logo
inline logo
  • Blog
  • Design
    • Kitchen
    • Bath
    • Bedroom
    • Living Room
    • Outdoor Living
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Best of
    • Design On Sale
  • Projects
  • Travel
  • Shopping Guides
    • Gift Guides
    • Resources
    • Wishlist
  • About Coco
    • Meet Coco
    • Press
    • Contact

What are you looking for?

main logo
  • Blog
  • Design
    • Kitchen
    • Bath
    • Bedroom
    • Living Room
    • Outdoor Living
  • Style
    • Fashion
    • Best of
    • Design On Sale
  • Projects
  • Travel
  • Shopping Guides
    • Gift Guides
    • Resources
    • Wishlist
  • About Coco
    • Meet Coco
    • Press
    • Contact
imagestyle
share
home design ideas

SMART DESIGN: THE GREAT DIVIDE!

April 29, 2011
  • Share
Modern living room and dining room divided by a floating dividing wall

I like rooms…I like defined spaces…hence I’m not the biggest fan of a completely open floor plan. I like the idea dining in a dining room, living in a living room, reading in a library, doing work in a home office…not the biggest fan of doing everthing in one amorphous space (this aversion may be due to the fact that in my little house my living and dining are all in one…and I wish I had separate spaces).

Love this architectural solution pictured here…a floating dividing wall. In this flat (or…errrr…apartment…flat only crept in because of the Royal Wedding), the home owners have the best of both worlds…an open feeling floor plan with defined spaces. This dividing wall successfully separates the dining room from living room without making either space feel too closed in…a great solution for a small space perhaps. Plus, the wall gives residents the ability to hang more art!

What do you think? Do you like open floor plans? If so, why (I can be convinced to like them btw with a good argument)? If not, why not? Do you like this solution?

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Please remember to “like” COCOCOZY FACEBOOK and join the 27,000+ who follow along and comment there! It is fun to see what Facebook readers have to say about the interiors I post here too. And for more of my random musings, follow along and chat with me on COCOCOZY TWITTER too!

Photo: Xavier Bejot

image
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
previous
next

related posts

anchor text
anchor text

My Spring Favorites

imageanchor text
imageanchor text
Meet Coco - Bring Style Home

Meet Coco - Bring Style Home

A Los Angeles native, Colette Shelton, also known as “Coco”, is an entrepreneur, design blogger and home furnishings designer.

Read More   read more

Looking for Something?

View All Posts
image

Earn Cash Back While Shopping for Summer

Chirpyest is the shopping platform I created. Using Chirpyest, anyone can earn money by shopping AND for sharing from over 800+ online retailers! Sign up for free! :)

Tap the "join Chirpyest now" link below or the image above to get started making money while you shop!

Join Chirpyest Now
Campo Teak Dining Table
Elegant Sideboard Table

Use Chirpyest to get 7.5% cash back from Terrain!

Join our mailing list
Sign Up Now
Close
Newsletter Sign-Up

Please join our mailing list

Recently Pinned

Recently Pinned

Resources

My list of favorite brands and retailers to shop.   Resources
image
write a comment
  • Share

8 responses to “SMART DESIGN: THE GREAT DIVIDE!”

  1. Cherie says:
    April 29, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    We have an open floor plan and it takes a lot of thought for design and decorating — I have an eclectic style so my challenge has been to incorporate cohesive threads. I love it when we have a gathering here but for everyday living, I wouldn’t mind a separate kitchen with eat-in nook and space for a reading chair, small TV, etc. I can take a bye on separate dining area.

    Reply
  2. Robin says:
    April 29, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    I love having an open floor plan! I like being able to watch TV while I’m cooking, honestly, haha. Seriously, the trend in new construction ( where I live, anyway) is for a mixed informal space consisting of small living area, casual eating, and kitchen. And then having separate formal dining and living areas which can be re-purposed to office or whatever if you don’t entertain much.

    I think it just depends on your lifestyle and what you’re used to and how much space you have. Having lived in a small studio, I’d rather have a large open mixed space than a series of smaller, cut-up rooms. Light is very important to me, too, and a small dining room or whatever with one north facing window isn’t very appealing, when I could knock down a wall and brighten it up.

    Reply
  3. stuffiheart says:
    April 29, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    LOVE this. I like how it doesn’t look like the typical divider wall—it looks like it belongs. I love how bright white and fresh it is! great idea.

    Reply
  4. Lily says:
    April 29, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Love that wall !! Looks great in the space.

    xxLily
    goldandgray.com

    Reply
  5. Karena says:
    April 29, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    Coco I do love open space..however the floater divider wall is a really great option!

    Have a Royal weekend!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    Last few days to Come and enter my very Fashionable Giveaway from the French Basketeer!

    Reply
  6. Mr. B. says:
    April 29, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    I think open plans are overrated. I like ceilings to go to the sky but please give me walls! A particular style becomes popular and people tend to just run with it, no matter their lifestyle. It just all depends on what your life looks like. For me, having many small children around all the time, walls are the bees knees! You don’t want guests to see all the toys, laundry, dishes, sofa cushion forts, etc. that are a part of living with children. You need a restful space or two as well!

