Yes, that's an excellent idea. Would you still have a living room or would the basement rec room act as a living room or den where guests would gather?

Hi! Just to help you with your dilemma... We have a show suite that once our guests enter the room, the kitchen and the dining room are the first thing that they see. Even though this show suite is for a condominium, maybe this could still help you visualize if you are okay with the thought of it. Have a great day!

leelee - yes the rec room in the basement would be somewhere to hangout. Also I plan on putting in an island so that would be another gathering area right..

Go for it.

I don't think that's unusual. A common layout for a center hall colonial would be to have dining on one side and living on the other when you walk in. I've also seen in Victorians people turn a smaller front room into the dining room and use the back for more living space.