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We are about to have a house built that has an open floor plan for the LR, DR & kitchen. The area is about 28 x 30 with a cathedral ceiling [6/12 pitch]. The floors will be oak. There will be some area rugs and, likely, no drapes, so the only soft sound absorbing areas will be couches and chairs.
We have seen and heard of a few places with this kind of arrangement and they seem to be very noisy, especially when there is more than one converrsation going on. We are considering cedar or car siding for the ceiling [otherwise drywall]. We also have a few walls intruding into the area such as closets, a pantry and the sun room wall at a 45 to the main room.
What other things can we do to alleviate the noise problem or at least reduce it.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Doug
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Doug, I have been in 3 homes in the last month that are almost exactly as you describe. All of these owners complain about the same things you mentioned. It seems the trend these days is to build big open spaces with very high ceilings, hard floors, hard ceilings and banks of windows that don't lend themselves to soft trimming.
These spaces can be beautiful, but in a colder climate,they can be very uncomfortable as well as noisy. I don't know if there is a simple answer to all of this, but maybe when the fad of hardwood flooring etc. passes, homes will be a little cozier again.
What ever happened to the more traditional, comfortable home? Do people really need 16' high ceilings?? I have a good friend in another state who bought a home like this and then found out he did not enjoy living in it. He is so upset with it that he's putting it on the market. Maybe the trend in new construction has to change back to something more functional and liveable!
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I have a client who is having a second home designed similar to the first which is similar to what you describe. High clearstory ceiling, Living Room will probably have carpet instead of ceramic tile ("quarry tile") this time.
She plays the piano and describes the accoustics as very "live". The disadvantage is that the TV in another room would be too noisy, but she is now a widow and will be living alone. The daylighting, solar aspects, and sense of space they really liked.
Accostical ceiling finish (cottage cheese ceilings) are now looked down upon, so I hesitate to recommend them anymore, although they would help some. It was not used on the first house and will not be used on the second. Fabric wall hangings wouldn't hurt I suppose. Anything that would tend to absorb sound. Quiet dishwasers are manditory.
Great Rooms may be a sign of the times. The search for openness, integration. I'm not sure I want to go back to the compartmentalization of victorian ages with ideals of segregation, but things like private offices are definately coming back.
*Non-parallel surfaces - such as angling one wall and using cathedral ceilings - will help some but absorption on one of each pair of opposite surfaces will help more.
*Doug, I've waited to see some posts regarding your inquiry, since you have almost exactly described our home, which we have now lived in for 26 years. Our dimensions are the same, except for a 7:12 pitch. An 8' wall divides the "country kitchen" and entry area from the living/dining area, and runs beneath and parallel to the ridge. Posts extending from floor level through this wall support the 4x12 ridge beam. Flooring is oak or ceramic tile. outside walls and center 8' divider wall have sheet rock. One entire exterior wall is glass. End walls and gables are rough-sawn cedar. Ceiling is popcorn (cottage cheese). No drapes. Just area rugs and a couple of upholstered items. Lots of "hard"surfaces...We love the architecture, but noise and privacy are real concerns. During a recent four-day power outage, we realized how noisy the refrigerator is. Our next dishwasher will be the quietest we can buy. Sound carries from the kitchen up over the 8' divider wall and down into the living/dining area, thanks in part to the reflective surfaces of the cathedral ceiling.Now that the kids have grown, the place is relatively quiet. We have "the look and feel" that we wanted when I designed it, and we are satisfied. This design is not for everyone, however, and when the grandchildren visit, we are reminded of the decibel levels we contended with for the first fifteen years of our ocupancy.Here's hoping this has helped,Steve
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We are about to have a house built that has an open floor plan for the LR, DR & kitchen. The area is about 28 x 30 with a cathedral ceiling [6/12 pitch]. The floors will be oak. There will be some area rugs and, likely, no drapes, so the only soft sound absorbing areas will be couches and chairs.
We have seen and heard of a few places with this kind of arrangement and they seem to be very noisy, especially when there is more than one converrsation going on. We are considering cedar or car siding for the ceiling [otherwise drywall]. We also have a few walls intruding into the area such as closets, a pantry and the sun room wall at a 45 to the main room.
What other things can we do to alleviate the noise problem or at least reduce it.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Doug