Open plan dilemma...HELP!

6 years ago

Hi, I have an open plan kitchen, family room, meals and (what should've been a rumpus room), we use as a

formal dining room. This all looks out to the large alfresco however which also has an 8 seater rectangle table and outdoor lounge. In between the family room and formal dining room, we have an open area which I guess is classed as a meals area!

My dilemma is, how do we utilise this (meals area) properly without having another table near a table overlooking another table...or is it ok to have a smaller ( I was thinking a round 6 seater in dark, perhaps navy fabric) table?...Help

The meals area is in front of the kitchen, the dining room (above picture) is off to the right of this

picture

This is the family room to the right of the kitchen if you're standing in the kitchen

Featured Answer

siriuskey

6 years ago

Would it work for you to move the dining setting closer to the kitchen and add a casual sitting area next to the alfresco outdoor table in place of the now dinig area?

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Comments (27)

KK1000
6 years ago
I think you could have a smaller round table with different style chairs and matching bar stools. To make other dining room stand out put a large rug under the table . You could use chairs like the ones in photos below and a Tulip round table with marble top.
Michelle Timbs thanked KK1000
KK1000
6 years ago
I said different style chairs, I mean different style to your existing dining chairs.
Michelle Timbs thanked KK1000
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juliahocking
6 years ago
Follow your intuition!!

It sounds like too many tables

Siriuskey is on the right track
Michelle Timbs thanked juliahocking
siriuskey
6 years ago
Thanks julia, it looks like a beautiful new Hamptons style house, envy.
Michelle Timbs thanked siriuskey
bigreader
6 years ago
That is a lot of tables. I’m wondering why can’t you eat at the existing kitchen bench or the existing dining table. To add another eating area suggests the spaces are not functioning for the way your family lives. And needs a rethink.
KK1000
6 years ago
I just realised you have outdoor dining as well in that case you should really rearrange your furniture and make current dining into a sitting room.
Michelle Timbs thanked KK1000
dreamer
6 years ago
How often would you use the 'formal dining'. I personally would use this as my everyday dining area. Why should the good stuff only be used for guests. If you do want to leave this area for special occasions, maybe add a four seat casual table and chairs for everyday use, into your meals area. Add some nice wing back chairs, and coffee table for when friends come over for a cup of tea/wine. Away from the TV.
girlguides
6 years ago
Where do you eat your meals? It is nice to have a formal dining if you have space and your looks lovely. Question is do you need a casual meals table?
juliahocking
6 years ago
Try and remember why you chose to have the dining furniture where you put it

Then you may have some insight of what to do with the space between!

From the photos it looks as if you have glass access in the empty space. Does that allow you to enjoy views? and would that be nice for the dining table and your visitors?

It seems that what is now the dining space would work well as a sitting area

It would be a natural progression for visitors to move from outside to the sitting area for coffee after al fresco meals or from the sitting area with drinks to the outside for BBQ

Lots of potential

Nothing is written in stone - try a few different layouts before you go to the expense of buying extra furniture!
Michelle Timbs thanked juliahocking
spmm
6 years ago
Can’t have too many tables in my humble opinion :) - Of course it depends on function and people - I like kitchen tables that people are not scared to use and can congregate around and relax whilst doing tasks. —-
A quality tablecloth can instantly add sophistication.—- if you have space then formal dining areas are great - assuming you will use them, otherwise they are just another thing to clean.
Michelle Timbs thanked spmm
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you to everyone who left me some great comments, I hope my responses came through...I can't seem to see any of them sorry!
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
siriuskey, thank you for your comment (sorry, just realised I was returning all comments in the wrong spot lol) I think i'm leaning more towards your idea and moving the dining table and using that spot for our sitting room instead...should've listened to hubby afterall
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
juliahocking

thank you Julia, it sure makes perfect sense to have it as a sitting room but we already have one of those too (pic above) I should post a pic of the whole area so you can get a perspective of what I mean
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Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
spmm, thank you, i'm glad someone else likes more than one table :-)
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
dreamer, totally agree though we do use the table as our everyday dining as well as when we entertain however, I just wanted to fill the space in between that and the family room and another table of smaller size (everyday for just the 3 of us) that we could use too
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
KK1000, thanks, I think i'm leaning towards that very idea
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
Here are some more pictures to show you how big of an area I need to fill

This is looking from the kitchen

and when you look from the family room, so it's quite an open space that just looks empty don't you think?

We have measured the space to see if the table would indeed fit and it does with room at both ends so we could move it I guess and use the dining room as a more formal sitting room or move the TV from above the fireplace and make it our loungeroom and just have that room as the sitting room since the fireplace is there and a lot cosier during winter drinkies!
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PRO
Paul Di Stefano Design
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
ideally the spaces should be designed to the function and understanding of the use.. ie inside to out, rather than the other way.....

clearly this is an oversized space for the function/furniture currently, since you are actively looking to "fill it up"...(usually it's the opposite!!, we're trying to clean it out!)

What I would suggest is centralising the dining table to the kitchen & island reorientated longways (ie same as the bench) with perhaps then a centralised buffet feature or sitting area where you currently have the dining table....

This will balance this main space much better - two tables side by side will look weird, but a centralised dining zoning with flanking sitting/lounge areas of different scales would work and possibly enable better flow around this space

This is the sort of space that could hold a massive 3m long table but it needs to work with the proportion/length of the room rather than against it

Good luck! Cheers PD
Michelle Timbs thanked Paul Di Stefano Design
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
Paul Di Stefano Design, Thanks Paul. oh i'd definitely place the table the same way the island is (horizontal) and you make a great point on how to use the space well as I have always wanted to place my French buffet on the wall that the clock is currently but hubby was against it! I think having that and perhaps 2 occasional wing back chairs would look ok...what do you think?
PRO
Paul Di Stefano Design
6 years ago
yep - that's what I would recommend - it would formalise, balance and make sense of the area more in keeping with this style of residence....trust your instincts - you're on the right track ;)
siriuskey
6 years ago
You have a big area to work with and by swapping the current dining and lounge (next to out door alfresco, you could introduce a sofa table behind a lounge to define the space.
KK1000
6 years ago
I like the idea of turning the table around but you have to relocate the light fittings to and a huge oriental rug under the table would finish it off.
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
siriuskey, I like that idea, thank you
Michelle Timbs
Original Author
6 years ago
KK1000, I think I’d just get rid of the pendants really. I don’t think they’d suit a sitting room
juliahocking
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
New article in Houzz today suggests ideas for large areas

Here are some of them

Elegant living room · More Info

Manhattan Loft · More Info

West Chin Architects & Interior Designers, Holiday House Hamptons 2014 · More Info

I love all of them!! Especially the love seat that faces both ways - what a clever idea
User
6 years ago
Seriously, how many tables does anyone need???