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Fireplaces Home Decorating Design Dilemma

Help! 90's open concept kitchen and dining room with fireplace

3 years ago

My husband and I are soon moving into our first home.. it's a 90's house and I have no idea what to do with the open concept kitchen and dining room. The dining area has a gas fireplace and I really wish that was in the living room instead. To me it looks out of place in this room. Ideally I would like to create a little sitting area to enjoy the fireplace but I'm not sure there will he enough room with a kitchen table being in there. Any ideas for what to do with this room would be much appreciated!! Also would love suggestions for paint colors as that dark colour needs to go. Thank you! :)

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Comments (9)

Rachel M. Frazier
3 years ago
Congratulations @newhouse!

How big of a table do you have?

Could it go either in the eat in part of the kitchen, or in the “living room” under the globe ceiling fixture?

Totally agree a snug sitting area would be perfect near the fireplace!

It’s ok to use rooms how you want - do what works for your family and what makes you most comfortable in your house.
Design Girl
3 years ago
I wouldn't put a table in what is labeled the dining area - I'd get a table to put in whatever the area is behind the peninsula seating. Use the dining area for a small den/family room.
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So many options! Love the white and grey. What kind of hardware on your cabinets are you thinking? That could determine the color finish of your lighting, but here's a few samples For a silver finish pendant: https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Silver-Finish-Non-Wooden-Chandelier-Pendant-p/hearst-hes-001.htm or https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Denmark-Collection-Polished-Nickel-Finish-Pendant-p/1717-1512d12pn.htm or https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Polished-Nickel-Wooden-Chandelier-Pendant-Modern-p/b00orkmqvka.htm For Gold finish pendant https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Antiqued-Golden-Finish-Non-Wooden-Chandelier-Penda-p/bach-hcb-002.htm or https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Golden-Finish-Non-Wooden-Chandelier-Pendant-p/hilton-hit-001.htm Another silver chandelier for a dining room option: https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Chandelier-In-Polished-Nickel-Traditional-Contemp-p/1624-10123-6.htm A mix of silver and gold pendant: https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Non-Wooden-Chandelier-Modern-Pendant-Silver-Gold-p/blair-bai-001.htm https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Driftwood-Nautical-Industrial-Wooden-Chandelier-p/b01h5kyzm6a.htm https://www.woodenchandeliersplus.com/Retro-Art-Deco-Rustic-Wooden-Chandelier-p/b077xc2s9b.htm I envy you, so many choices. Have fun and good luck with whatever you choose. Looks like you thinking more modern, transitional? Is that Quartz with a waterfall edge? Beautiful and practical. Love it!
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ericalynn523
3 years ago
Agree that you don't have to use the rooms according to the plans. My dining room is a hangout/game room because I don't have use for a dining room. I think a cozy sitting area around the fireplace sounds awesome. Is there room in the planned living room to put a dining table? Maybe to create two separate areas in the room, one side for dining and one for seating. (I'm assuming you'll have your casual eating table in the breakfast area of the kitchen)
Mrs. S
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I really like that idea, of a fireplace in the dining area. And, I think I'd get a table with leaves... and then a couple chairs for the fireplace... When you have a lot of people over, move the cozy chairs somewhere else and expand the dining table.

There's been a lot of talk about a "keeping room" in these forums, and I think you have the perfect place for that. I would just love a room like that, personally.
Donald
3 years ago
I agree...ignore the room labels. The room with the fireplace would make a great snug and the area with the globe pendant would be great for your dining room.
Carrie B
3 years ago
I wish I had photos. My childhood kitchen had a wood burning franklin stove in one corner, with a loveseat in front of it on a diagonal. That loveseat was my father's office. He'd sit in that seat all winter, from morning to night with his New York Times, answering calls and doing business and even having family chats & business meetings (he was an entrepreneur - working from home long before it was commonplace.) It was a lovely little spot right in the middle of the hubbub of family life. I love your fireplace and think it can be a wonderful spot for you & your family.
Carrie B
3 years ago
PS: you have mountains out your windows?!? I'm so jealous! Congratulations!
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
How many people do you need to have at the table on a daily basis? How much space do you have in that space under the globe light , which BTW is probabbly the DR space that was planned . If you have space there then IMO the FP space would make a nice cozy TV space and free up some space in the LR so that might be the best use of the spaces.
Mrs. S
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
The others are right: the "formal" dining area is outside the kitchen under the globe light.

You haven't said whether you enjoy formal dining, how many people in your family (is it just you and your husband?) and are perhaps trying to fit in large gatherings...

Here's some info and explanation to help you appreciate what you have:

https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/news/a8010/keeping-room-trend/

Beautiful ideas here:

https://emilyaclark.com/2015/10/the-keeping-room.html

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