Out door areas, patios, etc. is not the answer here. Our weather is too hot/humid in summer and too cold in winter.
We do, however, have many smaller homes with expanded breakfast areas that have replaced the formal dining room. With more open floor plans, the kitchen, breakfast, family room area is a comfortable replacement for the formal dining room.
A sun room off the kitchen often serves for dining also. I do that.
Yes, we've been seeing the same thing here w/ more open floor plans and fewer dining rooms. The emphasis is on kitchen and adjoining family room. I also see this w/ remodeling, when people redo their kitchens. I have not seen the trend in outdoor space due to both the weather and also oftem limit on space in our area.
Liam is it because families always seem to be on the run and don't eat together anymore? Kind of hard to eat a Turkey dinner on your lap while sitting in an easy chair in the family room in front of the TV.
I wish someone invent a revolving dining room. .combination for office space..push a button and there it is!
The formal dining room has faded in popularity as consumers want the gathering room/open room concept. That being said there are lots of older homes where the Formal Dining room is the center of the home. When you need the room for holidays and family time, there is no better room in the house. Priceless.
Liam - the formal dining room is very rare here in the southwest particularly in new construction. As you indicated, it is all about the outdoor dining/entertaining. Although, in the summer time it's actually too hot to entertain outside...I'll stick with the comfort of my dining "area" in my air-conditioned home. Great post.
I have a formal dining room that serves as storage for a dining room set that no one uses.
Open porches for open air family therapy like The Waltons with gram shelling fresh peas and sharing some wisdom with Elizabeth, the other children still happens. Formal dining rooms used more than three holidays a year happen too. Dining areas off the kitchen is not family dining done slowly, enjoying the meal.
In today's society, formal dining doesn't fit in. I haven't seen builders wanting it either...good post
Morris is right, here in Florida at least, both the formal living and dining rooms are pretty much wasted space!
I see fewer formal dining rooms here in California but they're not going away for the reasons you state (holidays, etc). Formal living is disappearing in mid-price homes but high-end still have them. Even then, they're smaller and really just an afterthought in the floor plan.
I've been hearing this about formal dining and living rooms for years. If a great room is large enough, people will buy a house without a formal living room. However, when I've really pushed clients and asked if they would buy a home without a formal dining room (regardless of how they ultimately use it) the answer has always been no. I think they are here to stay for while even if homeowners don't use them much.
Even in Florida we do have people who insist on a formal dining room. I agree. Even with outdoor space the weather, hot, cold, rain, snow etc just is not appropriate to plan anything outdoors. We had a dinner party (burger, corn on the cob etc) last night. One of the guests suggested we move outside. When I opened the sliding doors everyone said, NO WAY!!!
here in the Chicagoland area we're not seeing the same trend. I know I personally use my dining room every night with my family. Maybe it's the weather here but eating outside doesn't seem to be possible most of the year.a lot of sellers have dining room so elaborate but it does make me think that they don't ever eat in there.
What I've seen happening is the disappearance of living rooms and the emergence of lofts/work/study areas. Another thing that has disappeared is a wet bar.
Funny, I am still seeing dining rooms, but living rooms have disappeared and been replaced by larger kitchens, another bedroom, office or a bathroom for every bedroom. Personally, I would rather have less bathrooms and more "living" space.
We still have formal dining rooms, but I continually wonder why. Outdoor eating is rare here do to the heat and bugs, but the formal set up is just a rare. When I show and list homes with formal dinings they are often set up as offices or additional living space.
You are right. You rarely see a formal dining room in a new home construction.
Formal dining rooms are still a staple of new home construction here, but as families in smaller homes can attest, using a formal dining a couple of times a year can be wasted space. Sometime I see sellers have used the space as an office or a separate play area for the kids. MAybe we are all just getting more practical - adapting the square footage to changing needs.
I have a formal dining room and living room . . . which I never use. But that's just me at my present lifestyle. Years ago, YES they were used. A home needs to provide the lifestyle of the current owner.
I hope this doesn't mean that traditional meals and cooking are becoming a thing of the past.
Interesting post. We see a lot of large spaces that serve as living and eating areas.
In our area we still see dining rooms in new construction even at the mid level homes. We do see the elimination of "living rooms" in favor of open concept great rooms. Terrific post!
It's amazing how things have changed. Both formal living rooms and dining rooms are things of the past. Instead a large kitchen with a "hand out" area opening in to a great room (instead of a living room) opening to the 4 season room.. .It is a new way of living.
An open floor plan generally does not include a Forma Dining Room. The kitchen is the centerpiece of any home and the bigger the kitchen the better the home. The kitchen is linked to the rest of the home. If it has a fireplace, WALLA! Kitchen is KING.
As much as I love the outdoor dining rooms that have become so popular in recent years, I would hate to see formal indoor dining disappear outright. I will say however, I'm more fond of the great room concept which allows options for space usage in homes. I have a large family, and when they come home for Thanksgiving dinner, outdoor dining isn't usually an option in late November.
We are not seeing the demise of the formal dining room here. What you don't see here is the formal living room. Most homes have a great room or family room, whatever you prefer to call it. I, for instance, have a great room, eat-in kitchen and a formal dining room. But our dining room is casually furnished. More like something you would see in Pottery Barn than a formal room.
I find it is sad that the Formal Dining room is fading into the sunset along with family values and families staying together at least for one meal of the day.....I am still seeing a lot of Formal Dining Rooms in the high end market.,Endre
Both have their places but A nice breeze on a prorch on a pretty day does wonders! :)
Love and light,
Laura
Clients who entertain on a grand scale still want a formal dining room; however many families like the open kitchen/dining concept.
I guess it depends....the upper end of the price spectrum demands a formal dining room....many people prefer an open concept that is not likely to include one.
God Morning: Yes the formal dining room as come and now gone!! Keep up the good Info and good luck with your sales, E
Hi Liam, it can go right along with the never used formal living rooms! From my experience all that real estate only to be used for a few hours per year is a total waste!
Out door entertaining is the best... and the interaction is so much more personal and relaxed. Throw in a game of cornhole and some music and you have a party ! You do have cornhole in Boise right ??
The limitation on outdoor space... The weather! Kind of like a swimming pool in Maine. Unless it is indoors, it is a short season.
Liam:
Nice post and good observation about changes in how we live in our homes. Have a great weekend.