What to do with dining room?
 

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!

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.

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

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).

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

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.

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!

Made A Library-TV Room In A Lantana
 

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.

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 : )

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'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.

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/...ackandside.jpg

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.

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.