I think areas that are open (kitchen to the living area) are great--so conducive to interacting, but there is one problem with open concepts that is irksome--that is smells from cooking. My 1996 house is not completely open (although it is considered open concept)--there is a 10-foot wide floor to ceiling wall between the kitchen and the main living area and then a 10-foot opening on each side of that wall. We have a second home (also 1996) where the kitchen and main living area are all one big room with a massive island separating them. When cooking even in the semi open house, the smell lingers for a day or two despite ensuring that the exhaust fan is turned on high before the stove top is turned on and turning on all ceiling fans on. If it's a nice day (like yesterday), I even open the French doors to the back are open. Yet, the smell from a cooked dinner remains. I cooked a Greek chicken dish last night--nothing unpleasant smelling and in fact nothing even strong smelling, but when I came out from the master bedroom (it is off the main living area) this morning, I was immediately hit with the smell from the cooking last night. Anyone with any suggestions or is this just something we live with in the era of open concepts?