The dining room in our home connects to the kitchen but is closed off from the areas where family and friends like to hang out when they visit. As a result, the room is seldom used except for holidays and a few special occasions.
Our goal is to make better use of the space by opening up the wall between the kitchen and the dining room and relaxing the formality of how we use the room. It will still be a dining space, but I want to incorporate some features that will draw people into the room for informal gatherings. It’s not a very large dining room, but it does have functional wall space. I think that I can use that to create an area to serve a buffet and house a beverage center that includes wine and coffee.
Sounds ambitious? Perhaps, but I was.so.inspired by an episode of Houzz TV, where interior designer Nicole White showcases how a dining room can be used for other purposes. Not only does White’s glamorous dining room also serve as her home office…she has a beverage station for coffee and wine! To top off her home design, Nicole designated another room as a “mom cave” just for her (and “The Girls” when they visit).
Rooms in homes are typically identified as “dining room” spaces or whatever. Nicole’s designs are a good reminder that a dining room can have multiple uses including as home offices, libraries, or other purposes. The thing to strive for is that you make it work so that you enjoy it, not just on holidays but year-round!
Easy & Delicious Sheet Pan Meals
