What to do with dining room?

[Dellie]

Dear Future TV Friends... We are going through the decision making period (yikes!)... Not thinking we're going to use three-four "dining areas" that many models seem to feature (formal, nook, breakfast bar, and lanai), what do folks do with the formal dining space? Make that a seating area? Office space? Other? In advance, thank you for helping us with a little more information!

[jblum315]

There are really no separate dining rooms. The dining area is just a part of the living room, or kitchen. I imagine you want a place where 6 people can sit down to dinner, so that's what you use it for.

[LittleDog]

We felt we didn't need a formal dining room so we made it an extension of the living room. Our house is shaped like an L so we put a sleeper sofa, and a couple of easy chairs in this area. The other part of the L is our tv area. In addition we put a solar light in the area to lighten it up as there are no windows in that part of the house. Works for us.

John

[KathyW]

why not just build one of the models that doesn't have the nook and dining room? I agree that most of the models have way too many dining areas (breakfast nook,dining room, stools at counter, table in lanai).

[jimbo2012]

I'm planning a Home Theater in that area, I agree waste of space for dinning.

Not as elaborate as this, but that's the idea

[jnieman]

We use our nook for breakfast and lunch. Occasionally we'll use our lanai table for dinner and definitely for parties. We use our dining room table that seats 6 for dinners when we have guests over or for cards or board games. The weather isn't always perfect to use the lanai table, but sometimes it is! We use all three.

[applesoffh]

Been here since January. We own a Lilac, and use the "nook" exclusively. I think I'm going to do a seating area of some sort, but it's still blank, and looks dumb...at least I have a place for my Christmas tree this year!

[Villages Kahuna]

Put bookcases all along one wall, replaced the light fixture with a fan, hung the flat screen on the wall, and made it a library-TV watching space.

[HDriders]

Been here since January. We own a Lilac, and use the "nook" exclusively. I think I'm going to do a seating area of some sort, but it's still blank, and looks dumb...at least I have a place for my Christmas tree this year!

That is exactly what I was thinking, we are planning on using our 'nook' for all the meals, lanai when weather permits. I've been trying to come up with a solution for the 'dining' space, since I am selling my dining room suite and hutch here before we move..... LOVE the Christmas tree spot : )

[villages07]

Put bookcases all along one wall, replaced the light fixture with a fan, hung the flat screen on the wall, and made it a library-TV watching space.

Kahuna.... I believe we have the same model. Do you also have a TV in the original living room area where the sliders go out to the lanai? How do you use that space?

Like others, I have a large dining room table and china hutch in the dining room that sits unused except for maybe 2 dinners a year and poker night twice a year. Someday I hope to repurpose that space to make it more functional.

[senior citizen]

Dear Future TV Friends... We are going through the decision making period (yikes!)... Not thinking we're going to use three-four "dining areas" that many models seem to feature (formal, nook, breakfast bar, and lanai), what do folks do with the formal dining space? Make that a seating area? Office space? Other? In advance, thank you for helping us with a little more information!

We've always had a formal dining room up north, but I definitely would do away with it in The Villages.

The "Nook", the breakfast bar and the lanai area for meals would be enough.

The first home we stayed in had a formal dining room off the entry foyer; I would make that another seating area.........really liked JIMBO'S HOME THEATRE IDEA. That's what our "kids" and "grandkids" would enjoy, for sure.........plus us.

That same home on Merryweather Way, had a formal dining set in the area I just mentioned plus another such set in the dining area adjacent to the kitchen (it wasn't a nook)......with sliders to the lanai plus more sliders from the living room area to the lanai.

That model would do perfectly fine with one dining table indoors and one on the lanai.

People eat more casually than they did when we were newlyweds and raising our families.

The second home we rented for a month (with the columns between the kitchen and the dining area which did have a beautiful formal dining room set)........however, I would use that space for MORE SEATING.....of which you can never have too much.

