I don't think that closed kitchens are going to be making a return any time soon. If anything, the "mess kitchen" trend the author described just seems to be

I don't think that closed kitchens are going to be making a return any time soon. If anything, the "mess kitchen" trend the author described just seems to be a way for very wealthy people to keep their open concept while having a classier alternative to the classic garage-fridge setup for overflow. As for all the concerns about noise making it hard to watch TV - on the rare occasions that it's a problem, I usually just turn captions on (which I usually keep on anyhow because I just find them helpful). The one space I do wish was standard in more homes though is a small office or library space. I would gladly replace most dining spaces (I don't even own a table to eat at) with a little corner room with doors and shelving on the walls.