I'm keeping the dining room :)

12 years ago

As some of you may remember, I was gung ho to take down the wall, between the dining room and kitchen, when we remodel our old farmhouse. I didn't see any reason to keep the dining room and it would be more expensive to add on a keeping room (which is what I really want). So, with help from many on GW, (especially Summerfield) I worked on different plans that opened up the smaller spaces.

This summer, we started cleaning out the old house and going through decades worth of 'stuff'...some treasures, some junk...but all old. Well, something else happened, too. Many of my husband's family members started sharing their memories of the old house. The Christmas mornings, the holiday dinners, things that mean so much to a family. And, I found I didn't have the heart to do it. What I saw as an old dining room that blocked light to the kitchen...they saw as a wonderful part of their childhood.

So...we're keeping the dining room and adding the keeping room. We also decided to keep the bedroom (that's there now) as the study/guest room and add on a master suite. Yes, it's going to cost more...but if we're going to remodel the farmhouse...why not do what we really want?

Thanks to Summerfield, here's the final plan to remodel the farmhouse. I decided to pick up the details that were added in the 1920s and base the moldings, trim, etc. on that time period. It kind of splits the difference, between the original 1904 home and the addition in the 1950s.

And yes, a part of this post is that I want to show off my floor plan that is the result of so much help, from the many wonderful people on GW. But, I also thought I should say a 'thank you' to all those here, who told me "Don't lose the dining room!" LOL Thanks, again :)

I should mention, the house faces southeast, the parking is off to the left side, and I love Summerfield's idea to open up the dining room to the kitchen, but still keep it a separate space.
{{gwi:1585859}}From Courtyard Garden album

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

la_koala
12 years ago
Congrats for getting a plan you like!

I think I responded to your earlier thread, saying how much I love having my separate dining room.

And I fully believe in what you wrote: why not do what we really want? :-)

--Lee
lavender_lass
Original Author
12 years ago
Lee- Thank you for the response :)

I'm so glad you enjoy your dining room. The idea has really grown on me and for someone, who didn't think they wanted a separate dining room...suddenly, I'm really excited about the idea!

It may be a while, before we start the remodel, and we'll probably do it in stages, but it's great to finally have some direction. Now, we can make any repairs to the existing house, without worrying...will we be ripping this out, in six to eight months? We really need to replace the roof, on the 1950s addition (living room, hall bath and study). Since we know we're not adding on in that area, or anything upstairs/attic...I'm much more excited to start repairs!
Related Discussions
I'm keeping some Christmas..And Tree talk
Q
Comments (16)
Oak, I posted the other night and it disappeared, so I'll try again. I've had my 7 1/2' tree up for 4 years and I still love it. It is in the livingroom and that is my favorite room. In the early morning hours when I wake up and can't go back to sleep and don't want to disturb DH I will go in and just sit and enjoy the lights and ornaments. I took some pictures to show you, but I didn't like any of them enough to post. It is so much prettier IRL than my pictures. It has colored lights on it. It is decorated in mostly blue, white, and silver except for some of the approx. 50-60 birds on it. If I ever take it down I will add more lights and maybe some white ones to brighten it up a little. It came prelit and doesn't have quite enough to satisfy me. I like LOTS and LOTS of lights. Other than that, it is perfect. My family teased me a lot at first, but they finally accepted it. I guess the neighbors across the road and the people driving up the road have gotten used to the crazy lady who lives up on the hill with the Christmas tree lit up in the window at odd times during the year!! Keep your tree up as long as you are enjoying it. Life is short. Grab the enjoyment while you can. Betty
...See More
Dining Room Color --- I'm stuck, please help!!
Q
Comments (14)
You know, when we bought the dining room set there were these *perfect* mission style lamps as you describe on display sitting on the buffett and I was going to purchase them and my husband said "no no no we can get those later". Well, I've had a hard time trying to find them and the furniture store no longer carries them...grrr! But I digress... Home Depot closes in less than two hours and with painters coming tomorrow, I have no choice but to take a chance and go with the Peanut Butter. It is probablly my safest bet. I have not even attempted to decorate this dining room yet (other than purchasing furniture), so I really intend on bringing in splashes of color, both in artwork, pottery, and textiles. Perhaps a punch of orange on a table runner or something like that. Plus I haven't even gotten an oriental for the dining room yet (still recovering from the cost of the orientals in the LR and hallways) so I'm confident I can get some color in there. Also I need to purchase a new chandelier so I'll have another opportunity there ---- I hope! Thank you all for your help! Wish me luck!!
...See More
Help with floor plan - change keeping room to kitchen or dining?
Q
Comments (15)
I actually like the layouts. Friends of ours have a second home where from the front, it looks like yours - long porch with entrance to the house and the MBR set back with French doors to the porch on the left side. That part of the porch is hardly ever used, and when they're having guests and someone might use it, they just close the drapes to the MBR. Their porch is continuous all around the house. As for the master bath and closet,a I always thought having the entrance to the closet from the at broom made no sense...until I lived in a condo that had it set up that way and I loved it - it was very convenient to go right tp from the shower to the vanity to the closet and back to the vanity. I would personally eliminate the door from the master bath to the laundry, but I also don't see it as a problem if you think it would be useful. Re the coat closet, you might consider moving the powder room to where the vacuum closet is now, and put the coat closet where the powder room is and the broom closet where the coat closet was.
...See More
Keep or ditch this dining room rug?
Q
Comments (15)
Great tips, Olychick and thanks for the mock up Celerygirl! There isn’t another great place for the gallery wall elsewhere, unfortunately, and I really love the time I have spent collecting the frames (from places we have been and some from my grandparents’ home). They photos are landscape photos we have taken ourselves on travels... so I think it may stay. I am hoping more subdued drapes and a different rug will allow the room to be more cohesive. I’ll post more picks soon, after I make some choices! Thanks so much!
...See More
yborgal
12 years ago
What a lovely floor plan. It seems you've thought of everything to make it function as an inviting home. Congratulations!
columbusguy1
12 years ago
Looks like a great plan, lavender, just one question:

A lot of people putting in a master suite would not want their bath to be shared, especially with what will be most likely the main entry to the house--if it were me, I'd close off the door to the mudroom. You'll avoid people coming in and washing their hands, and keep the sense of privacy and elegance. Doesn't look like such a long trip to the kitchen for hand-washing, or the bath next to the study for other business. :)
lavender_lass
Original Author
12 years ago
Monablair- Thank you :)

Columbusguy- Actually, we made the master bath accessible, on purpose. It's usually my husband or myself that comes in through the mudroom, and I wanted a short cut into the bathroom, that doesn't involve walking over carpeting or rugs. We have horses (need I say more?)...so the shorter the trip through the house...the better :)

Also, when we do have parties/get togethers, I wanted two bathrooms for company, without people walking through our bedroom. I really hate that at other people's houses and it seems to happen, all the time. This way people can access the bathroom during the day, but at night, it's our own, private space. Plus, I admit...I'm excited about showing off the claw foot tub! LOL And, letting someone use it, again, without going through our 'private' space.
Debbie Downer
12 years ago
Good choice. One good thing about dining rooms - they are useful even when no dining is taking place - board games, projects, quiet space etc. I like dedicated spaces with walls and doors and I think imposing modern tastes for wide open cavernous spaces can be a mistake for an old house. If an old house has tall ceilings, tall windows, then these rooms are light and airy and not the least bit claustrophogic.
lavender_lass
Original Author
12 years ago
Kasha- Thank you. It is nice to have the extra space, especially when it's light and airy!

Well, I talked to my contractor today...and while we could probably do this plan, it's going to be 'a challenge' to get the addition to match up with the house...unless I want to rework a lot of roof lines.

So, I might be reworking a few things, but still hope to have a dining room/area, open to the kitchen, but separate, with its own personality. We have some good ideas and just have to see what will work best with the space. If we do decide to go with a smaller remodel...I really want to use this exterior 'inspiration' picture. It's such a cute cottage! {{gwi:1397301}}From Lavender Lass farmhouse pictures

I'm keeping the dining room :)

Comments (7)

la_koala

lavender_lass
Original Author

Related Discussions

yborgal

columbusguy1

lavender_lass
Original Author

Debbie Downer

lavender_lass
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

I'm keeping the dining room :)

Comments (7)

la_koala

lavender_lassOriginal Author

Related Discussions

yborgal

columbusguy1

lavender_lassOriginal Author

Debbie Downer

lavender_lassOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

lavender_lass
Original Author

lavender_lass
Original Author

lavender_lass
Original Author