That house did have a "nook" at one end of the long kitchen with a front window.........plus the stools off the open breakfast bar......plenty of space for the grandkids.......who can climb up that high. Those of us with short legs or arthritis would do better at the table.

We really liked the first model with the dining space immediately off the kitchen with sliders to the lanai (rather than in front of the house).

Anyway, I no longer would want a formal dining room table.
Been there, done that. Would downsize to one indoor table.

[jimbo2012]

Forgot to mention we R building a Whispering Pine

In the sketch below U can see the screen towards the bottom and the seating area near the top of the dining area.

Another concept drawing, can't fit two rows in but it shows I think a great re-purpose of the space, all I need to do is add :popcorn:

The same equipment can feed TV's in any other rooms which can show cable tv, movies or for the grand kids - games.
Of course speakers (usually ceiling) in any rooms you wish kitchen, bath, bedrooms or even the garage plus outdoor speakers in the lanai.

budget is <$5K

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m544/rs691919/3Dmodelbackandside.jpg

[rockyisle]

I'm so happy to read that many feel as we do about the dining area. We turned it into a quiet reading area. Replaced the lighting with a fan and light combination, purchased a corner heated fireplace. Put a love seat and coffee table in the area and use it for a quiet place to read. It's one of my favorite spots in the house.

[senior citizen]

I'm so happy to read that many feel as we do about the dining area. We turned it into a quiet reading area. Replaced the lighting with a fan and light combination, purchased a corner heated fireplace. Put a love seat and coffee table in the area and use it for a quiet place to read. It's one of my favorite spots in the house.


That also sounds like the perfect "sanctuary" for reading, resting, etc.

Often times the formal dining room rarely gets used nowadays.
As long as there is one table for meals........in my humble opinion, that is enough......plus the lanai table.

I'd rather have the extra seating which I know you will enjoy.

Love the fireplace addition......
Did you get one of those electric fireplaces or a gas fireplace?

We have a traditional woodburning fireplace with exterior red brick chimney in Vermont......I'd like to change it over to a "gas" fireplace as an alternate source of heat if our power goes out........and ditch the three cords of wood out back.

Our other home in Vermont had the traditional living room fireplace plus a Jotul kitchen woodstove on a hearth plus an oil furnace and companion woodburning furnace in the basement........plus a Jenn Aire Electric grill in the great room..........so we were set for all kinds of weather in the event of an Arab oil embargo..........back then.

Now, I think primarily of HEAT if we lose our electricity......as the oil furnace won't kick on............but we at least could burn wood....or use the propane gas for the gas fireplace (think it has a battery backup if the electric goes out).

So many people up here began using pellet stoves after the heating oil went sky high last year.......but we still like the convenience of just raising the thermostat to burning wood all over the house.

Again, your Florida sanctuary sounds IDEAL.....enjoy it.

[senior citizen]

Forgot to mention we R building a Whispering Pine

In the sketch below U can see the screen towards the bottom and the seating area near the top of the dining area.

Another concept drawing, can't fit two rows in but it shows I think a great re-purpose of the space, all I need to do is add :popcorn:

The same equipment can feed TV's in any other rooms which can show cable tv, movies or for the grand kids - games.
Of course speakers (usually ceiling) in any rooms you wish kitchen, bath, bedrooms or even the garage plus outdoor speakers in the lanai.

budget is <$5K

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m544/rs691919/3Dmodelbackandside.jpg

Both sets of photos (earlier post and this one) are AWESOME.
Our son and his wife did the same thing in Colorado.

Your home will be very welcoming for big sports events and great movie viewing, etc.

Are you sure you are not Tony Soprano?? Remember his theater room?
He started a craze.........but it's a great use of space....and comfortable.

Wish we had one.

[MSG@TV]

We've always had a formal dining room up north, but I definitely would do away with it in The Villages.

The "Nook", the breakfast bar and the lanai area for meals would be enough.

