your thoughts on kitchens & formal v. informal dining
13 years ago
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- 13 years ago
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Question about expanding kitchen into formal dining room
Comments (18)How often do you have company? For the time being, could you not just remove the leaf? It should still seat your family of 6. I have a 60" square table (with the leaf in) that seats 8. In our last house it fit fine in the kitchen, but in our current house, the kitchen is smaller. I just removed the center leaf and made it into a rectangle (I store the 2 extra chairs and the leaf in the basement). It still seats 6 and I don't have to reach so far across to wipe the top. But, if you are set on reno, I would remove the wall and that desk (it's pretty large). Then move the pantry over to the other doorway. (I would not close off that entrance, if anything I might increase it's size a little). This should gain 3' - 3'.5. Not to be bi*chy, but, I think you should paint those lower cabinets white also. Those dark lower cabinets suck the light out. I feel lighter lowers would help to "open" that space too. When we moved in here, our cabinets were golden oak (personal preference, I don't care for golden oak). I painted uppers and lowers white. It brightened up the room and made it appear larger....See MoreWhat's on your formal dining room table?
Comments (84)Sophie's mom, that's very elegant and lovely. No sense changing anything that looks that good. Mimi, I think your centerpieces are very nice and imaginative too. You may think you're behind but I disagree; you're way ahead of me. Oh Lynne, what a pretty centerpiece! I've never seen a Talaveras piece quite like that, and the flowers are perfect. Nobody could be depressed at your table! Debi, very pretty. Looks like you are all staged for an open house. Deborah, I really like it. I'm a red and green fan. But hey, whatever we pick there's always something we like better down the line somewhere, and you'll find it. Patricia, thanks for the additional info. Put a plastic bag over the top or a mayonnaise jar over the top and leave for about 2 weeks....then start watering once a week. Nicole, thanks for the rooting instructions! But wouldn't that depend on the weather? Are you saying leave the soil damp for two weeks, or let it dry out? Are there certain months of the year when we can or can't do this? Mari, you should win a prize for most unusual DR furniture. hehe...See MoreShow my your formal dining tables pls!
Comments (45)I'm bumping this thread so more can post if they wish, and also to help fussy chicken find out about her chair style. These dining rooms are so beautiful. I love looking at everyone's great photos. You know, I've long considered a DR an indulgence, something for show. For years, I had only a kitchen set in each house I was in. That seemed satisfactory. Even when I had company, we sat on the sofa or I brought in folding chairs and called it good. And it was good, since that's what I had to work with at the time. But in my last home, I turned the "Living Room" into a dining room and study, because we had what the builder called the Family room set up for living. It was so nice to have that area where the grownups could play cards while the kids played at the kitchen table when we had company. In this house, I tried putting my dining table at one end of the long LR and using the front room as a more formal room, but about 2 years ago, I moved the dining furniture in there and bought a sideboard for my dishes. Do we use it all the time??? Well, no. We usually eat on the sofa in front of the t.v. You can do that when your kid is 20. But nothing beats having a real dining room for company or a nice dinner. And I love the patina of the antique furniture, the oriental rug, and maybe a few candles burning just for ambiance. Some houses have no room for this. Some people's families can't spare the space that could be used for something else. But when you can take a little piece of your house, put in a pretty set of chairs, maybe add a vintage sideboard or chandelier..........wow. Just take a look at all the dining rooms pictured above for inspiration. Red...See MoreThoughts on this kitchen/dining room setup? Pics
Comments (4)The cabinets you are thinking about remind me a lot of artteacher's. I just tried looking up her kitchen on the old Finished Kitchens Blog. There are only 2 photos and neither show these cabinets (the link to her kitchen no longer works.) I've always admired the kitchen. We put a cabinet between our kitchen and dining area and it's one of my favorite features in the kitchen. The upper part is glass on 3 sides (the 4th side butts into a wall). I feel as though the kitchen is still very connected to the table area, but is separate enough to allow me to concentrate. I also appreciate not having to stare at the mess waiting for me as I eat dinner. The cabinet s just to the right of the microwave: From the dining room side it looks like this. The counter height doors open up to a pass through....See More- 13 years ago
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