SoCal78_IHB
New member
One of the things I really don't like about the evolution of newer interiors and the open-concept floor plan is the removal of the formal dining room, or really... any area dedicated to dining. Maybe the idea of a formal dining room was too romantic to some and not practical for today's family. That is probably because many families today are not sitting down to eat together, so who needs a place to make it special? They are too busy with after-school activities, working long hours, and not having enough time to share a meal. I think that is unfortunate and today's floor plans reflect that. Even so, shouldn't a home still have a dining room? You can not host a proper Thanksgiving dinner with friends and family in an eat-in kitchen. Having people over to eat near the kitchen is like sitting in the back of a restaurant, near the noise and mess of food preparation. It is not where you would put your most special guests. It is a pet peeve when I see the dining table placed in an area directly next to the living room, with a good view of the television. What is the point of sitting down together if we are distracted by the boob-tube. Where can you store your table linens if there is no designated area for a hutch or buffet? Or have we become so complacent that we don't use linens because paper napkins and take-out are all we need or deserve. If I had one wish for future homes it would be to bring back the true dining room.