The first home we stayed in had a formal dining room off the entry foyer; I would make that another seating area.........really liked JIMBO'S HOME THEATRE IDEA. That's what our "kids" and "grandkids" would enjoy, for sure.........plus us.

That same home on Merryweather Way, had a formal dining set in the area I just mentioned plus another such set in the dining area adjacent to the kitchen (it wasn't a nook)......with sliders to the lanai plus more sliders from the living room area to the lanai.

That model would do perfectly fine with one dining table indoors and one on the lanai.

People eat more casually than they did when we were newlyweds and raising our families.

The second home we rented for a month (with the columns between the kitchen and the dining area which did have a beautiful formal dining room set)........however, I would use that space for MORE SEATING.....of which you can never have too much.

That house did have a "nook" at one end of the long kitchen with a front window.........plus the stools off the open breakfast bar......plenty of space for the grandkids.......who can climb up that high. Those of us with short legs or arthritis would do better at the table.

We really liked the first model with the dining space immediately off the kitchen with sliders to the lanai (rather than in front of the house).

Anyway, I no longer would want a formal dining room table.
Been there, done that. Would downsize to one indoor table.

We had the same feeling. I do not want to take my formal dining room to TV. Our sales rep showed us the Aspen model which has one large living area and the nook off the kitchen is rather large. Another thing we were considering was to turn the dining room into a sitting room/library. My husband has a ton of books which I was hoping we'd part with prior to the move. In the end, we are going with neither of those choices, but I thought each was a solution worth considering.

[LindaL]

We also like the Aspen for the same reason... no dining room. Use the money instead to add a golf cart garage. Something much more useful in the villages. :clap2:

[senior citizen]

Seems like the old saying "great minds think alike" on the no need for a formal dining room.........all the suggestions show that everyone is on the same page.

I'm dreading right now having to take out all my "stuff" from the dining room china cabinet to put through the dishwasher......wouldn't miss it at all.

Years ago, everyone gave young engaged couples sterling silver and fine china, etc. Now they really don't even want the stuff......but if we gift it anyway, it's just going to collect dust.****** Those who do put it on their bridal registry, never use it.

They love the artisan type pottery type dishes and serve wear from Crate and Barrell and Pottery Barn, etc.......California style dining is really big all over now.

***We learned when we came to Vermont in 1970 that "less is more" and a table set with crystal and silver and china was not at all in fashion up here. We've become a creature of our adopted state.

Since all the "elders" are now deceased.........when we entertain, it's usually the 30 somethings, the 40 somethings and all their children.........and their 30/40 something friends with their children who use our place as a meeting zone....

So buffet service, over formal sit down meals........casual dining on the deck or back screened in porch........or eating in the living room by the fireplace , casually, is what we all do now..........this is why I truly WOULD NOT BRING MY DINING ROOM SET. Yet, one still does need an all around serviceable table.

[cquick]

Dear Future TV Friends... We are going through the decision making period (yikes!)... Not thinking we're going to use three-four "dining areas" that many models seem to feature (formal, nook, breakfast bar, and lanai), what do folks do with the formal dining space? Make that a seating area? Office space? Other? In advance, thank you for helping us with a little more information!

We built a Holly....NO formal dining room....but we use the "dining nook" all the time. There is a semi-dining area in the kitchen by the desk, but we don't use it at all.......

[batman911]

We plan to stretch the nook area to hold a full size table and chairs. Also want to replace the sliders with windows in that area (Ivy model). I'm thinking wine cellar in the previous dining area.

[jimbo2012]

When does the wine tasting begin? :MOJE_whot:

:wine:

[mac9]

The dining area in a Gardenia is perfect for a pool table!

[gomoho]

Maybe the builders will take note of the fact that most of us don't really want a formal dining room

[Happinow]

Hi. We also did not feel the need for a dining room so we made it a sitting room. We put an electric fireplace in the room as well. I use it a lot this time of year as the mornings are cool. I turn on the fireplace and put my feet up with a cup of coffee in the AM. Love the space it has become.

