Comments on: Burning Question: Are Formal Dining Rooms Out?

By: gsr

gsr — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:37:49 +0000

I can’t stand open concept living, it always looks like a mess and almost always never has a “defined area”. I love dining rooms that are formal and over the top decadent. They are a special place demanding a sense of formality and respect for manners. And are the centerpiece during holiday times. I go into so many older homes and they have been “renovated” to death and no longer have the charm and patina they should have. And to say they look silly is an understatement when people take out walls. I usually ask how quickly can I put the walls back up and how much will it cost?? Since they also tend to toss out the trim and pocket doors/french doors when they destroy these homes.
In newer homes they seem to be an after thought and it’s obvious. In newer homes I think they are useless and a waste of square footage.

By: Haris

Haris — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:30:21 +0000

I think the answer is simple:
if you had the money and space, you would’ve done formal areas?
If yes, then dining areas is something that everyone likes!
However as all people have budget constraints, someone should see his own case specifically on whether the cost of having an extra space for formal dining could have been saved for something else.

By: threadbndr

threadbndr — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:01:49 +0000

There’s a tiny galley kitchen in my craftsman bungalow. So the formal dining room is a necessity. My house was an early ‘open’ plan – the living room and dining room are open to each other, seperated only by low built-ins and the definition of space by the ceiling beams.

When I entertain, it’s usually just 3 or 4 people – still too many for the tiny kitchen. People hang out around the table – just steps away from me, I don’t feel isolated at all. I put a mini bar in one of the book cases and often serve buffet sytle from the big built-in sideboard/china cabnite that anchors the dining room.

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:11:22 +0000

I dispise formal dining rooms. Seems like just wasted space for a table that collects stuff (That what it is for us). We just bought a house. I begged for the wall to come down and join the kitchen and dining room. Everyone ALWAYS ends up in the kitchen and it is the heart of the home. It opens the entire house up to a nice flow instead of blocking energy.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:52:43 +0000

They’re back and there are bargains.

By: joey

joey — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:36:48 +0000

I think it depends on if you entertain, and HOW you entertain. Some people prefer to converse with their guests as they finish up in the kitchen, others like guests to experiance a more “finished” product and have everything done and waiting for their friends.

I personally like open-concepts, but with a twist: I like the kitchen to be big enough to house a larger table so that you can throw those large parties. I don’t like it when the living room is open to the kitchen/dining area. Why? The smells. I don’t want my couch and the air throughout my house to smell like baked chicken and stir-fry.

By: Whitney

Whitney — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:34:37 +0000

We live in an 1895 Victorian and have a small formal dining room. We only use it when the inlaws are in town. I am ashamed to admit that we usually sit in front of the TV to eat or eat in the breakfast nook in the kitchen.

We have talked about knocking down the wall between the living room and dining room and making it one large room. The only problem is that there is a fireplace in that wall.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:33:23 +0000

I LOVE FORMAL DINING ROOMS! I also like eat-in kitchens. I guess I just like a space where I can entertain or eat a nice dinner with my husband and not be distracted by the TV or mess in the kitchen.

My husband and I are looking for our first house and although I do not rule out houses without a formal dining room I do high prefer them. I know for sure that once we have a family, and are looking at buying or building our second house- that a formal dining room will be an essential element.

By: YoungHouseLove

YoungHouseLove — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:41:41 +0000

I think you all covered the pros & cons of open dining vs. a separate formal space pretty well here. Whether its making a comeback or just never went away, its clear that dining rooms will be a well-loved staple in many homes. Even while some of us rebel and create wide open spaces. Once again we’ve learned it’s all about how each one of us lives and what works for you personally.

Thanks for all the thoughts, everyone. GPB, I also liked your suggestion about the voting button. I’ll get to work on that…although I still hope people will take the time to explain their vote. You all always have such good points to make I’d hate not to hear them fleshed out.

‘Til the next burning question,
John

By: DecorPad

DecorPad — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:18:13 +0000

I like the idea of both! We have an open floor plan with our family room and then we have our formal living room in the front of the house!