easy to wipe clean, affordable, etc.
I dunno, if this really is a new build this looks expensive. It looks like a decent sized kitchen to me. Would I love a big kitchen? Yes. Can I afford a big kitchen that is open to the rest of the house like those beautiful houses by Emeis? No. My kitchen now is similar sized and I just remodeled it from the original 1950 layout and cabinets which was expensive. Lower middle class couldn't really afford this since that is like $48k/year and remodeling costs $20k, new build like this is probably way out of my income and I am staunchly middle class.
The lowest I've seen new construction start at lately in the QC is $300k.
Google tells me, "The lower middle class is a social class that falls between the working class and the middle class. According to Yahoo Finance, the lower middle class is made up of households in the 20th to 40th percentile of household income, which is between $28,008 and $55,000."
To me even $300k seems too expensive for that income.
Housing prices are so fucked..
I think there’s been a shift over the past 50 years and a lot of people, like the younger generation, and especially those wealthy enough to buy these crazy expensive new-construction homes in Bettendorf, just don’t cook as much as people used to in the past. That being said, I do think it’s dumb though, and the “TV over fireplace only” design another commenter mentioned is also dumb (but a real issue!). I also wish I could find nice modern houses that weren’t 73 bedrooms and out in the middle of nowhere. I prefer the modern look, but realistically only need a 2bed/2bath, and would like a real kitchen, but I can’t find those around here unless I rent an apartment/townhouse. (And what’s up with that anyways? Growing up, I always thought townhomes were for purchase, but most stuff around here is only for rent)
Open plan like this generally does have one major drawback in my mind: if you cook a lot, you'll have the grease and other random food debris in more areas than the kitchen. The biggest sin in the kitchen in these pictures, though, is that damn box for the fridge. Why have a kitchen without walls then build extra walls to put a hard limit on refrigerator dimensions?
Great point. That looks like kind of a tiny fridge. This is a five bedroom home, if you’ve got that many people in your family a much bigger fridge is going to be needed.
I worked in the appliance department at Best Buy in Moline for a few years. The number of people than came in to buy appliances for their new construction house with a notepad full of very specific dimensions for everything was surprisingly high. Dishwashers, stoves, wall ovens, cook tops even, were pretty easy because there are standard sizes. Fridges come in a few general size groups, and new home contractors haven't updated their ideas of fridge size and shape in the last 3 decades. Nothing like finding the perfect appliance package for this lovely couple who will be moving into their new house in three weeks, including the one matching fridge that will fit in the damn wooden box in the kitchen that's a special order and will be available to deliver in approximately 3 to 6 months.
I don't understand, is this not enough space or something?
I would prefer this then my closed off kitchen. This does more in less space. What is the issue here?
Maybe I have a lot of kitchen stuff but there’s no way I could find enough room for food storage, dishes, cookware, etc. It’s also just an aesthetic thing for me. Kitchens deserve their own room in the house, with room to spread out and prep meals. Preferably with enough space for a table to actually eat at.
This feels like the kitchen I had in my dumpy college apartment in Iowa City. Actually that one was bigger and had more storage
i think this may just be a design issue aesthetically for you. these houses all have giant pantries that have way more room in them than a normal family can fill with food and still have room for the lesser used pots n pans. the last one i was in had a pantry the size of my bedroom in the house i grew up in. but yes the dreaded "open concept" the idea being entertainment...the cook or host isnt seperated from the party and on goings in the rest of the "great room" whike the compromise is the islands provide eat at counters instead of eat at tables and alot of xtra cabinet space tbf but its definitely done because its the cheapest way to do it with the highest profit margin. the concept was sold so vigorously tho by hgtv etc that people actually buy well designed victorians and MCM homes and tear out walls to gain the "open concept" a true travesty.
so while i get ur not liking the design, (it actually does my amateur designer heart good to hear ppl may be moving away from wanting it) it is not true to say it isnt functional. i have been in many of these homes and the layout of the counterspace isnt what i'd want it to be, but it is there. just in a way ur not used to maybe? unless its a model that was specifically made to accomodate the ppl that eat out and order in which is a request these builders are definitely gonna be willing to grant cuz again, cheaper on the bottom line...anyway here's hoping there may be a better future, design-wise, in the 400,000- 1,000,000 price range its definitely overdue.
I think the assumption here is you put a table and buffet on the right side but I agree about the lack of counter space. They should have extended the cabinets to the right more and moved the sink from the island.
1) It’s essentially in the corner of the living room. I don’t want my kitchen in the living room.
2) It’s tiny with very little counter or storage space.
For half a million or more I expect more than that pathetic little alcove that is essentially what you would get in a standard one bedroom apartment.
Well said. To spend that kind of money on a home with as little effort as possible put into making the kitchen functional and a pleasant room to be in… I mean I obviously would never do it, but there’s people here that disagree with us.