[Tom Grooms]

We didn't need all the dining space and turned the nook in our Begonia into a desk/office space. I'm a home theater guy and did the 7.2 audio system in the great room and a two channel listening room/sitting area/man cave in the den. :-) 6401

[Francie]

65 Million!!

Check out that statistic. This is how many people will be working from home in 2016 that currently are not working from home today. I know most in TV are retired, but many are not. I would think the builders should be considering "flex space" and offer a closed off den/office/craft room, etc in exchange for much of the extra dining square footage that they are building today.

[pooh]

It's really nice to see all the different options for a room that probably won't be used for formal dining. We have a Lantana and kept our dining room as a sort of dining room. Just before we moved we had bought a "gathering" table...you know, one of those taller tables, for our kitchen. It opens to a 54 inch square and that table is now in the dining room and has become a table of all trades. I use it for crafting, sewing, as a game table....8 fit comfortably at it, among other things and every once in a while, dining. It is far from formal, that's just not me, but it is extremely useful and used often.

[applesoffh]

I'm so happy to read that many feel as we do about the dining area. We turned it into a quiet reading area. Replaced the lighting with a fan and light combination, purchased a corner heated fireplace. Put a love seat and coffee table in the area and use it for a quiet place to read. It's one of my favorite spots in the house.

Love it!!! I replaced the light fixture with a fan during our design meeting, but I should have waited and done it after the move-in. I like the dining area fixture more than the one in the nook. Oh well...

[Villages Kahuna]

Kahuna.... I believe we have the same model. Do you also have a TV in the original living room area where the sliders go out to the lanai? How do you use that space?

Like others, I have a large dining room table and china hutch in the dining room that sits unused except for maybe 2 dinners a year and poker night twice a year. Someday I hope to repurpose that space to make it more functional.We have the "living room" portion of the large front-to-back living space in our Lantana furnished with two sofas facing one another with a cocktail table between them, just inside the sliders. We have had the TV in that area, but recently did some modest re-furnishing of the "dining room" area, with casual chairs, side ables and lamps, and the big screen mounted on the wall.

[CFrance]

We have a Begonia, no posts. We still have a condo in MI (gorgeous summers/horrendous winters), so no dining room table down here yet as it's still up there.

In the few months that we've been here, we've had to beg card tables (thank you, Kaye) in order to have people over for dinner. I really miss having a dining room table and feel that we have adequate seating space (living room, lanai, den) and don't need any more of that. We eat at the kitchen counter, but who wants to invite people over for dinner and seat them along a counter? (The nook is too small for entertaining IMO.)

Also, the Begonia without posts (which I didn't want posts) is a big open space, and I feel it would look awkward to have two separate living rooms in one big room with no architectural separation.

I can't wait to get dining room furniture down here. I am negotiating with our son for the return of what he considers to be his "childhood dining room table" (a really cool pine thing handmade by a bunch of drunks for Pier One in the '70s--it's warped), which he is storing right now because their new house can't accommodate it. Putting a hitch on the car as we speak. Have to have it refinished. Promised him he could have it back some day.

I guess we all have different lifestyles and needs. I didn't think I would miss having a dining room, but I do, I really do.

[senior citizen]

Hi. We also did not feel the need for a dining room so we made it a sitting room. We put an electric fireplace in the room as well. I use it a lot this time of year as the mornings are cool. I turn on the fireplace and put my feet up with a cup of coffee in the AM. Love the space it has become.

You have excellent taste. It looks so serene and inviting.
Much better than an unused "dining room" section.

Love the white cabinets and white furniture , as well as the fireplace.
Gives off a bright and light Key West kind of ambience. Great color scheme in general.

Beautiful. Great use of those columns, as a room divider.

So, you ended up with one big GREAT ROOM.......as your main living room is across from that space, right?

