Cohousing-L Mailing List: How are your great room and kitchen connected?

[Kristen Simmons (simmonskristen]

Hi all,
Stony Brook Cohousing, forming in Boston, is having it's Common House
programming this weekend. I'm seeking information from experienced folks
living in cohousing about your kitchen set up (and workshop too).

Does your kitchen completely open to the great room/dining room? What works
or doesn't work about this?

Are you able to completely close off the kitchen from the great room/dining
room? What works and doesn't work about this?

I'll admit that I have a preference for an open relationship (it feels more
homely to me), but I am sure that there are drawbacks. Any feed back from
the crowd would be useful. This seems like a pretty important decision!

Also, does your group have a workshop? Do you wish that you had one? I want
one badly, because where else will we put the table saw and drill press? But
maybe communities that have them don't use them? How do you deal with
insurance issues? (By the way, I'm not a serious wood worker; I make things
as needed for repairs and home improvements.)

Thanks,
Kristen