Half walls, also known equally pony walls, tin create separation together with render a grade of privacy. But for years, whenever you lot watched a domicile renovation show, one-half walls were the kickoff casualty inwards the demolition process. On the other hand, roughly designers are using one-half walls to add together architectural interest, storage infinite together with needed separation.
So are one-half walls notwithstanding considered outdated — similar formal living rooms — or are they dorsum inwards style? It depends on who you lot ask.
Designers purpose one-half walls judiciously
“Creating spaces that evoke a sense of place, scale together with comfort tin oft require definition,” says Curtis D. Krahn, Founder together with Principal at Synthesis Design. “In this era of opened upward plans, which nosotros honey because of the flexibility it affords the spaces, nosotros are notwithstanding tasked amongst defining the spaces.”
And Krahn says sometimes a one-half wall creates the delineation. “The one-half wall is tricky together with non a solution to live treated lightly,” he warns. “If the application is non correct, it tin await dated earlier the pigment dries.”
“Traditional together with Craftsman vogue homes — similar a shot that is where i tin comprise a one-half wall to, for example, help define an entry. But it has to live detailed inwards keeping amongst the architectural style,” Krahn explains. The photograph to a higher identify is from i of Synthesis Design’s projects. “Detailed amongst raised panels, bases together with a substantial top, either stained to convey out the natural woods or painted a glossy white, [a one-half wall] tin live an elegant interior finish,” Krahn says.
Half walls create visual lines
A one-half wall tin add together interest. Image: Fuse/Getty Images
“Often, the one-half wall terminates at a column (or columns) framed amongst a lintel or a slight arch,” Krahn adds. “This enhances the sense of entry piece notwithstanding providing glimpses of the following rooms.” In addition, he says that one-half walls tin comprise inset shelves or niches for books together with other items.
However, Krahn would non recommend using a one-half wall inwards a modern house. “Modern homes, for us, are to a greater extent than nearly the characteristic walls that extend, oft to a higher identify the roof, or horizontal lines that are large together with imposing to juxtapose the large spaces within.” While he believes they direct hold their place, Krahn recommends seeking the advice of a professional person earlier you lot determine to become a one-half wall.
When together with where to purpose one-half walls
A one-half wall tin render a semi-private environment. Image: Tom Merton/Getty Images
“As a concept, i must live extremely judicious inwards choosing where to purpose a one-half wall,” warns Melanie Giordano, Principal at Barnes Vanze Architects inwards Washington, DC. “There tin live something really disturbing nearly this architectural element, which came into vogue along amongst mid-century fads similar the conversation pit.”
This exceed through makes the kitchen experience larger. Image: 2M Media/Shutterstock
Giordano likens a one-half wall to an implicit tease. “It stops you lot from moving through a space, fifty-fifty though it shows you lot what lies beyond.” Half walls are mutual inwards many mid-century ramblers, serving to split the entry from the formal living area. “In that case, a one-half wall short-circuits the ritual of accepting a friend or stranger into your domicile because the visitor tin survey its individual quarters amongst i sweeping glance through the front end door.”
Half-walls inwards a Gibson Island, MD, master copy sleeping accommodation area. Image courtesy of Anice Hoachlander, Photographer.
However, this isn’t what happened inwards Giordano’s pattern inwards a domicile inwards Gibson Island, MD, featured inwards the photograph above. “The purpose of one-half walls inwards this lakeside master copy suite successfully separates a sitting surface area without closing it off from the lite together with the views of the sweeping shoreline off the raise balcony,” she says.
Giordano explains that it plant because the owners direct hold already entered their individual area. “I designed the walls amongst pilasters together with columns that frame an entry into the principal sleeping accommodation together with thence i doesn’t experience cutting off from circulating through the space,” she says. “The left-hand one-half wall also defines a cozy corner for the armchair together with thence it’s non floating along the larger side wall.”
Half walls inwards the bathroom
A one-half wall inwards the bath of a Portland riverfront townhouse. Image courtesy of Jenni Leasia.
“Half or partial walls are a bully means to ‘screen’ areas inwards a bath without completely closing them off,” says Jenni Leasia of Jenni Leasia Design inwards Portland, OR. She created the pattern inwards the photograph above.
Leasia explains that the homeowners wanted the flat of privacy provided past times a wall instead of glass. “The superlative is roughly 50″, together with thence it’s high plenty to command the splash simply depression plenty together with thence the individual inwards the shower doesn’t experience shut in, together with tin run across exterior of the shower piece using it,” she says. “The open, airy feeling is enhanced past times eliminating the shower door.” And there’s roughly other payoff to using a tile wall instead of glass. “The homeowners don’t demand to worry nearly H2O marks together with using a squeegee later on every shower,” Leasia says.
What nearly resale value?
A one-half wall tin exceed away on a room from existence also open. Image: Astronaut/Getty Images
“Half walls tin live really fashionable when used correctly to create separation or to give period of time to a larger space,” says John Manning, Managing Broker at RE/MAX on Market inwards Seattle, WA. “For example, a one-half wall tin render a pleasing barrier against which a couch tin live placed amongst a hallway behind it.” While Manning doesn’t mean value one-half walls are a bully pick for bedrooms (for example, used equally step transitions) he believes they definitely direct hold their place, specially inwards to a greater extent than traditional homes.
If one-half walls are making a comeback, Patrick Garrett, Broker/Realtor at H&H Realty inwards Trussville, AL, isn’t asset his breath waiting for their return. “From what I direct hold been seeing, one-half walls direct hold non fully made their means dorsum to existence a sought-out attribute for novel domicile buyers,” Garrett says. “Many homebuyers are continuing to asking opened upward concept homes. In my market, one-half walls would plough off homebuyers,” he concludes.