My Project
Garden Room Indoor plants are taking over design photos, so let them take over your unused dining room. A gorgeous array of vases, pots and cuttings you are nurturing makes an enticing modern version of the grand old orangeries. Tip: Make sure your tabletop is sealed to prevent water damage to precious wood or lacquer. Or use a tray or padded waterproof cloth to catch spills.
Home Office One of the joys of working from home is having an inspirational office that doesn’t look boring or corporate. Mix and match vintage and sleek, use a nice lamp instead of a work light, and add pretty accessories and a smart rug. This works well if the dining room is near the front door, so clients don’t have to troop through the rest of the house.
Homework Station As kids get older and homework projects run on for several days (or weeks), a homework station with all the tools, reference books and stationery they need in one spot means projects can be started straight away (no last-minute hunts for glue sticks) and works in progress can be safely left out between sessions.
Playroom If you can hardly move because of toys cluttering the living room floor, coloring books and crayons all over the kitchen counter, and bits of games in random places underfoot, create a dedicated playroom in your unused dining room. Dining rooms tend to be close to the kitchen, so kids would still be within earshot, but their mess would not be spread all over the house. Create clear storage places and cleanup rules (tidy up before bedtime), and sanity will be restored.
Rather than having 2 (or 3 counting game room upstairs) family/living rooms w/ couches, the formal LR/DR might be better used as an office/DR/library
Most of us probably won’t be converting our dining room to a room with a flowing water feature, as this family did here. But we can still think creatively.
Q