For real, there are always just basic human considerations missing from so many places. I can't realistically complain about my current apartment because it was, in fact, converted from being a 1920s hotel room. (zero counter space, a single closet for both clothes and cleaning supplies and general storage, and I have to awkwardly twist to reach the toilet paper roll which is mounted on the back wall behind me, etc)
But I've seen so many places that are otherwise upscale and are still missing basics like counter space, closet space, have awkward kitchens & bathrooms, have no flow around entrances so you can picture people having to say "excuse me" constantly to get around people in the kitchen to get out the back door, etc, etc. And, Lord, sound insulation. Can we please normalize sound insulation as a standard (not just luxury) feature? I don't want to always hear what my neighbors are up to.
And I don't understand "open" floorplans that mean no one in the home has any privacy at all. I think open floorplans were designed by single people who throw a lot of parties. That's the only scenario where they feel like they make sense. Do you want 30 or 40 people to be able to mill around while listening to the same music? Fine. Do you expect a family to share a space where one person is playing video games and another is trying to study and one is trying to work and one is trying to cook and one is trying to watch TV or listen to music? Chaos.
Re: kitchen counters
For real, there are always just basic human considerations missing from so many places. I can't realistically complain about my current apartment because it was, in fact, converted from being a 1920s hotel room. (zero counter space, a single closet for both clothes and cleaning supplies and general storage, and I have to awkwardly twist to reach the toilet paper roll which is mounted on the back wall behind me, etc)
But I've seen so many places that are otherwise upscale and are still missing basics like counter space, closet space, have awkward kitchens & bathrooms, have no flow around entrances so you can picture people having to say "excuse me" constantly to get around people in the kitchen to get out the back door, etc, etc. And, Lord, sound insulation. Can we please normalize sound insulation as a standard (not just luxury) feature? I don't want to always hear what my neighbors are up to.
And I don't understand "open" floorplans that mean no one in the home has any privacy at all. I think open floorplans were designed by single people who throw a lot of parties. That's the only scenario where they feel like they make sense. Do you want 30 or 40 people to be able to mill around while listening to the same music? Fine. Do you expect a family to share a space where one person is playing video games and another is trying to study and one is trying to work and one is trying to cook and one is trying to watch TV or listen to music? Chaos.