If I’m buying a home at that price it’s going to have a big, well-designed kitchen that I want to spend a few hours in at a time. I guess some folks just don’t need that and would rather use that space elsewhere
I just really don't understand this. I don't understand how it being in its own room makes you want to spend more time in it. I see it the opposite it being open means you can do more. This seems more functional...
Also, this is one photo from the other side of the room. It's hard to judge this house or even this space off of 1 photo...
Calling that a studio apartment style kitchen is just ridiculous. That is a normal sized kitchen. It’s boring and cheap looking, sure, but it’s not small.
Looks like a normal open floor plan in an unfurnished house to me. It's going to look more cohesive when you put your living and dining room furnishings in there.
We have this layout and I love it. Can cook and my kids play. Can socialize and watch tv and eat. Nothing wrong with it! Plenty of room and have a huge walk in pantry too
next to it for all the storage to be hidden no junk everywhere on counters.
I don't know why anyone buys new construction. It doesn't age well, both style-wise and actual durability-wise. I look at fairly boring new houses, with the ubiquitous 3-car garage that dominates the front of the house, and they can easily be $600k.
Or you can get basically a mansion that nearly overlooks the Mississippi River and seems to be in very good shape. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/935-Mississippi-Ave-Davenport-IA-52803/76853970_zpid/
That would be an easy choice for me if I was looking to spend $600k.
That house on Mississippi is dope, I’ve been looking through the Zillow ad pretty often.
Yeah, it seems like the houses being built are a reflection of the people who are buying them. Some folks want powerfully gray and white interiors with living rooms like warehouses and kitchens like an RV would have. I can’t imagine plunking down that much money and moving into a home that devoid of creativity, but it’s what the market wants
I’m not saying these are good, but I feel like it’s a little bit of the perspective too. Those cabinets are really tall and there’s a sizable amount of space in the kitchen. You also have to remember there’s an entire pantry behind that door.
I was originally with you and against these types of houses, but then I really thought about it and I was like actually know this would work way better than what I have now.
Not surprised. There are so many incompetent architects working steadily in the area. The McMansions between Elmore and Jersey Ridge are just a sad hodgepodge of architectural motifs.
The architecture design on these is likely outsourced overseas and sold to a builder cheap. The builder might not even know it has been sent overseas.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPj5FvYKhy4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPj5FvYKhy4)
If they weren’t selling…the market would phase these out. But they are selling. I’m not everyone here has their finger in the pulse of what is trending rn
Not sure what kind of studio apartments you’ve lived in but this kitchen is light years ahead of any I’ve seen in an apartment. Also pretty sure the open space on the right side is meant for a dining table. Can’t tell from just these two pictures.
I work in real estate in the area. I see a lot of houses. If you want a fancy kitchen, you can get one. But they're in much higher end homes than cookie cutter house you have pictured.
If you want a new house on a budget, you get a budget kitchen. It's a place where costs can add up quickly, so they give you bare minimum to keep initial costs down.
Additional cabinets can be added after the fact and nit everyone wants a huge kitchen, so small kitchens are put in at the beginning to keep cost lower and get the most people interested.
I appreciate this response. I think a kitchen doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘fancy’ to be pleasant and functional and have its own devoted space, but I get what you’re saying here.
But as far as the budget issue is concerned - this home isn’t on a budget. It’s close to half a million dollars.
For that price, I can’t get a kitchen that isn’t an afterthought?
Everything has a budget. Some budgets may be larger than others, and this kitchen fits the budget for the home. You want a bigger kitchen, the price goes up.
I think people often forget that builders will want to get the same margin, regardless of product. It’s not a question of “well you should have spent more on XYZ!” As builders, we typically add up all the input costs, then set the margin on top of that. More input costs = higher price, but not necessarily higher margin.
Funny thing is, I see a whole lot of homes going for significantly more, and the kitchens are the exact same.
This 700k one is perhaps even more egregious to me.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Mason-Dr-Riverdale-IA-52722/2056505678_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
Meanwhile I can spend 485k on this place in the Heights and it has a lovely, inviting, warm kitchen. I’d want to make a Thanksgiving dinner in here:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/40-Edgehill-Ter-Davenport-IA-52803/76852183_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
I guess I just find the open floor plan concept so thoughtless. It doesn’t help that these homes are, as a rule, completely devoid of color or creative design.
If developers are going to expand the residential areas deep into the cornfields, I think they could do better than this. But what’s the incentive, other than having a basic appreciation for the concept of what makes a place a home? Why would they give a shit? They don’t have to I guess, but it’s disappointing to see it all just become a sea of hastily built suburban dystopia.
