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We are moving into a new townhouse soon. Downstairs is a pretty open floor plan, with the kitchen open to a family room space w/fireplace, and next to it is a room designated on the floor plans as a "dining" room. The dining area has a 1/2 wall on two sides, so as to give it some separation from the family room and the foyer/entrance (see pictures).
How else might we use this dining space? We are middle aged, no kids yet, and don't plan to do a lot of formal dining, so if we plop a dining table in that room, it may only be used a few times a year. Sort of a waste of space. A room for more guests to sit would probably be more useful. We have a kitchen island for 2 to eat at, as well as room enough for a 6 seater kitchen table (as seen in the pics of the model home). We'd probably put a TV over the fireplace and there's room enough for two couches in the family room... although we'd probably put one couch against the half-wall so that the family room remains open to the kitchen, and then the kitchen table would also have more breathing room. Upstairs, there's also a small loft, for another casual sitting area.
That leaves the dining area, an 11'x13.5' space. Ideas? All floors will be 5" wide maple planks. We were thinking a sitting area or den, maybe with a love seat and/or chair, a nice rug? Small bookcase? Not crowded. The style of this room should probably be different and distinct from the larger family room, yes? It's the first room you'd see when you enter the front door. Maybe more formal, since the TV is in the family room? Are the dividing walls a good thing or more trouble design wise? I'd make a nice spot for a Christmas tree in front of the windows - hah! We'd probably need to swap the light fixture.
Make it somewhat of a library with comfortable furniture. You could put low book shelves along the wall that divides the living room from the dining room.
Get some stuffed furniture that blends with your living room furniture and arrange it with the windows behind. Tie it all together with a complimentary area rug.
Or you could make it a library/office by adding one fantastic desk and just a couple of overstuffed chairs along with the selves above.
Here's our dining room converted to library. The shelves extend along the wall behind the cat except for a pass through into the kitchen. Also, Sarah Susanka's original Not-So-Big House book had some good discussion on carving out a cosy living space distinct from the living room.
Thanks for the ideas. Since we will have our office upstairs, I suppose a den/library/or sitting area might work best in that space. I actually used to have a nice aquarium setup that I had to sell when we moved into our current apartment, but I suppose I could even bring something small back in that space, maybe along the half-wall. It might make a nice, tranquil focal point ... and I think a room like that could use a focal point, and aquariums can be soothing to look at. Though, they can be a bit of work to maintain.
Thanks for the ideas. Since we will have our office upstairs, I suppose a den/library/or sitting area might work best in that space. I actually used to have a nice aquarium setup that I had to sell when we moved into our current apartment, but I suppose I could even bring something small back in that space, maybe along the half-wall. It might make a nice, tranquil focal point ... and I think a room like that could use a focal point, and aquariums can be soothing to look at. Though, they can be a bit of work to maintain.
aquariums are a lot of work. Maybe just a nice fountain.....a chair, lamp, maybe a few books but I wouldn't overcrowd it with shelving and too many books. Looks like it would be a nice and tranquil place to just chill,listen to a fountain, read and relax. I wouldn't make it too fussy. Check out some feng shui ideas
I love the idea of the aquarium, for tranquility. Maybe a few chairs, a chase lounge (reading) a few floor plants, to give it an outside, inside look. (Love to have plants in the house) the book shelve thing sounds good to.
I do agree though that if you are not having formal dining events, you really do not need 2 places to eat.
One question, in the empty room picture, looking through the sliding window, is the house in back of it another part of yours, or the next door neighbor?
Actually, I don't think that wall needs a window, it serves no purpose plus then there is no full wall to play with. IMO, which probably means nothing.
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