    I love this photo because it’s exactly what we are about to do in our new home. Funny, one of the reasons I fell in love with the place is that the kitchen is tucked out of the way! They all seem to be in a living area nowadays. Yeah, this post was for me!

    Reply
  7. meenal bishnoi says:
    April 30, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    Love this solution..demarcates the areas without really closing them out..alo provides a perfect backdrop for art etc…have a lovely day! xx meenal

    Reply
  8. Sarah says:
    May 1, 2011 at 5:47 AM

    I do like both…however, I lived in England and the rooms are all separated by doors, which keeps the draught out! This option gives one a lot more privacy,which I love. However, one big ‘ole TV room/kitchen is ok for congregating, but nice to have one’s own room to get away too. :))

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instagram

Want a bedroom that feels cozy, warm, and invitingWant a bedroom that feels cozy, warm, and inviting? Start with these simple changes:
1. Layer your bedding. Mix sheets, a duvet, quilts, and throw blankets to create that plush, lived-in look.
2. Add warm lighting. Swap harsh overhead lighting for bedside lamps, sconces, or a statement light with a warm glow.
3. Bring in plenty of texture. Think linen, velvet, boucle, chunky knits, and soft rugs.
4. Keep the palette warm and calming. Soft neutrals, earthy tones, and muted colors instantly make a room feel more restful.
5. Mix in natural materials. Wood, rattan, woven accents, and stone add warmth and character.
6. Make the walls feel personal. Art, photographs, or even a statement headboard can make the room feel more finished.
7. Add something organic. A vase of branches, fresh flowers, or a little greenery can bring the room to life.
The goal isn’t to make your bedroom perfect. It’s to make it feel like a place you actually want to retreat to at the end of the day.
Save this for your next bedroom refresh. 🤎
#interiordesign #homedecor #bedroomdesignideas #bedroominspiration #cococozy
Which chandelier would you steal for your own home Which chandelier would you steal for your own home? Drop your answer 👇
The right chandelier doesn’t just light a room, it becomes the room. Scale, material, placement. When it’s done right, everything else arranges itself around it.
Save this for your next lighting inspo and follow for more. 🖤
1&2 @ryansaghian | @nightpalm Photo: @sans.murs | @ab_concept | @ryansaghian | @karachildressinc @ryanstreetarchitects
Summer is when this courtyard really comes alive.Summer is when this courtyard really comes alive. 🌸
One thing I’ve learned is that every outdoor space needs a focal point. It gives your eye a place to land and makes the whole space feel more intentional.
In this courtyard, the bougainvillea naturally becomes that focal point, adding color, height, and movement without overwhelming the space.
If you’re designing your own patio or garden, start with one standout feature, then let everything else support it.
Save this tip for your next outdoor project. ✨
#homedecor #outdoorlivingspace #patiodecor #patioinspo #cococozy
Design by @covetnoir. A 1750 Georgian home in Surr Design by @covetnoir. A 1750 Georgian home in Surrey, restored back to its former grandeur.
Grade II listed and stripped of most of its original character by previous owners, this 9,000 sqft home with seven bedrooms, and five bathrooms was brought back to life for a French-Swedish couple raising two young kids here. The brief: Parisian luxe with a Scandinavian twist, and a design calm enough to keep the grand proportions feeling intimate.
Covet Noir rebuilt what had been lost: full plasterwork, raised & fielded panels, a bespoke decorative ceiling, and added a cantilevered limestone staircase with Nero Marquina cabochon inlay in the entrance hall. The material palette leans into marble and alabaster, softened with boucle and brushed cottons, chosen to hold up to two kids and two dogs without losing the elegance. Antique furniture and architectural fittings were sourced throughout to keep the project sustainable, alongside ground source heating.
Grand bones, calm hand. This is the kind of restoration we could look at all day. 🤍
📍 Surrey
🏡 Design: @covetnoir
📸 @taranwilkhu
Which vaulted ceiling style is more your speed? Dr Which vaulted ceiling style is more your speed? Drop your answer 👇
A — Warm wood beams and stone
B — Light and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows
A great vaulted ceiling doesn’t just add height. It changes how a room feels entirely. The best ones make you stop, look up, and never want to leave.
Save this for your next build or renovation inspo. 🖤
@coletteinteriors | @houseofrolison | @chatwinhomes | @ryanstreetarchitects | @katemarkerinteriors | Interior: @stephaniekrausdesigns Architecture: @bennett_architecture_studio
Follow on Instagram
footer logo

Interiors

  • Kitchen
  • Bath
  • Bedroom
  • Living Room
  • House Tours
  • Outdoor

Style

  • Fashion
  • Best of
  • Travel
  • Design on Sale
  • Coco's Projects

About

  • About Coco
  • Press
  • Contact
  • View All Posts

Join our mailing list

Sign Up Now
© 2026 Cococozy | Terms & Conditions