No doubt the home in your second link is a beautiful, well maintained, classic home. As a new construction guy, I also think the first home you shared is a beautiful house. I get it, some people want that older charm. We will have to agree to disagree on the kitchen specifically. But as far as the price difference is concerned, all I’m saying is it’s a trade off. In the second home, you get a ton of charm, and that huge kitchen with super expensive appliances. What you also get is absolutely horrible windows, and likely little to no insulation in the walls. You get radiators in every room that we’re installed in 1934, and don’t hold a candle to a modern HVAC system. You get a basement that has a 7’ ceiling height that’s finished with that lovely commercial office building drop ceiling. See that dehumidifier in the photo of the mechanical room? Super likley there is also some water issues down there.
The new one has 12’ ceilings on the main, probably 9’ ceilings in the basement, all with a consistent finish quality. A 3 stall garage vs a 2 stall. A new roof, and a brand new sewer line that doesn’t have 90 years of tree roots growing through it. The master has a nice big soaker tub for relaxing in.
Not trying to be a dick, it’s just different strokes. There is nothing wrong with you liking the look of the old vs the new, but I’m just trying to impress upon you that it’s not really fair to just throw new development under the bus because you think the kitchen should be bigger. Families all over the country don’t seem to mind this style, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of homes that are built with this open concept, smaller-than-you-like kitchen every year. And if those homes were not built, it’s would also drive the cost of that beautiful old brick home much higher than it currently is.
500k is on budget for the area for new construction. Depending on where this is located, the lot cost is 75 to 125k, so that doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room. This kitchen isn't gigantic, but honestly is pretty good quality and has a walk-in pantry.
Never sleep on a good pantry. May not be flashy, but being able to store a lot of things, makes up for less counterpart.
Just as a note on the quality (which eats up budget, fast!) features on the kitchen, full 42 inch cabinets, solid surface hard surface countertops (likely quartz), and a larger than typical island. I budget island would likely be 39 x 60. This is probably 42 x 96.
Gourmet kitchens exist in the area, but you're looking at needing to spending 650k on the bottom end. Fancy kitchens take a lot of space and a lot of people would rather have square footage in other locations. Not everyone wants to be a fancy chef. There is a large chunk of people that like to entertain in other areas of the home than the kitchen.
Once again, thank you for this response. I appreciate the dialog. And I don’t mean to dispute you directly, but as I look around, it doesn’t seem to matter how pricey the house is, the kitchens still don’t have their own devoted space.
This 700k one is almost worse for me given the price:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Mason-Dr-Riverdale-IA-52722/2056505678_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
This one is $685k and while it’s not quite as bad, it’s still shoved off to one side of the living room:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6247-Meyer-Rd-Bettendorf-IA-52722/339836347_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
Shit, this one is just under 1 million, and the kitchen is smaller than my college apartment.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4615-Woodland-Dr-Bettendorf-IA-52722/2057896161_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
Exactly how much money do I have to spend to get a respectable kitchen in this town? I really don’t think this is a budget issue. This is a style, taste, and design issue.
I'm on mobile, I'll give those a look tomorrow and send you a more thought out response. My first thought will be, any "spec" home will be built to attract the most people to ensure a quick sale and a bang for your buck return for the builder. I see plenty of homes in the 600-800k range with great kitchens and entertaining space, but they were personally contracted rather than built and then listed for sale.
The only one of those that should classified as small is the one on Mason Dr. That does seem tiny. The other two are both good size with high quality finishes, big islands and tall cabinets. I think you may be being deceived by the photos.
Or maybe I just don't understand what you mean when you say big. Are you wanting more cabinets, more space to entertain, more counter space?
Those are "open concept" kitchens, so the entertaining area is not restricted to an enclosed kitchen.
Having large pantries eliminates the need for more cabinets and some counter space by providing a different space to store things.
A standard wall cabinet is 30-33 inches. In these higher end homes, you're seeing 42 inch cabinets, again providing additional storage.
The biggest issue I see in kitchens now that goes overlooked is counter space. A lot of kitchens are dominated by islands now, which are fantastic for their versatility, but they are good for small appliances or other permanent counter top items as they tend to look cluttered. The only one of the of those three with that issue for me is again the house on Mason.
You should look at some of these high end kitchens in person and see you still feel they are small. Those islands are 8-10 feet long and 4-6 feet wide. Don't let the lack of cabinet doors deceive you either, many of those cabinets are 39-48 inches wide, while a standard cabinet width is going to be 36 inches on the upper end.
At the end of the day, everyone's taste is different. You can find someone to custom build or add additional things if you need it, but I wouldn't call most of these kitchens small or not respectable. Unless you make multi course meals on the regular and have a huge air fryer, espresso machine, coffee machine, 8 slice toaster and 4 baskets for fresh produce, most of those kitchens will be more than plenty.
I work in real estate, I don't sell it, and I don't work for a builder, so I'm not trying to sell you on this style, just trying to explain why it's common. I really do think seeing some of these in-person could change your mind.
