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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I being unreasonable to be so obsessed with the layout of the Friday Night Dinner house?

64 replies

gingerandproud4always · 08/06/2021 19:57

The layout just doesn't feel right. It took me ages to work it all out. I may have even drawn it out. In my defence I've got Covid so I'm stuck in bed with box sets! Anyone else agree?

OP posts:
PineappleCakes · 08/06/2021 21:32

Nothing to add... just crimble crumble Grin

newnortherner111 · 08/06/2021 21:35

It is very north London suburbia, probably 1920s or 1930s. I'm told the restaurant they visit is in Barnet, not sure about the house location.

You forgot the squirrel incidentally in the drawing.

SachaStark · 08/06/2021 21:41

I would never have guessed that it was a real house instead of a set!

God, forget about the windows and Jim, etc, how much of a pain must it be trying to fit cameras, lighting equipment, sound equipment, and a whole crew into those ordinary house rooms? I mean, it’s one thing that Downton Abbey was filmed in the real upstairs of the house, it’s clearly bloody massive. But this is an ordinary semi. Ouch.

Wrotten · 08/06/2021 21:45

I always think the kitchen is at the back. It doesn't sit right in my head that it's not.

Pinuporc · 08/06/2021 21:50

The only bit I'm confused about is the laundry area. I'm sure there were long curtains there that they had a massive argument whether they were cream or yellow....?

showmethegin · 08/06/2021 22:02

@Pinuporc

The only bit I'm confused about is the laundry area. I'm sure there were long curtains there that they had a massive argument whether they were cream or yellow....?
Think they were on the back wall, as though they would be covering a window looking out to the garden
WeatherwaxOn · 08/06/2021 22:04

Isn't the bathroom layout weird though? The downstairs one that is in the hallway? The windows ought to open onto the lounge by the way it is positioned, if I remember it righly.

waltzingparrot · 08/06/2021 22:12

I think it's because you have to walk across your carpeted hall with plates of food.

Pinuporc · 08/06/2021 22:12

Think they were on the back wall, as though they would be covering a window looking out to the garden

But I'm sure they were opposite the doorway of the lounge (there is a sofa either side of the doorway) which would mean a window at the side....but obvs that doesnt work with the laundry area.

Now I'll feel obliged to revisit some episodes!🤣

HelloDulling · 08/06/2021 22:17

@Wrotten

I always think the kitchen is at the back. It doesn't sit right in my head that it's not.
It is. Kitchen window at back over sink, looking into the garden.
Wrotten · 08/06/2021 22:25

No, I mean I always think the kitchen is where the living room is.

Original poster
gingerandproud4always · 08/06/2021 22:28

@Wrotten

No, I mean I always think the kitchen is where the living room is.
The kitchen going from front to back seems wrong. Maybe I think houses like this would have reception rooms at front and kitchen across back. You've all cheered me up!
OP posts:
knitnerd90 · 08/06/2021 22:41

I think it looks odd because they've flipped the lounge and dining room. Quite a few Jewish families, usually more religious ones, do this so they have room to host people properly.

It was probably built to be the other way round. I lived in the area for years and it's a pretty typical example of the nicer homes round there. I got a kick out of the show!

ContinuousMonotoneBeep · 09/06/2021 08:21

@WeatherwaxOn

Isn't the bathroom layout weird though? The downstairs one that is in the hallway? The windows ought to open onto the lounge by the way it is positioned, if I remember it righly.
See above in my comment about the bathroom to make sense of that!!
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 09/06/2021 08:27

I've not watched FND but may have to just for the house layout quandary.

My layout query is on Friends - Ross' kitchen is off the living room and the door is in line with the front door, so the kitchen must stick out past the end of the apartment, yet when they are in the hallway, theres no room sticking out into it

3Britnee · 09/06/2021 08:31

It's because the stairs face the wrong way to the front door.

cushioncovers · 09/06/2021 08:35

Yes me too I can't figure out the layout when they go from room to room. It bugs me.

cushioncovers · 09/06/2021 08:38

Just saw the floor plan, thank you I can rest now.

LazyMareofEastown · 09/06/2021 08:51

Love this thread 😄 And love FND!

My personal TV property layout bugbear is Jerry's apartment in Seinfeld. His hallway simply can't exist as some wonderful person has illustrated in image attached.

Am I being unreasonable to be so obsessed with the layout of the Friday Night Dinner house?
queenmeadhbh · 09/06/2021 08:52

@Pinuporc

Think they were on the back wall, as though they would be covering a window looking out to the garden

But I'm sure they were opposite the doorway of the lounge (there is a sofa either side of the doorway) which would mean a window at the side....but obvs that doesnt work with the laundry area.

Now I'll feel obliged to revisit some episodes!🤣

But that’s exactly what the floor plan shows! The door to the lounge is at the “bottom right” of the room from the hall. Walk in, sofa on your left, sofa straight ahead of ahead. That wall facing the door (so the “top” of the floor plan image) is the wall with the window and the yellow curtains. The “left hand side” wall is the one with the door to the laundry room - Ie the door to laundry is kind of behind the TV. (Which is the bit I find really weird)
Pinuporc · 09/06/2021 10:10

@queenmeadhbh

Oh duh! Sorry.for some reason (and I had looked at the floor plan!!) I thought the lounge door was on same wall/plane as the dining room door!

Original poster
gingerandproud4always · 09/06/2021 12:04

Also Adam's bedroom is at the front of the house but has no window

OP posts:
spaceghett0 · 09/06/2021 12:09

This is why I love Mumsnet. I have never thought about the floor layout and I love Friday Night Dinner. Now I'm going to have to go back and watch them all again while thinking about layout inconsistencies.

EllaJay · 03/08/2022 00:40

Watching it now on 4 Extra and I had to Google plans for the Goodmans house as I was confused. Over time I've thought kitchen/ diner stretched across the back of the house, the garage led into the kitchen, but how? Then thought it led to where the dining room door actually is, then thought lounge was on left of house ( as you look at it from the front of the house,) then I thought it was on the right, then I thought the dining room was on the right, then I thought there was another little room we don't see at front on right with dining room attached at back of it on right, but then Jim would have to appear in their back garden, gees! That man really is stalking Jackie! Then thought toilet under the stairs was built into the TARDIS as it's bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside, then in another episode Martin and the boys saunter through out of the garage, through another room( could it be the mystery room I thought was at the front on the right of the house??) And then they appear in the lounge that I thought was either where mystery room was or on other side of house, but lounge windows didn't fit for this, couldn't work out garden due to me thinking kitchen/ diner stretched the length of back of house, but Johnny sneeks out back door to snog girl mum was trying to set Adam up with, and outside the path and fence ran along the length of outside kitchen, neighbours close to on other two sides, so where did the garden come from....then I started thinking maybe Jim was secretly my dad as I seemed as confused and detached with reality as much as he is, or the Goodmans were really transporting themselves into different dimensions!

HRTQueen · 03/08/2022 00:51

Took me ages to work out the layout it would interfere with my enjoyment of the show (which I love)

the living room being at the back is wrong to me and took me ages to work out where the utility room was (think worked it out watching The Fox which happens to be my favourite episode)

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