The Battle of Optimizing Home Square Footage: Dining Room?

In the battle of optimizing a home's square footage, just where should the dining room stand? Along with a guest bedroom, a dining room can be some of the most unused real estate in a home. If you include the costs of furnishing the room with a table and chairs, perhaps a china cabinet or buffet and it's a pretty expensive package. In the 25 years of my marriage, every house we have owned has had a dining room. And in those 25 years, we have only used a dining room maybe a half dozen times. My perspective is clear. Our dining rooms have been a waste of space, another cleaning hassle and another space to buy furniture for that doesn't get used. I don't want a dining room in my next house.

That being said, I don't want our only dining space to reek "kitchen". I want it to me a cross between kitchen dining and dining room dining. I haven't seen a ton of homes to pull this off. The ones that do tend to have an open concept and have definitely upgraded the space to acknowledge that it will be used for company as well as family.

In the art of rightsizing, a lot of empty nesters are looking for the quintessential floor plan that gives them space, but not too much space. When you leave the 2 story home for a condo or patio home, you don't want to get claustrophobic. You don't want to feel like you no longer have room to move around in.

Taylor Morrison Carrara 62 floorplan

I found two floor plans on the web that featured 2 bedrooms (one being the master) and a den and have compared them primarily from the dining room element. The first plan has a breakfast area, a large island with bar seating and a dining room. When you look at how much space in this home is dedicated to eating, one would assume that the people who live here spend most of their time eating. I also have to say that my one of my pet peeves with builders is the foyer/dining room combo. It means that this space has to have a large investment in furniture and always has to be clean. You can't use it for other activities as it leaves you with the feeling that it has to stay clean. I strongly feel in the art of rightsizing, the first plan does not allow you to optimize the functionality of your home.

Toll Brothers Montana floor plan

The second floor plan also provides an island for bar/counter seating, but does not have both a breakfast area and a dining room. It's dining room is set off of the kitchen and is not included in the foyer. It also has a nice view to the outdoors. The dining room in both these floor plans can be formal and provide a dining room atmosphere. And the island can always be a space for breakfast or casual dining. I find the square footage of the second floor plan to be optimized better. For me this is rightsizing your living space. When you right size your space, you do not want repetitive spaces or spaces that aren't used regularly.

Everyone has different needs, different tastes and different activities. There are people who may disagree with me and say that they need two separate dining spaces. I just know that we don't and most of the couples, friends and families we know don't want the traditional dining room. For the past 20 years, I have read on and off how the traditional dining room is no longer wanted or needed and yet it is still very much a part of new construction. I am voting that it is not the most functional option. When we "right size", we will be looking for a floor plan that excludes the traditional dining room.

Below I have included some photos of dining spaces in homes where there isn't a separate traditional dining room. These spaces show how beautiful and functional one dining space can be. (OK - I am absolutely in love with the first picture!) I am showing different styles and different "sizes" of dining spaces. The important point in right sizing is that you optimize your home's square footage. The important point in creating a home, is that you make your space a reflection of what you love so that you are happy in your home.

This is a traditionally decorated space and shows how refined the dining space can be and still be part of a more open concept.

A lot of open concept homes show the dining space between the living space and the kitchen. This shows a transitional way to decorate the space.

This home does not have a dining room but the room adjacent to the kitchen acts as both kitchen dining and dining room.

The dining space in this home is connected to the kitchen and is both elegant and functional.

From England is a home on Cave Road in Brough.
This home features a beautiful combined kitchen and dining room that is as elegant as it is comfortable.
Original source no longer available :(  

I Adore Brick Floors

Whether brick pavers are adorning walls or floors, I love the textures, colors and patterns they bring into a room creating a warm and inviting space. I  would love to have a brick wall or a brick floor incorporated into my house. A brick floor in the mudroom or a brick focal wall in the basement would be awesome. Maybe someday? From the internet I have collected many inspirational photos of homes that incorporate brick floors and here are some of my favorites:

Let me start out with my all time favorite foyer. There is so much to love in this space. I love the neutral themed color of the wall with all the white molding detail. The arch of the front door matches the arch of the doorway leading to another room, living room perhaps. The turquoise velvet settee is to die for and turquoise is my favorite color. What a great way to bring a pop of color to this foyer! And then there are the floors. The rough European look of the brick in an herringbone pattern brings an old world charm to this traditional entrance-way. The light coming through the windows helps to create a bright and beautiful space. I so wish it were mine... (Have I gushed too much?)

As featured in Atlanta Homes, this traditional home sports a beautiful brick floor. This home located near the Chattahoochee River and has a casual elegance that is warm and welcoming.

Ferguson & Shamamian Architects, LLP designed this beautiful home in Chagrin Falls, Ohio which featured brick floors in a connecting hallway. This makes for a lovely transition.

Another stunning brick floor featured in Atlanta Homes. What is it about the South? They know how to showcase a drop dead floor. In this home, Designer Amy Morris brings the outdoors inside in the back entry hall with brick flooring, botanical prints, iron lanterns and weathered Catalan chests.

The interior of this home features a beautiful transition of wood and brick flooring. Love the weathered look and the herringbone pattern of this floor. Photo taken by Belgian photographer , Tim Van De Velde

A beautiful traditional mudroom is accented with a brick floor. From Homebunch.

Although originally charmed by the maps used as wallpaper in this mudroom, I also adore the brick floors.

A remodeled den by Seagrass Interiors include a gorgeous brick floor. This would also be a great library or office.

The brick floor is the right offset for this room that has a blend of old world elegance and southern style sun room with the furniture, the chandelier, and the weathered shutters. A perfect eclectic blend.

This library covers one very large gable wall of an attic loft in Sweden. The very white walls and furnishings reflect traditional Swedish design and the roughly-hewn brick floor looks quite ancient, but awesome.

I love this office of Brooke's on Velvet & Linen.

http://blog2.postcardfromparis.com/bid/282035/Before-After-Interior-Design-at-The-Cliffs-at-Walnut-Cove

This brick floor adds just the right texture and color to a creame kitchen. Love the basket as well!

Custom home designer, Ron Hill of Euroworld Designs created a beautiful wine cellar with brick floors, age wood beams and a chandelier for sparkle.

This phenomenal wine cellar has both a brick ceiling and brick flooring done in different patterns. The cellar is accented with reclaimed stone counters and antique wood. Featured in  Segreto Secrets blog.