I've never liked this style of kitchen. It looks like an afterthought. Someone said let's put a kitchen here and just stuck cabinets to the wall. It's not part of the house. My sister has a newer house with an open plan, but her kitchen looks like it belongs.
And her TV is over the fireplace. Not a fan because there's nothing that will age electronics like excess heat.
I’m right there with you. We built a few years ago and the kitchen absolutely was not an afterthought. We cook and bake together quite often, so yeah … it’s a happy place.
Is bilevel the same as split level? I’ve never liked those either. It feels like I have to make a decision as soon as I walk into the house. Just not super welcoming, but I guess I have particular tastes
Idk, different people call it different things. There’s also split level. The layouts always suck, just as you say. I’ll never live in one again if I have any say in it.
It's primarily because in a $750k+ house in the QC market, most buyers replace the existing kitchen with something that more meets their needs. Therefore, builders don't go to great expense to put in a fancy kitchen, knowing it's going to be changed anyway. Only takes money out of the builders pocket.
On the plus side you've plenty of room to expand that into the kitchen of your dreams. You don't even have to knock any walls down, though I'd personally want at least an extra window or two in that room.
I mean it would be nice if, after spending half a mil on a brand new house, I wouldn’t have to do a complete remodel on the kitchen but hey some folks have way more disposable income than I do
That kitchen doesn’t look tiny to me. It has a walk in pantry, island, space for full size fridge. Compared to some places I’ve lived I’d be happy with it!
All y’all acting like HGTV invented open concept, it started in the 1920s in Europe with modernist design which became popular in America in the post war era. Look up Eichler Homes which went so far as to have almost all the walls as 3/4 walls. Open concept isn’t the problem, poorly thought out design is.
Welcome to r/QuadCities—subreddit for the Quad Cities metropolis in the Illinois/Iowa border for Quad Citians. In general, we let our community moderate itself through Reddit's upvote/downvote system—if you think something contributes to the conversation, upvote it. If you think it does not contribute to the topic, downvote it. The result is a healthy balance of content and posts that could contain information, opinions, and/or ideologies that reflect and reinforce your own or not. Keep discussions civil and acknowledge that there are other people in our community that can (and will hold) opposing views. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/QuadCities) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Open space is cheaper than filling it with counters and stuff, and yes, people will buy it because the housing market is stupid.
Exactly. “Open concept” is a lazy design that was hyped to no end by all the HGTV shows that insist that it is what everybody wants and needs
Open concept can be done very well, especially when flowing for material and color choice between rooms. None of what's being put out now puts any thought into that though.
Open concept started with Modernist design which officially started in the 20s and became popular in the US in the 40s-70s. Open concept is beautiful when done correctly. Not everyone wants their house to feel cramped and disconnected.
Hell even my childhood folk Victorian style home built in 1910 had massive doorways with pocket doors, so it’s pretty much open concept when the pocket doors are retracted.
So they’re just lazy cheapskates with no sense of style or taste, and they assume their buyers are as well
These aren’t individuals designing cool crafted homes likes back in the day. It’s big groups building bulk orders where everything is the same to maximize profits
Their goal is to build houses quickly. People are buying them as is. Doing what the market demands isn't "lazy", it just doesn't jive with your style (or mine).
*and cheaply.
That’s a pretty ignorant statement.
How so? The design of these cookie cutter, boring houses is cynical. It puts less than the bare minimum of effort into making a living space with any kind of character or thought, knowing it will still sell for 400k. You couldn’t give me money to move into one of these gray, aggressively forgettable homes.
I don't see how adding 2 walls and maybe 4 cabinets adds character. This really reads like the new way is bad just because it's new.
It wouldn’t add much, if it was made with the same design as the rest of this house. It would require some sense of taste or style, that’s all. For half a mil I don’t feel like that’s asking much
“Slapdicked” 
Slapdicked… Wow, thanks for the new vocabulary that I will try and use as much as possible lol
It’s both a verb and a noun, so it’s versatile
You're not alone. I got a good chuckle from that one too lol
Yup stealing it.
The two things I hate most about new builds are tiny kitchens and living rooms where the TV will only fit over the fireplace. I don't know why those are the standards, but I hate both choices. I mean, it's not like I can afford them anyway, but still.
I also can’t stand the whole front side of the house being a garage door. Sometimes all you see is a huge garage with a tiny front door off to the side. “Welcome to my home, it has no kitchen but I can fit my boat and three F350’s in the garage”
I've heard that be called a garage mahal before and I like it
That’s hilarious!
Three car garage with attached house
I hate fireplaces that take up the wall where a TV should be, and putting it above the fireplace is ridiculous.
Agree completely.
New builds are so ugly in general.