[batman911]

When does the wine tasting begin? :MOJE_whot:

:wine:

March 2013. I'm trying hard to "liquidate" my current inventory before the big move.

[jimbo2012]

"liquidate"

Nice play on words,

by the way if you can't liquidate before moving send what you can now so we can help.

[Finallyfree]

I don't know how to post a picture, BUT we put a bar in the dining area of our lantana. As my daughter said, hit the door, hit the bar, hit the lanai. We love it and have had many compliments on the use of the area.

[rubicon]

I really don't believe that we are in the minority when utilizing our dinning area with a fully extended dinning room table throughout the year. common folks somebody out there has formal dinning, a gourmet club, poker night???????

[Happinow]

You have excellent taste. It looks so serene and inviting.
Much better than an unused "dining room" section.

Love the white cabinets and white furniture , as well as the fireplace.
Gives off a bright and light Key West kind of ambience. Great color scheme in general.

Beautiful. Great use of those columns, as a room divider.

So, you ended up with one big GREAT ROOM.......as your main living room is across from that space, right?

It is one large room, but they have two distinct looks. The other room has a tv, sofa and two chair with a large end table and has a nautical theme. We chose a large sailboat picture for above the sofa and a glass sea turtle, glass octopus oil lamp with shells and floating candles for the large table. We use it for watching tv. Thank you for your wonderful compliments about our fireplace area. please look for pics of the living room on another post. Can't attach to this one.

[Happinow]

This is our living room which is across from the "sitting room" with the fireplace. We have a Gardenia so the space is open. Sorry, but the pics didn't load.

[Happinow]

Hopefully these pictures post....

[Happinow]

I think that if you have a larger lanai, then a formal dining room may not be needed because you can use that outside space for dining and entertaining. Hopefully the weather cooperates!

[jebartle]

previous owner already changed what should be a dining room to a library/TV roohttp://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/jebartle1/th_sellhjouse001.jpg (http://s979.photobucket.com/albums/ae278/jebartle1/?action=view&current=sellhjouse001.jpg)m which works for us...Here is a pic.

[senior citizen]

I think that if you have a larger lanai, then a formal dining room may not be needed because you can use that outside space for dining and entertaining. Hopefully the weather cooperates!

I agree......and by the way, all of your photos are great.
A nice "light and bright" yet "cool" place to get in out of the sun.

Whenever we'd rent on Sanibel Island,Florida the luxury gulf front condos were done in a theme similar to the one you've chosen.

Very relaxing.........very nice for Florida living.

[senior citizen]

I really don't believe that we are in the minority when utilizing our dinning area with a fully extended dinning room table throughout the year. common folks somebody out there has formal dinning, a gourmet club, poker night???????


The first "Lifestyle Visit" Home we were in had a formal dining "spot" after you entered the foyer....to the left, with a large dining room table, chairs.

It also had a good sized (not a nook) dining area "off the kitchen" which was also "off the lanai" via sliding doors. The sliding doors continued on across the entire back of the living room.......a full big wall of glass.

There was a "second formal dining room table and chairs"....not the average kitchen table.......in that spot off the kitchen, with easy access to the kitchen.........and also to the lanai which had a dining table.

In that particular model, not sure if it was a Lantana? on Merryweather Way in Creekside Landings......that dining area would be all that we'd need, plus the dining on the lanai.

Just as we do here, we like "lots of xtra comfortable seating" for when all the adult children and grandchildren visit......so yes, I'd rather give up having "two" dining room sets vs. having more seating.

Also, as other posters have mentioned.......having a "seating area" for reading, relaxing, etc.........that isn't part of the main living room setting with the television, etc........is nice to have....

The open floor plans provide opportunity to have a big "great room" as we call them up here. People, us included, added them on to our homes........and still kept the traditional living rooms and traditional dining rooms, but if truth be told........everyone gravitates to the great room.

Also the lanai is plenty big for a good sized table or two......and for those with pools and summer kitchens, it would be convenient to just eat out there............unless it is UnGodly hot out.

