The Dining Room

Edwardia

I think it might help if I describe the room ?

Imagine a paperback book shape. At the bottom edge two windows, equally spaced. On the RH side in the centre, a chimney breast with alcoves each side, chimney breast about 6 ft wide. The alcoves aren't exactly symmetrical, the one nearest the windows is a little bigger. The top edge of the book, put a square arch slightly towards the right. On the LH side get near the top and cut the corner off. so fwd slash slanting 45 degrees. There was a door in that wall which is about two standard door widths, The hall the other side meanders 23 feet.

If you stack on another paperback shape, put the bottom LH corner at the top edge of the / so it doesn't protrude and then bring in the RH wall a bit so it lines up RH wall of the other shape. Chimney breast in same position, window in very top RH corner.

I hope that makes sense !

Edwardia

Fire Fox - The short wall just wouldn't accommodate all the books, I have er thousands. I thought about putting them in my room upstairs but I'm worried about the weight.

maman - I've lived in some big houses but always ones that ramble about, nothing symmetrical. I can see that if you do entertain having somewhere to pre-prepare without guests hovering about is useful.

I wouldn't knock through myself actually. Open plan is all very well but I don't want my sitting room smelling of fish or the washing up nagging me I love having rooms on different levels and having to meander about. It also gives the opportunity to have different internal 'views'

Did take on board the point about awkwardness but as you enter back end of the room you don't see the front end and have to turn right through the square arch. If you're in the front end looking to the back you can't see the entire room, ie the LH wall.

I'm thinking as long as the colours are same and the heights of furniture the same it should flow OK ?

I'm liking the seating with books and music more and more ..

shegirl

That's an interesting shape and that means you can have fun and be flexible with it mine is kinda like a big rectangle,draw a capital E in it (on the lines) then rub out about a third of the middle bar on the E then take the top left side in a couple of feet! seen a room like it and love it because you can work with it and it has a little quaintness!Love the fact I can paper over both sides of that central partially separating wall!

What's the length like on the dining room part compared to the living room?

Edwardia wrote: »

I think it might help if I describe the room ?

Imagine a paperback book shape. At the bottom edge two windows, equally spaced. On the RH side in the centre, a chimney breast with alcoves each side, chimney breast about 6 ft wide. The alcoves aren't exactly symmetrical, the one nearest the windows is a little bigger. The top edge of the book, put a square arch slightly towards the right. On the LH side get near the top and cut the corner off. so fwd slash slanting 45 degrees. There was a door in that wall which is about two standard door widths, The hall the other side meanders 23 feet.

If you stack on another paperback shape, put the bottom LH corner at the top edge of the / so it doesn't protrude and then bring in the RH wall a bit so it lines up RH wall of the other shape. Chimney breast in same position, window in very top RH corner.

I hope that makes sense !

Edwardia

shegirl - lengthwise the front part is 2/3rds of total length.

This morning I found some photos on my laptop of stuff I bought for the back sitting room which is packed up (no idea where) which includes three small carved Indian wooden panels, some brass trays with Arabic calligraphy, some brass and pewter ornate photo frames bought in sales and a print from the 1880s of a tigron (tiger x lion) which needs reframing (Oxfam find).

Need to go rummaging in boxes to find stuff !

I am going with the reading/music room now thank you everyone so if you have ideas for relaxed chocolate-parchment-wood-leather-brass ethnicky furniture/fabric please post xx

rachbc

If you are going for reading room what about a pair of upholstered chairs rather than another sofa? A bit more flexible - and can be moved more easily if you do decide to use the room for dining/ entertaining - I also think you can take a bit more of a risk with fabric choices on a chair. I may also help the area feel distinct (rather than just another bit of the sitting room) whilst also blend together

maman

rachbc wrote: »

If you are going for reading room what about a pair of upholstered chairs rather than another sofa? A bit more flexible - and can be moved more easily if you do decide to use the room for dining/ entertaining - I also think you can take a bit more of a risk with fabric choices on a chair. I may also help the area feel distinct (rather than just another bit of the sitting room) whilst also blend together

DH has a music room. He has a big leather armchair and footstool in there and he loves it. Some books are stored in there (shelves at picture rail height) but mostly hi-fi equipment, CDs and vinyl. Affectionately known here as DH's 'playroom'.

merlot123

I had a living room thru dining room, until DH put doors on to separate the area (I don't like seeing a dining table when I'm sitting in the living room).

Since putting doors on, I have had a change of plan and put the table into the kitchen and made a cosy (I think) music room. I will post a pic if someone tells me how. The dining room was/is very small (new build), The only time I miss the dining room is Christmas, but you cannot live for one day a year.

OP, do what you think will benefit you everyday and not what other people want you to do.

Merlot123

Edwardia

maman - in the finished end we have two oversized leather loveseats in a Chesterfield style, one with its' back to the windows the other to its left, facing the fireplace so they are in a loose L shape.

rachbc - the cast iron fire place is missing from the chimney breast in the back end as is the fire surround. I found one of those carved wooden folding dressing screens quite cheap online (about £69 and more than a metre across) which hides the hole.

Not sure whether to have a logburner in there and buy a big Indian rosewood fire surround OR whether to stack logs in there for the other fireplace - but with the screen there it doesn't matter right now.

If we had a log burner or reinstated a cast iron fireplace (chimney is fine, been tested) I do like the idea of armchairs facing it.

However, I also like the idea of tub chairs in a group in the middle of the room on a big rug ( I picked up a huge seagrass one for 24.99) with a decent sized low table in the middle.

Er and I like the idea of a RH chaise longue under the window at the back as well.

merlot123 - OH was leaning towards dining room just out of convention really but I mentioned the thread and music/reading and he loves the idea. I think it is more flexible and as rachbc says if you haven't got a sofa you can move stuff around. It occurs to me that other than the bathroom, none of the other rooms is a one function room.

We started clearing junk out of the room ready to start painting tomorrow and found a big Victorian brass fender with a price tag of £13, a pile of brass stair rods and one of those folding peacock firescreens (not sure I like it now) under old curtains. Had forgotten all about them

OH is checking we have all the right materials and paint and I'm going to start looking at furniture websites ooh :T

Any ideas please ?

Poppy9

I would make a wine rack in the fireplace hole as I'm a complete alchi!

FatVonD

OK, so the pool table was a step too far and a reading room sounds lovely but could you maybe accommodate a nice antique card table so it could be a social room if you had friends round (for a game of poker or a rubber of bridge!)

I'd have a retro 1950s bar, a bit Del Boy but think of all the lovely knick-knacks you can buy for it!