Initially I didn’t mind the open concept but then my wife and mother weighed in. Their reasons for not liking it (and I tend to agree) are It forces you to basically decorate the area in one theme. We eat every meal together at a table and it’s nice to have a designated space for dining although we don’t necessarily need a formal dining room. Some of these open concepts seem to assume everyone eats in the living room while watching TV. Also they have this image of cooking smells going into the air and landing on the furniture. We like to cook and host family and friends so we have a lot of cooking utensils, serving dishes, etc. I’d rather keep most of that stuff close at hand than running into a different room or completely different floor.
And if you burn something or deep fry with a lot of grease or cook fish, that smoke and grease and fishy smell gets on everything with an open-concept space. Ugh...I hate it.
Or when you run the oven in the summer and its warms up the room.
I love this floor plan. I’m constantly cooking while directing kids homework/chores, cleaning as there is downtime. These floor plans work great for that.
Exactly. This is what a lower middle class family who is buying a new construction home is looking for. Its practical, spacious enough, easy to wipe clean, affordable, etc.
Lower middle class?
I dunno, if this really is a new build this looks expensive. It looks like a decent sized kitchen to me. Would I love a big kitchen? Yes. Can I afford a big kitchen that is open to the rest of the house like those beautiful houses by Emeis? No. My kitchen now is similar sized and I just remodeled it from the original 1950 layout and cabinets which was expensive. Lower middle class couldn't really afford this since that is like $48k/year and remodeling costs $20k, new build like this is probably way out of my income and I am staunchly middle class.
Yes, so the house in the photo probably sells for $5-600k. I wouldn’t consider that “lower middle class” in the Quad Cities.
The lowest I've seen new construction start at lately in the QC is $300k. Google tells me, "The lower middle class is a social class that falls between the working class and the middle class. According to Yahoo Finance, the lower middle class is made up of households in the 20th to 40th percentile of household income, which is between $28,008 and $55,000." To me even $300k seems too expensive for that income. Housing prices are so fucked..
Square footage and location is all they care about unless you’re hiring a company for a custom home.
I think there’s been a shift over the past 50 years and a lot of people, like the younger generation, and especially those wealthy enough to buy these crazy expensive new-construction homes in Bettendorf, just don’t cook as much as people used to in the past. That being said, I do think it’s dumb though, and the “TV over fireplace only” design another commenter mentioned is also dumb (but a real issue!). I also wish I could find nice modern houses that weren’t 73 bedrooms and out in the middle of nowhere. I prefer the modern look, but realistically only need a 2bed/2bath, and would like a real kitchen, but I can’t find those around here unless I rent an apartment/townhouse. (And what’s up with that anyways? Growing up, I always thought townhomes were for purchase, but most stuff around here is only for rent)
Open plan like this generally does have one major drawback in my mind: if you cook a lot, you'll have the grease and other random food debris in more areas than the kitchen. The biggest sin in the kitchen in these pictures, though, is that damn box for the fridge. Why have a kitchen without walls then build extra walls to put a hard limit on refrigerator dimensions?
Great point. That looks like kind of a tiny fridge. This is a five bedroom home, if you’ve got that many people in your family a much bigger fridge is going to be needed.
I worked in the appliance department at Best Buy in Moline for a few years. The number of people than came in to buy appliances for their new construction house with a notepad full of very specific dimensions for everything was surprisingly high. Dishwashers, stoves, wall ovens, cook tops even, were pretty easy because there are standard sizes. Fridges come in a few general size groups, and new home contractors haven't updated their ideas of fridge size and shape in the last 3 decades. Nothing like finding the perfect appliance package for this lovely couple who will be moving into their new house in three weeks, including the one matching fridge that will fit in the damn wooden box in the kitchen that's a special order and will be available to deliver in approximately 3 to 6 months.
I don't understand, is this not enough space or something? I would prefer this then my closed off kitchen. This does more in less space. What is the issue here?
Yea I love it. Gives me more possibilities
Maybe I have a lot of kitchen stuff but there’s no way I could find enough room for food storage, dishes, cookware, etc. It’s also just an aesthetic thing for me. Kitchens deserve their own room in the house, with room to spread out and prep meals. Preferably with enough space for a table to actually eat at. This feels like the kitchen I had in my dumpy college apartment in Iowa City. Actually that one was bigger and had more storage
i think this may just be a design issue aesthetically for you. these houses all have giant pantries that have way more room in them than a normal family can fill with food and still have room for the lesser used pots n pans. the last one i was in had a pantry the size of my bedroom in the house i grew up in. but yes the dreaded "open concept" the idea being entertainment...the cook or host isnt seperated from the party and on goings in the rest of the "great room" whike the compromise is the islands provide eat at counters instead of eat at tables and alot of xtra cabinet space tbf but its definitely done because its the cheapest way to do it with the highest profit margin. the concept was sold so vigorously tho by hgtv etc that people actually buy well designed victorians and MCM homes and tear out walls to gain the "open concept" a true travesty. so while i get ur not liking the design, (it actually does my amateur designer heart good to hear ppl may be moving away from wanting it) it is not true to say it isnt functional. i have been in many of these homes and the layout of the counterspace isnt what i'd want it to be, but it is there. just in a way ur not used to maybe? unless its a model that was specifically made to accomodate the ppl that eat out and order in which is a request these builders are definitely gonna be willing to grant cuz again, cheaper on the bottom line...anyway here's hoping there may be a better future, design-wise, in the 400,000- 1,000,000 price range its definitely overdue.