The guys with the "home theatre" arrangements are also on to something. Very popular with the 20's, 30's and young 40's college grad generations..........

Have had the formal dining room for 48 years of marriage.
Been there, done that. Don't play poker.

For someone who does play poker, how about a folding poker table that is stored away in one of the walk in closets?

What I'd like to hear a solution to is where do all the grandchildren sleep and the adult "kids" if they all came at once????? Obviously we would get the three bedrooms..........and I guess sofa beds in the living areas?

Up here we have three "master sized" very large bedrooms with 3 King sized beds, 2 blow up Queen sized beds for the grandkids plus a porta crib.......sold our two living room sofa beds and replaced them with regular sofas.........so the blow up beds do come in handy.....

However, the bedrooms in the TV homes are smaller, except for the master bedrooms. I've seen a few of those murphy beds in the walls.

Thanks in advance............

[keithwand]

We do have a formal dining room with a formal Baker dining set from the 1920's passed down from my grandmother to my mother in the 1950's.
Lots of memories; birthdays and holidays.
Do we use it? Not much; maybe 2 times a year.
Nook area? Got nice new furniture when we moved in. Do we use it? Only when kids and grandkids come for a visit otherwise we carry in a plate and eat in our recliners.
2 formal living areas. Do we use them?
Yep; the pool table and game table takes up 1 of them so now its a game room.
Bring your stuff down you just never know.

[jdsl1998]

What do you do with your dining room? What do you have in your dining area? How about doing something else with the sit in dining in the kitchen? We have an open Whispering Pine.

[ssmith]

If I got the Iris I would do as other mentioned. Change the back wall with the sliders to make it a straight wall so it would accomodate a large table in the breakfst noonk or be able to extend the smaller able by using leaves. Then I would expand the Lanai to make it wide enough to sit out there and enclose if needed.

I would put a ceiling fan where the dinning table should go and move the living room/TV area to the middle along the long wall. If that is clear.

If we got a Begonia style...we wanted to build in a desk/mail center in the nook and keep the Dinning area as our main eating area with a large table but no formal hutches or china....just our style I guess.

Well one can dream anyway ;-)

[golf2140]

We set up the table, dust the place setting off every one in awhile, then dine out.

[YouNeverKnow]

Dear Future TV Friends... We are going through the decision making period (yikes!)... Not thinking we're going to use three-four "dining areas" that many models seem to feature (formal, nook, breakfast bar, and lanai), what do folks do with the formal dining space? Make that a seating area? Office space? Other? In advance, thank you for helping us with a little more information!
We have a Bengonia and had a built in desk put in the kitchen nook space when we did the design meeting.
We put cabinets above the desk that matched the kitchen cabinets and drawers on each side of the desk which gave us lots of extra cabinet and drawer space. We also replaced the chandler in the kitchen nook with a ceiling fan. We love it since it cools the kitchen area.
We have the kitchen counter, the formal dining room, and a table on the lani for eating and didn't need another eating space.

[Tom Grooms]

We did that after closing. Exact same cabinets and counter top

[asianthree]

We did that after closing. Exact same cabinets and counter top

i love the combo of the cabinets and counter

[senior citizen]

I'm so happy to read that many feel as we do about the dining area. We turned it into a quiet reading area. Replaced the lighting with a fan and light combination, purchased a corner heated fireplace. Put a love seat and coffee table in the area and use it for a quiet place to read. It's one of my favorite spots in the house.

Great suggestion........

[patfla06]

Hi. We also did not feel the need for a dining room so we made it a sitting room. We put an electric fireplace in the room as well. I use it a lot this time of year as the mornings are cool. I turn on the fireplace and put my feet up with a cup of coffee in the AM. Love the space it has become.

LOVE what you did with the space!

