An Architectural Detail Open Concept Homes Are Missing

Open concept homes have defined residential architecture for the past two decades. In the name of light, openness, and togetherness, walls came down — and with them, much of the architectural character that once gave homes depth and distinction.

What replaced it, in many cases, were large uninterrupted boxes. Expansive, yes. Efficient to build, certainly. But often stripped of the millwork, thresholds, ceiling articulation, and layered craftsmanship that historically made homes feel grounded and intentional.

We understand how this happened. Open concept construction is faster. It is simpler. It requires less finish carpentry, fewer transitions, and significantly less skilled labour. Large spans of drywall are easier to frame, quicker to finish, and allow builders to move efficiently from one project to the next.

New Beginnings Project

There is also a broader cultural influence at play. Most schools of architecture today primarily study and teach modernism — a philosophy rooted in minimalism, function, and the removal of ornamentation. Historical architecture, with its mouldings, casings, arches, and decorative detail, is often studied academically but less frequently translated into contemporary residential construction.

It is no surprise, then, that many of our new homes reflect that ideology. Clean lines. Open volumes. Minimal articulation. Big, empty spaces.

But somewhere in that efficiency and restraint, we lost something.

The issue has never been openness itself. The issue has been the removal of thoughtful architectural detail.

We’re beginning to feel a subtle yearning in our clients — a quiet pull back toward thoughtfully defined spaces, where rooms feel intentional, intimate, and considered rather than simply open and loosely connected. Because openness without intention is just volume, right? And homes deserve more than that.

Here is one of the most under utilized — yet remarkably transformative — architectural details we believe can help to restore character, proportion, and personality in open concept homes.

Consider Cased Openings in an Open Concept Home

In many open concept homes, transitions between rooms are left drywall-to-drywall — flat, unframed, and visually unresolved. One space simply empties into the next, devoid of arrival, transition, or meaningful delineation. Without thresholds, rooms lose clarity. They blur. And with that, they often lose functionality.

Cased openings becomes a tool that can:

• Create visual rhythm and a sense of arrival

• Anchors sight lines

• Elevate builder-grade construction

• Create the opportunity for statement ceilings

• Clarify transitions — especially underfoot

Rather than closing spaces off entirely, cased openings define them — allowing openness to remain while giving each area its own architectural identity.

They Create Visual Rhythm & a Sense of Arrival

A cased opening signals that you are entering somewhere intentionally designed.

In our New Beginnings Project, we milled down and installed reclaimed beams to frame the formal entryway. It was a simple architectural gesture, but transformative.

By defining the threshold, we created a more powerful delineation between the entry and the formal living space — establishing a welcoming sense of arrival while introducing the home’s material story from the very first moment. It offered guests a preview of what was to come in tone, texture, and craftsmanship.

New Beginnings Project

They Anchor Sight Lines

Sight lines are something we always study when reviewing floor plans. What you see — and how it is framed — shapes your experience of a home.

In our Here To Stay Project, the original floor plan opened the formal entry directly into the kitchen with no distinction between the two. By introducing a cased opening, we accomplished several things at once:

• We created two distinct, functional spaces.

• We shielded the kitchen from the immediate visibility of entry clutter.

• And we established a beautiful architectural “frame” that draws the eye toward a kitchen window overlooking green fields and ocean views.

The cased opening created a subtle tunnel effect — guiding the eye and elevating the view beyond.

Here To Stay Project

They Elevate Builder-Grade Construction

Cased openings do more than delineate space and refine sight lines. They introduce craftsmanship.

They provide an opportunity to layer materials and reinforce the home’s architectural language. Cased openings create opportunities for elevated trim profiles, panel detailing, corbels, or layered mouldings. They allow for craftsmanship to return — even in homes that were originally built without it.

In our Here To Stay Project, we are cladding the jamb and header in solid oak panels — tying the opening directly into the home’s broader material palette. This detail will not only create depth and definition, but it is also carried through to other areas of the home for cohesion.

It’s this layering effect that make homes truly special and something you can feel from the moment you walk through the doors but it’s also something many open concept homes are missing. 

Here To Stay Project

They Create the Opportunity for Statement Ceilings

Cased openings do more than define rooms — they also create natural architectural termination points that allow ceiling detailing to feel intentional rather than applied.

In open concept homes, where long spans of space often lack structural interruption, the ceiling becomes a powerful design surface. Without clear boundaries, elements like beams, paneling, or millwork can feel visually unresolved. Cased openings solve this by establishing logical start and end points for ceiling features.

For example, beams can begin and conclude at a framed threshold rather than running awkwardly across unrelated spaces. Paneling can be contained within defined zones. The result is a ceiling that feels designed rather than retrofitted.

Highbank Project

In our Highbank Project, which features a highly open main living floor plan, we introduced shiplap paneling to the Great Room ceiling to add warmth and texture to the space. In a back hallway connecting the entry and kitchen — framed by two cased openings — we installed large red oak beams stained to match a similar beam on an elevation in the kitchen. The cased openings provided the architectural logic needed to terminate and transition these ceiling elements naturally.

In this way, cased openings do more than frame rooms — they create the structure that allows ceiling detail to exist with purpose.

Highbank Project

They Clarify Transitions — Especially Underfoot

We’ve noticed a continued desire for larger and larger square footage, particularly in open concept homes. Expansive footprints feel luxurious — but they also introduce practical design challenges, especially when it comes to transitions.

One of the most common issues we see is flooring direction. When an open floor plan shifts or turns, your flooring cannot simply “bend” with it. Homeowners are often left with two less-than-ideal options: run the flooring on an awkward angle, or abruptly change direction without a logical visual break.

This is where a cased opening becomes more than decorative — it becomes strategic.

By introducing a defined threshold, you create a natural and intentional transition point. The flooring can change direction exactly where it should — at a framed opening that visually supports the shift. Instead of feeling random or disjointed, the transition feels deliberate and architecturally grounded.

Sometimes the smallest architectural gesture solves the largest visual problem.

New Beginnings Project

Thoughtfully Elevate the Spaces in Your Home

Open concept living is not going away — and it doesn’t need to. But the future of residential design is not about removing structure; it is about restoring it thoughtfully.

At its best, architecture should feel both open and grounded, expansive and intimate, and deeply considered. Cased openings are one of the easiest ways to reintroduce character, craftsmanship, and intentionality into modern homes without sacrificing the flow people love.

If you are planning a renovation or building a home and feel that something is missing — a sense of warmth, definition, or architectural personality — this is often where we begin.

We specialize in designing homes that feel layered, cohesive, and deeply personal, where every threshold, sightline, and material is chosen with purpose.

If you are ready to move beyond large empty volumes and create a home that feels thoughtful, intentional, and truly yours, we would love to work with you. Reach out to start a conversation about your project.