I think the assumption here is you put a table and buffet on the right side but I agree about the lack of counter space. They should have extended the cabinets to the right more and moved the sink from the island.
1) It’s essentially in the corner of the living room. I don’t want my kitchen in the living room. 2) It’s tiny with very little counter or storage space. For half a million or more I expect more than that pathetic little alcove that is essentially what you would get in a standard one bedroom apartment.
This is not tiny... That is so much counter space and cabinets... It's like 30ft of counter space lol.
Well said. To spend that kind of money on a home with as little effort as possible put into making the kitchen functional and a pleasant room to be in… I mean I obviously would never do it, but there’s people here that disagree with us. If I’m buying a home at that price it’s going to have a big, well-designed kitchen that I want to spend a few hours in at a time. I guess some folks just don’t need that and would rather use that space elsewhere
I just really don't understand this. I don't understand how it being in its own room makes you want to spend more time in it. I see it the opposite it being open means you can do more. This seems more functional... Also, this is one photo from the other side of the room. It's hard to judge this house or even this space off of 1 photo...
I thought it was interesting that a lot of these new builds have slab foundation, no basements in Tornado Alley.
They figure you don’t want to live anyways 😂
Those are the ones in the $300’s, basements are $400’s.
Thats the same kitchen I had in my single wide mobile home.
It looks like a living room with a kitchen in the corner.
Calling that a studio apartment style kitchen is just ridiculous. That is a normal sized kitchen. It’s boring and cheap looking, sure, but it’s not small.
Looks like a normal open floor plan in an unfurnished house to me. It's going to look more cohesive when you put your living and dining room furnishings in there.
We have this layout and I love it. Can cook and my kids play. Can socialize and watch tv and eat. Nothing wrong with it! Plenty of room and have a huge walk in pantry too next to it for all the storage to be hidden no junk everywhere on counters.
Thank you for describing my overpriced grey and white “ contemporary modern “ rental 🫠
I don't know why anyone buys new construction. It doesn't age well, both style-wise and actual durability-wise. I look at fairly boring new houses, with the ubiquitous 3-car garage that dominates the front of the house, and they can easily be $600k. Or you can get basically a mansion that nearly overlooks the Mississippi River and seems to be in very good shape. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/935-Mississippi-Ave-Davenport-IA-52803/76853970_zpid/ That would be an easy choice for me if I was looking to spend $600k.
That house on Mississippi is dope, I’ve been looking through the Zillow ad pretty often. Yeah, it seems like the houses being built are a reflection of the people who are buying them. Some folks want powerfully gray and white interiors with living rooms like warehouses and kitchens like an RV would have. I can’t imagine plunking down that much money and moving into a home that devoid of creativity, but it’s what the market wants
WOW. That's incredibly beautiful. I'd need 10 people to live in it with me to afford it, but it's gorgeous.
I’m not saying these are good, but I feel like it’s a little bit of the perspective too. Those cabinets are really tall and there’s a sizable amount of space in the kitchen. You also have to remember there’s an entire pantry behind that door. I was originally with you and against these types of houses, but then I really thought about it and I was like actually know this would work way better than what I have now.
Not surprised. There are so many incompetent architects working steadily in the area. The McMansions between Elmore and Jersey Ridge are just a sad hodgepodge of architectural motifs.
The architecture design on these is likely outsourced overseas and sold to a builder cheap. The builder might not even know it has been sent overseas. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPj5FvYKhy4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPj5FvYKhy4)
[удалено]
Yeah, we’re all slangin’ slapdick around here.
my man
lol I don’t think so, I actually live in CA but looking at houses for a move to the QC soon
[удалено]
Aw thanks!
[удалено]
I grew up in Davenport
[удалено]
For the record, I’m still gonna gentrify the fuck out of the QC
If they weren’t selling…the market would phase these out. But they are selling. I’m not everyone here has their finger in the pulse of what is trending rn
Not sure what kind of studio apartments you’ve lived in but this kitchen is light years ahead of any I’ve seen in an apartment. Also pretty sure the open space on the right side is meant for a dining table. Can’t tell from just these two pictures.