[dotti105]

We are building the Aspen, because we loved the wide open living area and generous dining area opening onto the large lanai.
We are selling off the china, sterling, all the formal stuff that has been boxed up for years.
Very liberating!!!!
We are bringing a "pub table" which is bar stool height. It is square, which seats 4, with 4 leaves which fold out to create a circular table capable of seating 8. We are bringing the 8 bar stools, 4 for the table and 4 for the raised bar kitchen counter. That way we can accommodate a crowd when the family descends upon us!!
We like your home theater, Jimbo2012! It actually looks just like the one we have now! We actually converted a large bedroom in the basement of our current home into a home theater, with the raised "stadium" seating. We have a large 8 ft projection screen.
We have enjoyed it thoroughly!! but after 5 yrs, have decided that we do not need it. Instead we will get a 60" LED which we will place on the front wall of the LR. We are downsizing considerably and the Living Room will become the entertainment center.
But if you do the Home theater Jimbo2012, you will love it!! We are just ready to simplify and have more of a multi-use living area.
We were surprised when we visited TV for the first time in May, that so very many of the homes did contain a nook and a dining room. Most of the homes here have large open living area-kitchen combos. We were so glad to find the Aspen, It fits our needs to a tee!
Judging by the responses to this thread, we are not alone in wanting fewer dining areas.

[l2ridehd]

Heading down this path ourselves. We have an expanded Gardenia and the Kitchen is wider then normal. So the nook is larger. Currently still in the planning phase as still not happy with a living room used for just a living room. But would like to put a table that could seat 6 in the nook, or one with the ability to expand to 6. Eliminate our dining room set. Beautiful set hand carved in Germany with folding leaves that hide under the table if anyone still wants a dining set that will expand to seat ten. Convert dining room to a seating area with the TV on the back wall so it can be seen from the kitchen. But then we will have a "formal living room"? Not the right solution yet. Maybe make the dining room the TV area and the living room a reading area as we already have a gas fireplace there. Like I said, still planning. Might also like some type of folding table to set up on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Still working on the details before the change begins.

[TrudyM]

Saw pics of a house for sale on the net can't remember if it was villages or mls, that had two high end looking card tables with four chairs and book shelves in the dining area. Kind of businessman's club style. Thought of this thread when I saw it. One could push the tables together to make a large one for family but have it set up for gaming (cards mahjong etc) most of the time.

One of the craft projects I never got around to was a card/mahjong table that when you removed the top the table would have chip racks which could also double as mahjong tile racks built in. Played around with the router to get the slot right just never made the table.

[jimbo2012]

What do you do with your dining room? What do you have in your dining area? How about doing something else with the sit in dining in the kitchen? We have an open Whispering Pine.

In this house the dining area can make a great home theater

[dotti105]

We did that after closing. Exact same cabinets and counter top

Now you have me re thinking my choice.....I am looking at the Sunflower now when I thought that the Aspen was the house for us!!. It has the golf car garage and a nook. The rest of the living area is very similar to the Aspen, in that it is light and open. The frame/siding construction decreases the cost a bit and that will leave room for some upgrades that I was afraid we had to shelf for now. And we could not add the golf car garage to the Aspen on the lot we chose. But the Sunflower fits just fine.

The Dining area is very spacious and the Nook would be a great home office, like you designed. We hated the idea of setting up a home office in the guest area and having it in the way when family comes to visit.

The home office in the Nook is such a great idea! More central to the rest of the house and there is plenty of room. We even thought that with the Sunflower we could put a closet in the foyer where the arched doorway to the nook is located and not lose much function in the home office.......
Lots of possibilities.... Now I am confused!!!

[patfla06]

Originally we were going to use the dining room for a living room
and the living as a family room and get rid of the dining room set.
Problem - what do you do with the "stuff" in your china cabinet?
Also, I use the table (with the pads on) when I want to quilt.

I don't really want 2 tables but not bringing the dining room sets
off a "chain reaction" - we would need a bigger kitchen set, etc.
We bought all new furniture when we moved to FL and don't
want to do that again.

