because my house (built in 1959) doesn't have one.

It has an "eat-in" kitchen.

But, the entire house is less than 1000 sq. ft., so maybe it's important for large houses to have them?

and our parties are growing larger. It's just a museum for wedding crystal right now.

That's really the one holiday that I'd love to have a space for.

I'd love to be able to host Thanksgiving. It's probably my favorite holiday.

Simply because my kitchen nook table will only seat about 5 comfortably and I often have more guests than can be accommodated there. The original floor plan of my home actually had a much larger formal dining area, but I had the builder wall off part of it for a small office. Eventually I'll probably expand my kitchen and absorb the smaller dining area.

That's how I see it.

I suspect that people who have never had two dining areas think it's a good idea, then they live in the house for a while and realize the 2nd dining room is the most underutilized space in the home.

Much more useful to the kids and keeping them around.

...zero. I don't entertain. The kids all live in other states. When they were all here, we managed fine with our eat-in-kitchen and the patio furniture. If someone expects fancy, I'll make reservations for them.

adjoins the kitchen via a pass-through. But while I have a corner china cabinet and full sized table and chairs, it is less a separate room than part of the whole first floor (kitchen/living room-"great room"/dining room/ sunroom) continuum under vaulted ceilings. Not as large as it sounds, but just very open. If the dining area were totally walled off into a separate area, I'd never go in there and surely never eat there.

Until my kids were in college, I didn't even use the formal living room. Literally, for ten years that room went unused, except when we took pictures. The first thing I did when we had money was to get rid of the formal living room furniture, which was now dated, and installed a large screen t.v. It's now a lounge room that is connected to the Master bedroom. The only problem is when people at the door sneak a peak through the side windows!

separate table/dining room. Me, I can count on one hand how often I've had more than about six people (total) sit down to dinner in the past several years.

it had a formal dining room that we were very excited about, and spent a fortune on for a great dining table and chairs. After ten years, we've used it maybe ten times.

I'm all about making rooms functional year round.

It's our second house with one.
It's a large cathedral ceilinged general purpose room.
Part has couches and chairs, part has dining table and chairs.
You can expand living-dining either way, as needed.

it was a great apartment, too. Even though my wife and I could eat in the kitchen most of our dinners were in that room. Made dining a little more special.

the formal dining room from which my honored guests can make an exit to the smoking room to enjoy a good cigar and brandy and then smash our glasses in the massive fireplace. I'm hopelessly in love with the past, particularly the Victorian era and I loathe the style of the modern world. Comfort or practicality are not as important as elegance and style. The "open" concept home is anathema to everything I see as civilized but I know it's just my own delirium. I couldn't afford a home like that or a Jeeves. Heck, I can't even afford the average "open" concept modern home. But all I can do is dream.

I understand the allure of the open concept, but damn. When one person decides to retire to bed, everyone has to tip toe around the house. That doesn't make sense to me. There has to be a happy balance somewhere.

is the entryway. My grandparents had a two-story Victorian house that featured a vestibule where that was a separate room at the entrance of their house where visitors were greeted. The stairway to the upstairs section was located there. Often, the visitors were people selling things or papersboys or milkmen collecting their bills. After that, there was a parlor where longer term visitors could sit in front of a fireplace. Neither of these two front rooms allowed visitors to see into the rest of the house or view private activities of the people who lived there. I am really bothered about the modern style house where you can see the full sweep of the living areas from the front door.

Now, not only can you see it from the doorway, but there are doors that are etched glass and you can see through the entire house from the sidewalk!

I, too, like my privacy in different rooms. Who wants to hear the banging and clanking the pots and pans are making in the kitchen when you're trying to watch tv or read a book? Who wants to smell grease while trying to watch tv?

And don't get me started on stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

I'm glad we have it for larger gatherings though. Our breakfast room, off the kitchen, is too small for the entire family.

Nice to look at and most everyone who sees it is impressed but it is only used for the holiday dinners.

At the other home, the dining room is the loveseat with end tables opposite the large screen tv in the living room.

I could use more often.

I love the concept, but we still don't have a fireplace.

if someone "entertains" a lot, then I am sure they would get good use out of a formal dining room.
If not, then I don't think a formal room is necessary.

If I can get more than ten people in the kitchen nook we plan to build, then the dining room is a goner.

Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and that's it?

Unimportant.

Just like space for "entertaining". Most people what, entertain like three times a year?

in the dinning room, we eat dinner every day, sometimes lunch if not eating outside. that was for the 2 of us, when I have company, we have to eat in the dining room.
Now that I live alone, I tend to eat at my computer desk in the den while catching up on the news. but the minute I have company, into the dining room. I also take contractors in there to negotiate terms of contracts. as long as they are clean.

I don't do holidays anymore, don't feel like making friends take me in when I am alone on the holidays, so I always tell them I am busy. .

have actually entertained here, and use it for solo breakfast and brunch. Other options are table in kitchen, where can only sit 3, and front porch, where table is only suitable for hors d'oevres as below.

have only been here (renting) since September, so just now taking advantage of the whole place.

Only use it if I have guests over

I'm OK with a big enough kitchen to eat in and an enclosed porch big enough for dining. I bought a yard sale table and chairs and refinished them, so my dining room is nothing fancy.

I'm not a fan of open concept though. Like a wee bit more privacy at the front door than that. Step inside and see everything, so to speak - not to my liking.

Last edited Tue Apr 29, 2014, 03:19 AM - Edit history (1)

When I was quite young, my parents decided to buy a bigger house with enough bedrooms so each kid (3) got their own. There was a large yard and a large basement. There was also a dining room which my mother liked. It was a few more years before the dining room furniture arrived. There were probably a dozen 'buisiness' dinners over the years. That table and chairs mostly has mostly collected dust in the last 40 years.

Ironically, it was used just last week for Easter dinner, although my mother has been dead for just over six years. I still miss her almost every day. (Time does help in these kinds of situations.)