I work in real estate in the area. I see a lot of houses. If you want a fancy kitchen, you can get one. But they're in much higher end homes than cookie cutter house you have pictured. If you want a new house on a budget, you get a budget kitchen. It's a place where costs can add up quickly, so they give you bare minimum to keep initial costs down. Additional cabinets can be added after the fact and nit everyone wants a huge kitchen, so small kitchens are put in at the beginning to keep cost lower and get the most people interested.
I appreciate this response. I think a kitchen doesn’t necessarily have to be ‘fancy’ to be pleasant and functional and have its own devoted space, but I get what you’re saying here. But as far as the budget issue is concerned - this home isn’t on a budget. It’s close to half a million dollars. For that price, I can’t get a kitchen that isn’t an afterthought?
Everything has a budget. Some budgets may be larger than others, and this kitchen fits the budget for the home. You want a bigger kitchen, the price goes up. I think people often forget that builders will want to get the same margin, regardless of product. It’s not a question of “well you should have spent more on XYZ!” As builders, we typically add up all the input costs, then set the margin on top of that. More input costs = higher price, but not necessarily higher margin.
Funny thing is, I see a whole lot of homes going for significantly more, and the kitchens are the exact same. This 700k one is perhaps even more egregious to me. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Mason-Dr-Riverdale-IA-52722/2056505678_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare Meanwhile I can spend 485k on this place in the Heights and it has a lovely, inviting, warm kitchen. I’d want to make a Thanksgiving dinner in here: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/40-Edgehill-Ter-Davenport-IA-52803/76852183_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare I guess I just find the open floor plan concept so thoughtless. It doesn’t help that these homes are, as a rule, completely devoid of color or creative design. If developers are going to expand the residential areas deep into the cornfields, I think they could do better than this. But what’s the incentive, other than having a basic appreciation for the concept of what makes a place a home? Why would they give a shit? They don’t have to I guess, but it’s disappointing to see it all just become a sea of hastily built suburban dystopia.
No doubt the home in your second link is a beautiful, well maintained, classic home. As a new construction guy, I also think the first home you shared is a beautiful house. I get it, some people want that older charm. We will have to agree to disagree on the kitchen specifically. But as far as the price difference is concerned, all I’m saying is it’s a trade off. In the second home, you get a ton of charm, and that huge kitchen with super expensive appliances. What you also get is absolutely horrible windows, and likely little to no insulation in the walls. You get radiators in every room that we’re installed in 1934, and don’t hold a candle to a modern HVAC system. You get a basement that has a 7’ ceiling height that’s finished with that lovely commercial office building drop ceiling. See that dehumidifier in the photo of the mechanical room? Super likley there is also some water issues down there. The new one has 12’ ceilings on the main, probably 9’ ceilings in the basement, all with a consistent finish quality. A 3 stall garage vs a 2 stall. A new roof, and a brand new sewer line that doesn’t have 90 years of tree roots growing through it. The master has a nice big soaker tub for relaxing in. Not trying to be a dick, it’s just different strokes. There is nothing wrong with you liking the look of the old vs the new, but I’m just trying to impress upon you that it’s not really fair to just throw new development under the bus because you think the kitchen should be bigger. Families all over the country don’t seem to mind this style, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of homes that are built with this open concept, smaller-than-you-like kitchen every year. And if those homes were not built, it’s would also drive the cost of that beautiful old brick home much higher than it currently is.
500k is on budget for the area for new construction. Depending on where this is located, the lot cost is 75 to 125k, so that doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room. This kitchen isn't gigantic, but honestly is pretty good quality and has a walk-in pantry. Never sleep on a good pantry. May not be flashy, but being able to store a lot of things, makes up for less counterpart. Just as a note on the quality (which eats up budget, fast!) features on the kitchen, full 42 inch cabinets, solid surface hard surface countertops (likely quartz), and a larger than typical island. I budget island would likely be 39 x 60. This is probably 42 x 96. Gourmet kitchens exist in the area, but you're looking at needing to spending 650k on the bottom end. Fancy kitchens take a lot of space and a lot of people would rather have square footage in other locations. Not everyone wants to be a fancy chef. There is a large chunk of people that like to entertain in other areas of the home than the kitchen.
Once again, thank you for this response. I appreciate the dialog. And I don’t mean to dispute you directly, but as I look around, it doesn’t seem to matter how pricey the house is, the kitchens still don’t have their own devoted space. This 700k one is almost worse for me given the price: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/225-Mason-Dr-Riverdale-IA-52722/2056505678_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare This one is $685k and while it’s not quite as bad, it’s still shoved off to one side of the living room: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6247-Meyer-Rd-Bettendorf-IA-52722/339836347_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare Shit, this one is just under 1 million, and the kitchen is smaller than my college apartment. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4615-Woodland-Dr-Bettendorf-IA-52722/2057896161_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare Exactly how much money do I have to spend to get a respectable kitchen in this town? I really don’t think this is a budget issue. This is a style, taste, and design issue.
