When you open your front door to the kid selling cookies, a neighbor who got your mail, guests coming to a gathering do you want them to be in your living room or dining room? Do you want your dining room to be a hallway to the living space for these folks? How often will you use the dining room? Daily/weekly--a few times a year? How far is it from the kitchen? Schlepping dishes is tiresome. Everyone answers these differently.

Great questions! The area is small to begin with so I imagine we’d be eating most often at the dining table. The breakfast bar might be used for eating as well (husband comes home for lunch daily!) but I’ve never had one before so I don’t know yet.

I’m not sure what would look most appropriate as the quarters are tight. I just want the areas to flow easily and as beautifully as possible. Thank you.

Can you post the plan with some dimensions? Any photos of the space? Do you own furniture already or will it all be new?

Thanks for the reply. The photos are in the post

We have the furniture we’d like to reuse but are open to new items as well. Thank you!

When posting drawings make sure they are all in the same direction and all measurements clearly marked . We need to know what the sizes of the furniture are and how many seats you need in each space please use feet and inches if possible . I am in Canada we use metric but most of the help on here comes from the US where they do not use metric. I see you have marked ft. but that is not making sense to me . I agree some photos of the space too would be good.

I'm not a fan of dining rooms right by the entrance, but in your case I think it makes sense. Compare the two layouts you've drawn. The dining table fits in the front space fairly naturally, with a "hallway" left for passage towards the back. But when you put the living room up front, you have to squish your seating awkwardly close to leave that hallway. The living room at the back has more room to spread out comfortably.

If you do put the dining room at the back, I would do a normal table and chairs, pulled out to be more centered in the room. Squishing it into the corner with a banquette is making your dining table uncomfortable, and the resulting open space doesn't seem useful for any other purpose.

Mcarroll16, yes, your thoughts make a lot of sense and I agree about not doing the banquette, if we were, in fact to put the dining area on that end.

Zigfrido I meant photos of the space and dimensioned plans. If you have furniture you wish to reuse you should also post photos with dimensions. Small spaces are very tricky and if you are serious about wanting help you’ll need to be serious about the information you provide.

Do you need to seat 8? If the dining is at the front, consider a small pony wall so that you aren't walking right into it.

What will maximize your living space? I'd think this is most important.

Hi shirlpp. We often entertain so a glass table that opens up would be ideal. Trying to maximize the living space is exactly what I’m trying to figure out but I’m so bad at this designing stuff! We’d reuse sour stuff or buy new which is why I’m trying to get suggestions rather than trying to guarantee use of what we already have. I appreciate your feedback and suggestions.

TV in this space? If so, where would you put it? This might help.

I'd place the living area as you walk in, and the dining area next to the kitchen, as you show in your first option. Are your measurements correct? The 3' and 3.5' walls look to be larger than that. (Are you converting from metric? I ask since the writing on your plans is in Italian?)

Yes, I didn’t really convert bc they’re similar enough (meters to yards). The front space is wider than the back space but the front door cuts it off a bit so it’s tricky. Thanks for your input!

Shirlpp, TV isn’t very impt but we’d find a space once we settle on room set ups. We barely watch tv

If you can put kitchen in this configuration you have much better space utilization. This is “concept”. Good measurements are vital to any plan. A round dining table would fit nicely too. If you are in Italy, there are options available there that could work really well for you. A drop leaf table could be good option if only need seating for 2 for everyday. Then when more seating is needed you could pull table out for full seating. Of course, budget is probably most limiting factor.

You appear to have a fireplace in the area nearest the entrance, so that says living room to me. Dining nearer the kitchen would be important for ease of serving and clean up. Consider a round drop leaf table that can be pushed against the wall when not needed for entertaining. One leaf can be raised for daily use or to operate as a bar, and the whole table can be pulled into the center of the room and opened up for dinner parties.

Flo, I love that idea but unfortunately it’s too costly to move the kitchen. We are in Italy (Rome) and we do have a drop leaf table as well as some others that open up. (Not round tho!) I was trying to get away from the antiques to some extent but you’re convincing me that I need to not get rid of them. Thank you.

I meant to say that I wasn’t thinking of keeping the round one tho Round is best in a square area. We have this one, which I like and it opens to seat 8.

Thank you decoenthusiaste! I wish we had a fireplace! We are on the top floor so that might be an eventual project. That are you see is structural plus wall to close the space. I’d even open it just to add something fun and maybe paint it a fun color to match the sofa or something. I either need to have the drop leaf table cleaned up or use the one posted above.

Love that drop-leaf table!

If you barely watch TV, then don't waste time trying to accommodate one!

Go with the table that seats 8. The round one you're showing does not look like it has enough leg room underneath it.

The table with the drawer looks like it will accommodate enough people. Maybe the round one can be used as a bar or serving table for buffet style entertaining.

Yes, the drop leaf probably seats six, maybe seven. The legs aren’t opened all the way but it’s still not large enough for eight adults.

I’ve added some photos of other pieces I love.

It might be that until you are moved in you will not know which area is best for dining or living. If able, install electrical outlets for either setup in both rooms to give you flexibility.

You have some great pieces! They need some TLC but I think several could be used. You will have to use the smaller ones since your space is quite limited. The downside with gateleg tables is no leg room. BUT that table closed up to smallest size could act as “entry wall” and could have a small lamp and metal tray for keys when you enter space. Sorry you can’t flip kitchen. I thought so but figured I would throw it out there anyway. Never know.

Arrow where gateleg table might work.

This is great product for refreshing antiques without any issues. I get it from Amazon. Can you? One bottle lasts a long time because you don’t need much. Btw, make sure the pieces you want to keep can get through doors and openings to top floor! We lived In Brussels for several years. The European narrow staircases etc. were a bit of a challenge. Measure, measure. Especially tight turns. 😬

Hi Flo, thanks again for your great ideas! Luckily this is a newer building and each floor has its own entrance so bring items down to the floor below (the two bedrooms) won’t be an issue. I didn’t see a photo of the product you recommend, but if you can share the name, that would be great. I’ll be in NY for Easter!

I even love how you set up the living room furniture. Thanks again!