A lot of tough decisions when you downsize!

[CFrance]

I find we can read in our living room, read on the lanai, front porch, and in the den, all quite cozily. We cannot, on the other hand, seat six or eight for dinner with no dining room furniture. We frequently have need to seat that many. Eating on the lanai is not a given in the winter cool weather.

I like having a dining room. I like the way it looks and like the additional storage.

[Love2cruise]

We did that after closing. Exact same cabinets and counter top

Did you get your office cabinets from the people that put in the kitchen cabinets?

[Tom Grooms]

No, it was my real estate agents husband that did the work. He ordered the cabinets from the same place the builder did. Took a couple weeks to get the cabinets from Indiana but they are identical, same manufacturer. Same thing with the countertop, and get this...

$2200 installed :-)

That's one reason we got the Bogonia over the Gardenia. We didn't need to seat 16 for dinner indoors but a work station with file drawers is really handy.

[Quixote]

I find we can read in our living room, read on the lanai, front porch, and in the den, all quite cozily. We cannot, on the other hand, seat six or eight for dinner with no dining room furniture. We frequently have need to seat that many. Eating on the lanai is not a given in the winter cool weather.

I like having a dining room. I like the way it looks and like the additional storage.

I too like having a dining room that is used from time to time for dining and the rest of the time for other things, like craft projects. There are a table and four chairs in the kitchen nook as well; the kitchen is a room separate from the living/dining rooms.

Since I'm not a television watcher, I have never had a set in the living room, which frees up that space to really be a living room and not a TV room. One of the small bedrooms serves as a combined television room--perfect for streaming movies, videos, and so forth--and my home office; the other small bedroom is the guest room.

I did add a second ceiling fan (balanced with the original fan) to the large room that makes up the living and dining rooms, "lost" the builder's fixture over the dining room table (actually traded it for a wine rack...), and put up track lighting, so nothing interferes visually with what's on the walls of the dining room. An L-shaped sofa with the long part of the L serving as a room divider creates two very separate rooms out of the one big room. Works for me....

[CFrance]

I too like having a dining room that is used from time to time for dining and the rest of the time for other things, like craft projects. There are a table and four chairs in the kitchen nook as well; the kitchen is a room separate from the living/dining rooms.

Since I'm not a television watcher, I have never had a set in the living room, which frees up that space to really be a living room and not a TV room. One of the small bedrooms serves as a combined television room--perfect for streaming movies, videos, and so forth--and my home office; the other small bedroom is the guest room.

I did add a second ceiling fan (balanced with the original fan) to the large room that makes up the living and dining rooms, "lost" the builder's fixture over the dining room table (actually traded it for a wine rack...), and put up track lighting, so nothing interferes visually with what's on the walls of the dining room. An L-shaped sofa with the long part of the L serving as a room divider creates two very separate rooms out of the one big room. Works for me....

Quixote, you have just described our condo setup in Michigan (just sold). Now you are giving me an idea for the dining room. We too went without a chandelier in the condo because of triple windows looking out over a marina. So standing in the kitchen, there was an unobstructed view through the dining room. We put cans in instead, over the dining room table.

Thanks for that description! Now I'm thinking cans in the dining room ceiling of our Begonia. We have two pictures for the dining room, and I just realized the builder's fixture is going to obscure those. And whoever decided where to place that fixture to begin with has a bad eye. No way would it ever be over the center of the dining room table without moving the table way too far out from the wall.

Love this forum and the many ideas people have. Thanx!

[Bosoxfan]

why not just build one of the models that doesn't have the nook and dining room? I agree that most of the models have way too many dining areas (breakfast nook,dining room, stools at counter, table in lanai).

We did just that.We built an Aspen & one of the reasons is we didn't see the need for more then one dining area.

[MR&VAF]

We have a dining room table that is used for dining occasionally, but for the most part it is used for our lap top computer.

[JP]

Make it a walk in beer cooler.