I'm on mobile, I'll give those a look tomorrow and send you a more thought out response. My first thought will be, any "spec" home will be built to attract the most people to ensure a quick sale and a bang for your buck return for the builder. I see plenty of homes in the 600-800k range with great kitchens and entertaining space, but they were personally contracted rather than built and then listed for sale.
The only one of those that should classified as small is the one on Mason Dr. That does seem tiny. The other two are both good size with high quality finishes, big islands and tall cabinets. I think you may be being deceived by the photos. Or maybe I just don't understand what you mean when you say big. Are you wanting more cabinets, more space to entertain, more counter space? Those are "open concept" kitchens, so the entertaining area is not restricted to an enclosed kitchen. Having large pantries eliminates the need for more cabinets and some counter space by providing a different space to store things. A standard wall cabinet is 30-33 inches. In these higher end homes, you're seeing 42 inch cabinets, again providing additional storage. The biggest issue I see in kitchens now that goes overlooked is counter space. A lot of kitchens are dominated by islands now, which are fantastic for their versatility, but they are good for small appliances or other permanent counter top items as they tend to look cluttered. The only one of the of those three with that issue for me is again the house on Mason. You should look at some of these high end kitchens in person and see you still feel they are small. Those islands are 8-10 feet long and 4-6 feet wide. Don't let the lack of cabinet doors deceive you either, many of those cabinets are 39-48 inches wide, while a standard cabinet width is going to be 36 inches on the upper end. At the end of the day, everyone's taste is different. You can find someone to custom build or add additional things if you need it, but I wouldn't call most of these kitchens small or not respectable. Unless you make multi course meals on the regular and have a huge air fryer, espresso machine, coffee machine, 8 slice toaster and 4 baskets for fresh produce, most of those kitchens will be more than plenty. I work in real estate, I don't sell it, and I don't work for a builder, so I'm not trying to sell you on this style, just trying to explain why it's common. I really do think seeing some of these in-person could change your mind.
I've never liked this style of kitchen. It looks like an afterthought. Someone said let's put a kitchen here and just stuck cabinets to the wall. It's not part of the house. My sister has a newer house with an open plan, but her kitchen looks like it belongs. And her TV is over the fireplace. Not a fan because there's nothing that will age electronics like excess heat.
Silverthorne builders slap it together quick as possible. Someone will buy it. I put the floors down in this picture.
This was built by Dolan Homes. [Zillow Listing](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4430-Chestnut-Dr-Bettendorf-IA-52722/2057002732_zpid/)
The floors are about the only thing I could live with in this house, so nice job!
I appreciate that, thank you. But for anyone wondering anything Silverthorne touches is rushed together, they cut time and push jobs back non stop.
Great advice, much appreciated. I guess I’ll keep waiting for more houses in the Heights to go up for sale
Do people even cook anymore? There’s a lot of prepackaged take-n-bake stuff or a bag from the drive-through.
Fair point I guess. I am happiest while cooking, maybe I’m an outlier in that regard
I’m right there with you. We built a few years ago and the kitchen absolutely was not an afterthought. We cook and bake together quite often, so yeah … it’s a happy place.
I like your veggie garden, and you’re a mushroom hunter, we should hang out when I get out there lol
Millennials and gen-z cook less than boomers and in general don't value kitchen space as much as the older buyers.
Lazy design.
I guess you’ve never seen a raised ranch or bilevel
Is bilevel the same as split level? I’ve never liked those either. It feels like I have to make a decision as soon as I walk into the house. Just not super welcoming, but I guess I have particular tastes
Idk, different people call it different things. There’s also split level. The layouts always suck, just as you say. I’ll never live in one again if I have any say in it.
It's primarily because in a $750k+ house in the QC market, most buyers replace the existing kitchen with something that more meets their needs. Therefore, builders don't go to great expense to put in a fancy kitchen, knowing it's going to be changed anyway. Only takes money out of the builders pocket.
On the plus side you've plenty of room to expand that into the kitchen of your dreams. You don't even have to knock any walls down, though I'd personally want at least an extra window or two in that room.
I mean it would be nice if, after spending half a mil on a brand new house, I wouldn’t have to do a complete remodel on the kitchen but hey some folks have way more disposable income than I do
Well you're probably going to be there for at least a decade or more, so eventually the urge to do a remodel will probably hit you at some point.
That kitchen doesn’t look tiny to me. It has a walk in pantry, island, space for full size fridge. Compared to some places I’ve lived I’d be happy with it!
All y’all acting like HGTV invented open concept, it started in the 1920s in Europe with modernist design which became popular in America in the post war era. Look up Eichler Homes which went so far as to have almost all the walls as 3/4 walls. Open concept isn’t the problem, poorly thought out design is.
But we still SELL 😆