Dining Room/Snug

[bridgetjones1]

We installed a log burner in our dining room with the intention of eventually having the room as a snug when we extended our kitchen. It’s now unlikely that we’ll be able to extend anytime soon.

My plan is to get a smaller/lighter dining table as the one we have I literally hate with a passion. It’s too clunky & heavy. I’ve seen a table in John Lewis that I’ve fallen in love with.

Our plans are to place the dining table near the square bay window, have 2 antique squishy chairs in front of the fire. Whenever we do have people over (we currently use the dining room 5-6 times per year max) we’d do a quick room change around, put the table in the middle and the chairs near the window.

Am I being unrealistic or do you think this could work?

I’ve attached a pic of the dining room, obviously the Welsh dresser would be moved for the table.

This is the dining table with benches that I want to replace our existing table with

Personally i don't think the new table looks too different from the one you have now in terms of size or clunk I was, I think a smaller table would look better in the bay window, but I love the idea of the armchairs by the fire

Clunkiness

I have the same problem too, our dining room is used more as a music room or for my daughter doing her painting, we hardly eat in there.

The new table is the same size as our current table before it is extended. Once extended our current table is 2.5m which is just too big. The other major problem is that the chairs are so bloomin heavy you can barely move them. With the new table there would be benches, which when placed under the window will fit under the table nicely. We'd still be able to fit at least 8 people around the table, without the need for a walkie talkie to speak to the people at the other end lol

Your room looks great. For me, a table can't be too big unless it's a struggle walking round it - I entertain a lot though and also use it for children painting etc.
So will you have two seating areas? One in this room and then your living room? If it would be of value to you then I'm sure it would look fine but I'd probably stick with two rooms for different purposes - eating and sitting.

Thank you aquamarine1

yes we have a large living room. When we had the room decorated we put the log burner in as the plan was to extend the kitchen and have a kitchen diner. Unfortunately that extension isn't happening anytime soon, however I want to be able to use the fire in the winter.

We don't have any children so the dining table will only ever be used for when we have family or friends over, which at the minute is only 5-6 times per year. The chairs would be small but very comfy, think harris tweed/brown leather type chairs.

My DH sometimes likes to indulge in crappy sci fi programmes that I can't bear to watch, so this would give him a little bolthole on the occasion when we want to watch different things.

I suppose what I should really be saying is that it was a very impulsive decision to put a log burner in and in retrospect was the wrong choice, but given that it is in and cost a small fortune we want to utilise it lol

Ah I see, nice idea to put the two chairs in front. Could you get one of the square double layer tables that flip out to a big rectangle? Might fight that corner a not better.

My mum has got one or those flip over tables and I’m not keen. There is a smaller version of the table that I like in John Lewis that is extendable so that might fit in front of the window a little better maybe x

The table with the benches look lovely, even though you say it is the same size, you will still be saving space when you tuck the benches under the table. Will it be able to fit in the little indented area around your window? Because that would be a perfect area to position the table and keep out of the way when not in use.

Hi OmnariStylist

Yes that’s the idea. The table fits perfectly into the indented area. I still want a stylish table and one that can easily moved when we do have people over. The other thing is that when we do have people over the table & comfy chairs are a straight swap, the chairs will fit lovely into the indented area when the table is not there x

Do you have any elderly people that might visit? Benches can be uncomfortable to sit for a long meal. Nothing to lean bsck against and no cushioning.

Hi Mosaic123
Unfortunately all of my elderly relatives have passed away, my parents are in their mid 60’s but still fit & healthy. We will be purchasing 2 x chairs to go at either end of the table (which we’ll probably keep in the cellar whilst not in use) these could be used if anyone really doesn’t like the benches