Layout opinion - use dining area?

17 years ago

Thanks to those that posted feedback for earlier layout feedback. As we have reviewed those and other layout topics, we are wondering if we should expand any of the kitchen cabintry into the adjacent dining room? We currently have a dining table, buffet, and small wine rack in that area, but would be open to opinions as to whether or not we should considering using this space in the kitchen remodel - perhaps changing the orientation of the dining table? This is our only eating area in the house.

Layout without furniture -

Layout with furniture - Note that our dining room table has an expansion leaf, so we keep the extra chairs on either side of the buffet.

Thanks! We so appreicate the feedback we are getting!

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Comments (6)

danielle00
17 years ago
My vote is to continue the cabinets or buy a piece of storage furniture that coordinates with your kitchen cabinets for a more unfitted look in that area. I would make sure you have enough room for you and/or your guests to eat comfortably without feeling squished. It looks from your picture that space might be tight.
malhgold
17 years ago
that looks really tight to me. I don't know how anyone could get in and out of the chair on the left. Also the people seated on the south side would have to squeeze past the chair and buffet.

Seems like you have unuseable space behind that peninsula? Maybe those lines aren't walls?? Is this space open to the LR?
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ccoombs1
17 years ago
If that's a wall between the living room and the dining room, then I would not extend the cabinets into the dining area because it will be too cramped. It looks like it's only about 10' wide? I think sliding chairs in and out from the table would be very difficult. If you did run cabinets all the way in to the DR area, I'd consider making them much more narrow, possibly even 12" or so which would still give you buffet room plus lots of storage but not cost you much floor space.
danielle00
17 years ago
I agree with ccombs1... something that is 12" would work-- otherwise, you won't have enough room for people to get in and out of their chairs. Maybe you could find an interesting shelf for cookbooks or a plate rack of some sort (etsy.com has all sorts of interesting shelving, platracks, little cabinets, etc).
bmorepanic
17 years ago
The line marked 10'6" is a dimension line - not a wall.
detour
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all for your thoughts and comments. Yes, that line between the dining and the living room is a dimension line, not a wall (thanks bmorepanic for responding to that).

The dining area is furnished with espresso wood furniture - dining set, buffet, and tall wine cabinet (from Crate and Barrel). I'm inclined to keep the kitchen cabinets in the current kitchen - so that the dining room still stands as a room (versus an eat in area) - as it is our only eating area.