Dining room and kitchen access

User

11 years ago

Forest Manor Model Home · More Info

I am debating between two options...

Option #1 Opening at the center of dining room wall to kitchen see photo above

Option #2 opening at the end of the dining room wall to kitchen. See photo below

Cambridge Street Residence · More Info

Which do you prefer and why? We do not do formal entertaining and will not have a butler pantry. Center opening will allow for a lot of light into the kitchen through dining room windows and I will have a nice view out the dining room window into the front yard. Our lifestyle is very casual.

Featured Answer

cpartist

11 years ago

Stupid question. You say you don't entertain formally so why have a dining room at all? If you were formal and entertained formally I could see it, but if it's a room that will be a dust collector and only used once or twice a year, what's the point?

I'm a firm believer in building a house to suit your actual needs and not your fantasy needs. (It's the same reason I will not have a formal dining room in my home. I would never use it!) And I don't care what others in your neighborhood are doing either. (We tend here on Lawn Guylind to sometimes get too caught up in what is "right" based on what our neighbors are doing.)

Wouldn't the space be better served for something else? An office or music room, or craft room or tv room for the kids? A game room? Do what works for you and your family and when it comes time to sell, you can always then call it a dining room, even if it's not opened to the kitchen.

If you do keep it, I would do it at the end so you have the long run of counter/cabinets. Plus who wants to see dirty dishes?

btw: I think your fridge would be better if it were on the end of the wall by the cleanup sink. Right now you're making a lot of extra steps to get stuff out of the fridge and then have to walk around, or reach over the stools to put things near the prep sink.

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Comments (16)

ediblekitchen
11 years ago
If the center option allows for more light, why not go for that? You didn't really give any reasons for doing the opening at the end.
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AnnKH
11 years ago
I think it would depend on how the kitchen is configured, since moving the door in the DR is going to also move the door in the kitchen. Can you give us a layout, with dimensions?

It sounds like view and lighting are better with a centered door, so I'd go with that (kitchen configuration notwithstanding).
User thanked AnnKH
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User
11 years ago
Center opening. Beautiful French doors with transom window.
User thanked User
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all! I was told the opening in the center would allow those seated in the dining room to see the mess in the kitchen. This is what I have so far...
User
11 years ago
Where will you put your refrigerator and pantry if you open up the dining room entry?
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Mimipadv: I am going to keep the opening width as shown in the plan. About 36 inches? Just tying to figure out whether to move it to the side or not.
seb225
11 years ago
Thinking about your dining furniture...do you have a long buffet/china hutch? If so, will it fit on the long wall to the left and still leave you enough room to maneuver comfortably around your table centered under a light fixture? If you have smaller dining furniture, will everything fit and still keep the room feeling balanced? I think the center door will be very nice, especially with the extra light. You can always have a decorative door there and leave it open unless your kitchen is a wreck!
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User
11 years ago
stellaalto

Mimipadv: I am going to keep the opening width as shown in the plan. About 36 inches? Just tying to figure out whether to move it to the side or not.

****

Oh, ok!

In that case, I would keep it center and think about giving it some gravitas like this:

http://tinyurl.com/q4bpfrz
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blfenton
11 years ago
What is to the left of the fridge?
AnnKH
11 years ago
I agree with cpartist. Casual living does not require three eating areas.

My mom's house had a breakfast nook and a dining room. The dining room didn't get used often, but when it did, there were 10 - 12 people around the table. No way for that many in the nook.

Your breakfast nook, open to the family room, could accommodate a table (or tables) for Thanksgiving dinner. I would repurpose the dining room - and close off the wall, giving you more counter/storage in the kitchen.

I also agree with cp about the fridge.
User thanked AnnKH
amberm145
11 years ago
The opening as drawn will not give you the wide view into the dining room that you're showing in the photos.
Amber
11 years ago
I agree with cpartist. If you aren't going to use a formal dining room, get rid of it! Library, game room? If you still choose to keep it, maybe two pocket French doors? I have better examples somewhere, this it's all I can find ATM.
User thanked Amber
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all! Very helpful suggestions! I love them all. Even though we don't do formal entertaining, I entertain often in a casual manner. I think it's nice for everyone to sit together at one table. In my current house, the adults sit in the DR and kids sit at their own table in the kitchen. I would use the DR at least once a month. Living room is a completely different story and a topic of its own! The architect says we need it for resale but I know I will NEVER use it. It will house my baby grand piano and that is about it... The architect even said his LR is a museum room. But why have it??

Anyway.....

CPartist, blfenton: I haven't really thought out the detailed layout of the kitchen. The architect put the fridge wherever and I haven't really given it much thought. I totally get what you mean. It makes perfect sense!
blfenton
11 years ago
Your fridge needs to be moved. It is in the wrong place. Plan your kitchen first, then figure out the DR door. Don't plan the DR door and then close off your mind to a properly functioning kitchen.
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cpartist
11 years ago
I live on Long Island (North Shore) and disagree completely with your architect. If you don't use a formal living room don't put one in. Why pay for unused space? One can design a great room to look nice enough to entertain in. So keep the dining room and lose the formal living room. Turn it into a music/game/library room. Something that will be used
User thanked cpartist