Visiting my sister's new place in Austin made me drop my 'open floor plan or bust' stance

Thomas Miller · 2026-03-23T13:35:05.499412+00:00

Seeing how her builder used a 10-foot sliding door to connect the kitchen to a private courtyard garden made me realize separate, purpose-built outdoor rooms can feel way more intentional than just one big empty space.

casey9096mo ago

But doesn't that just make the house feel chopped up? @blakeharris I still love that open flow where you can talk to everyone while cooking, no doors in the way.

5

the_ivan6mo ago

My buddy's place has something like that, and it really does make the garden feel like its own room. BlakeHarris is right about it feeling special.

5

blakeharris6mo ago

That "purpose-built" idea is so true... it makes the space feel special instead of just another part of the same room.

3