We just moved into a new house that has a formal living and dining room. We plan on making the living room into a sitting area with a dry bar. The dining room is where my wife and I disagree. She wants a full blown dining room with table, chairs, china cabinet, etc. I grew up in a house with a dining room, and I can probably count on both hands the number of times it was used. I'm obviously against a dining room, not only for that fact, but also because we don't have any dining room furniture. So, we would have to buy everything to go into it.

What are some other uses that I could propose to her to use the room as?

I don't know the exact dimensions, but it seems to be a decent sized room. It has hard wood floors, a decorative panel/moulding around the lower portion of the wall, and the top of the wall is painted. There is a chandelier (sp?) in the room now as a source of light.

I know a lot of people may suggest a library, but that is not an option for us. Neither of us want a library as we don't really have a need for one. I want to propose a room that would actually get use.

Thanks in advance

 

Game Room, TV Room, Play Room, Home Office, Home Gym?

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I should have probably put more information in my original post.

Rooms we already have or have plans for:
Game room (pool table)
Media room
Play room
Office

A gym wouldn't look right because the room is very open right in the front of the house.

I think I'm looking for something unusual, but still not too far off the deep end.

 

Sorry - but I agree with your wife on this one. We had a formal dining room for 10 years and only used it a couple times a year. But so what??? I still enjoyed having a formal dining room. If it bothers you that much, use it at least once a week - say for Sunday dinner.

In fact use it aleast that often. Do you have good china and silverware you got for a wedding gift? Use that too!!

If you really have a hard time with that idea - the only thing I can suggest now is to knock a wall down and make one big kitchen. Do that and i guarantee your sitting room will hardly be used.

 

as long as you're using the formal living room as a formal living room (or as you call it, sitting room w/ dry bar), that sounds like you might be entertaining, so you might as well use the dining room as a dining room. and since you've already got every other kind of room, what else is left?? your wife wants it but you don't. i'd say your wife's going to win this one! but in the end, you'll both win, because you'll use it and you'll enjoy it. even if only for the most special of occasions, but that's what makes it special.

 

You guys are probably right. I'm just dreading dropping the huge wad of cash to buy dining room furniture.

 

yeah, i don't hear you mumbling about HAVING to spend a bunch of money for the game room, media room, playroom, or office!!!! hmmm...maybe cuz those are YOUR rooms????

 

Why not buy used (aka antique) funiture for your dining room. There are lovely sets our there, estate sales, eBay, and craigslist (if you are near a craigslist city), or antique shops and antique malls. Not only does it save you money but you are doing something good for the environment by reuseing old furniture rather that buying new. Of course that assumes you like old furniture.

 

We already have everything for those rooms with the exception of the media room. But, the media room would be used much more than the dining room, so I can justify the cost of new stuff to go in there.

I'm probably just going to bite the bullet and be on alert for inexpensive furniture.

 

it really doesn't have to be all that expensive. you don't even need to buy a full matching set if you go with upholstered parsons chairs. they'll go with any table. and if you use a table cloth, the table doesn't need to perfectly match the china hutch. so look for the items piecemeal on sale or in closeouts.