Living Area Layout - Dilemma

9 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Hi we're currently about to move into a new place, which is as yet entirely empty. The house features a sizeable living/dining area, of the layout & dimensions below So far, we have only agreed to place a sofa set in the are designated as 'living' area in the plan below The main questions which we have debating for weeks (in fact months now) are 1) whether or not we should include a dry kitchen, and 2) where to place the dining table. One line of thinking is to give up a dry kitchen altogether, and have the dining table placed in the area designated as 'dry kitchen below' The other alternative is to install a dry kitchen in the designated area. However, this leaves the question of where to place the dining table/area. I would like to avoid placing it in the visual field entrance door area, as this will look as it blocks the entrance somehow. Renovation is to start in less than two weeks, and we're nowhere near a conclusion. Any thoughts will be most appreciated.

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PRO

SUGARBAKERS

8 years ago

Hi Dagobert Duck (interesting name),

I am assuming that this is a townhouse in Asia, as you mention the dry kitchen and wet kitchen (terms used mostly in Singapore) and also from the visible lift on the plan that you shared.

I would definitly advice you to keep the dry kitchen and place the dining table close to the dry kitchen or close to the bay window on the left. The space here is rather large and can easily accommodate a regular 2 metre table with 8 chairs. If you are concerned about the view of dining table as you enter the house, you could always place a round table near the entrance to block off the view.

I agree with Elaine about placing the furniture away from walls. Place a bunch of fresh flowers or art/sculpture above the round table like in a hotel entrance. So the the first view you see when you enter the house is the table with flowers.

Its difficult to give you any further advice as we have no idea what your final vision of the place is?

Feel free to contact us in Singapore if you need further advice?

Hope you will have the home of your dreams soon.

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Comments (8)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
9 years ago
I'm afraid I know nothing about dry/wet kitchens. If possible, switch living and dining areas. I personally prefer a larger living area than dining, but that's personal preference. Float both dining set and living arrangement in their areas. I like to have a lot of "elbow room"! Measure twice - buy once! In living area, use lighting as follows: a table lamp or wall sconce in each corner. Apartment Therapy says distance between walls and dining room table need to be at least 36". Seats on all sides need to be able to slide out easily. Between dining room entrance - 48" to allow people to enter and exit with ease. In the living room, at least 3.5 feet between seating, and 18 inches between sofa and coffee table. 7 feet between tv and seating. In my opinion, rug needs to be under entire seating area.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dimensions-to-follow-proper-furniture-spacing-basics-149156
Dagobert Duck
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Many thanks Elaine, appreciated. For further clarification: wet kitchen is a kitchen in the traditional sense (ie where all the food preparation is to take place), it includes all relevant appliances (fridge, oven, dish washing etc). As for the 'dry kitchen', the proposed design is really an island + stools, as well as a cabinet including wine cooler. So if we were to place the dining table in the area designated for the dry kitchen, we would effectively abandon the idea of a bar counter.

Btw: may I clarify what you mean by 'floating' the dining set & living arrangement, respectively?
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Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
9 years ago
What I mean by floating is don't have any of the furniture back along the walls - have them in the middle of the room as much as possible. That allows for the best conversation. In other words, if the seating arrangement is to far apart, conversation is not intimate and close. You end up yelling to have a conversation, which is not at all the goal of a living room! So, in the dining room, have the dining set in the middle of that area, and in the living room, have the seating arrangement in the middle of that area. Don't forget the all important details that make the house a home. I like large art for the walls, throws on the couch, accessories such as sculpture, real flowers, etc. They are conversation pieces for guests, and personal mementos for you!
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Dagobert Duck
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you. So is it fair to say that you would skip the kitchen island? in this case, you could place the dining table in the 'dry kitchen area' and are left with a massive space (comprised of the 'dining' and 'living area'), the question is though how to fill up this space (apart from a sofa set...)
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PRO
FASE Design Studio
8 years ago
Hi there Dagobert Duck,

I would suggest an interesting screen when you enter the main entrance and you can put your dining table behind it so that it becomes a semi private dining space. The screen can also be an interesting conversation piece to the space.
Cherrypick Consulting
7 years ago
Being a lay person, I can't really decipher where your entrance is. But if you believe in geomancy, I learned a few tricks recently as I am also moving my house :

1) your dining area should not be immediately visible the moment you enter your main door ;

2) the sofa should be against the longest and strongest wall of the house ;

3) the stove location and direction should be based on the female owner of the house while the living is based on the male ;

4) Lastly, the main door should be the widest. So make sure the entrance to kitchen is not wider than that.

Hope this helps in anyway.
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Gary Sharp
7 years ago
don't forget when arranging the inside what happens outside is important too.. are the good views, are there bad views,, what is the orientation.. where is the sun,, where is the breeze.. where is the storm...
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Living Area Layout - Dilemma

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Comments (8)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written

Dagobert Duck
Original Author

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Living Area Layout - Dilemma

SUGARBAKERS

Comments (8)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written

Dagobert DuckOriginal Author

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Elaine Doremus Resumes Written

Dagobert DuckOriginal Author

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EXPLORE HOUZZ

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Dagobert Duck
Original Author

Dagobert Duck
Original Author