Demise of the dining room

I really don’t care for total open plan, Doodledog, but kitchen-diners can be intensely practical. Dd's house had just one fairly small living room and a kitchen - their kitchen-diner extension has utterly transformed the house.

I read a lot of ‘anti’ regarding bifold doors, and I did wonder about them at the time, but theirs make a lovely picture frame for the garden and given that they had a baby and an under 2 at the time, were - and still are - intensely practical - nothing to trip over when they were in and out on feet or tricycles.

Dd has them open a lot, even in winter - she’s a naturally ‘hot’ person, though!

Oh, they do look lovely, and I'm sure they are great with young children coming and going ?.

We eat in the kitchen when only a small number, dining room 2-3 times a week. No trays, no tv during meals.

When it’s just us, we like to read at the table-a bit of a rebellion against childhood no reading at the table rules when my DB would say, “Mum, Molly is reading the cornflake packet!” just to stir up trouble.
Family meals always at the table, in the dining room, but I’m not averse to a tray on my lap-except that the dog sees it as an invitation!

My son and his girlfriend live with me and up to 18 months ago they just lived in one bedroom, I then decided to give up my bedroom so they could have a bedroom and lounge upstairs and I have converted my dining room into my bedroom, works fine for us just share kitchen and bathroom. I have done this because there is no way they can afford to rent anywhere ..

Always ate at the family table as a child. With our children, the same- except for Friday evening after swimming- when we got fish and chips or a kebab- and we ate on trays on lap.

Until very recently, we kept the tradition up, but now and then, will eat our supper on our lap and watch TV. Since we have retired, we have our main meal at lunchtime- about 1.30-2ish- and only a light supper.

At our last house we had a lovely big dining room but it was rarely used as we also had a table in the kitchen, so it was a really wasted space most of the time. Our present house has a large kitchen with dining area which is far more practical for us. We prefer the informality of eating in the kitchen (no business associates to be entertained these days) and wouldn’t want to go back to having a separate dining room again, but it’s entirely a matter of personal choice and lifestyle isn’t it?

I hate eating anywhere but at a table. I actually damaged my throat when eating a nasty cheap bacon butty cramped up on a seat at the Eurostar terminus at St Pancras. The food got stuck in my throat and didn't clear until I got up and walked round. It left me with a sore damaged throat for about 4 months. so eating with a meal on my lap in an armchair or on a settee does not feature in my repertoire.

Usually we eat at the table in the kitchen, it will sit up to 8 at a push. For formal dining, Christmas, special occasions etc, we have a large sqare hall and our dining table and chairs live in there. the table gets used to put things on additional computer space etc etc and is very useful.