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Original poster

Tell me about your victorian double reception

17 replies

Zone4flaneur · 01/02/2020 11:35

Looking for some ideas for layout.

We have a classic London mid-terrace where the wall between the front and rear reception has been removed.

We also have a reasonable sized kitchen diner- it's not extended but is quite long. We eat almost all meals in there. There's a dining table and chairs in the back reception room but in practice it gets used for kids crafts/homework/dumping.

We are thinking about ditching the big dining table and having the space set up as playroom/lounging/homework (DC are 3 and 6) but I am struggling to visualise the space. If you don't use it for eating, what do you have in the 'back' lounge? I do think we'd need some sort of table or surface for homework. I've had quite a good look on pinterest but struggling with inspiration! There is a nice big patio door at the back so the whole room is very light.

Will we miss the big table?!

We won't ever extend downstairs- our garden isn't massive and we value the outside space more- we have a lovely sunny paved 'side return' which isn't claustrophobic as next door is a different layout house and eat there in the summer.

OP posts:

wtftodo · 01/02/2020 22:23

We have toys, music, armchair etc in the back bit, and the sofa and telly in the front bit. Kids same age as yours. Homework at the kitchen table or at the coffee table. Considering switching our back room sideboard (with toys in) for a piano in the future. Works well for us as it is, anyway

AvocadoSink · 02/02/2020 09:35

We very much use it as one room - telly in the middle; sofas spread around. Toys hidden in in convenient corners. It's generally only used for one activity at a time and really nice for socialising. Table in dining room is used for eating and working as necessary (we used to have a table in living room but it would just get dumped on).

Ours isn't probably what many would choose, mind:. We've basically ended up with what the space around patio doors/radiators/damp wall allows! I've recently been thinking it would be better with wall back in place...

FaceClothParty · 02/02/2020 09:39

We put the wall back, so teenagers had s room and we had a room....great for homework friends round and stuff. Then we used it as s proper dining room when kids moved out. I liked having another wall for hanging pictures.

Myimaginarycathasfleas · 02/02/2020 19:29

In our case a baby grand piano. Possibly not helpful to you.

Original poster

Zone4flaneur · 02/02/2020 22:23

Ah I'd love a piano!

Great to see lots of people use as one room- I do like those folding doors I've seen in some places between front and back as well.

OP posts:

YourVagesty · 02/02/2020 22:29

Am reading with interest - I've just bought a Victorian house with a double reception and am trying to figure out what to do with the space.

YourVagesty · 02/02/2020 22:31

When I viewed it, the old owners had a grand piano in one side and a living room arrangement in the other. I've got a diner in one side currently, and living room in the other side.

Blimeyoreilly2020 · 02/02/2020 22:34

If you go onto the web page of some local estate agents you could check out the photos of what other people have done in similar layouts in your area.... good place to start for inspiration!

Pipandmum · 02/02/2020 22:34

In my old very big Victorian the previous owners had knocked through. The kitchen was relatively small and we extended it across the whole width at the back, so now the dining room was an internal room leading to the new family room. The extension was single storey so we put skylights just at the start of the extension to bring light into the dining room. Then we put the wall between the dining room and living room back up - it had a solid middle bit and sliding pocket doors either side so it could be partially opened up. It meant we could be in the living room and entertain in the dining room while the teenagers had friends over in the family room.
In my smaller semi, we used the back room as a TV room. It was open to the front but the furniture placement and different (though coordinating) decor delineated the two functions.

GhostHoward · 02/02/2020 23:41

I had mine set up as a playroom. In practice the kids never used it. We're about to re block the wall up and open it up into the kitchen diner for a really large family kitchen/living room, and a formal sitting room at the front of the house. Kitchen is already 5x6m so should be great!

BubblesBuddy · 02/02/2020 23:44

I would leave it open at the moment. However I would have a computer in that space and seating. I assume the tv is in the lounge. You could have a small table with chairs if there is room.

ChelseaGirly · 03/02/2020 17:52

A big room was great when the children were small and we had space for toys at the back of the room. Now we have teenagers we value private spaces more than big ones and had the wall put back and now we have two sitting rooms, one "posh" one, and one scruffy one! Not regretted it for one minute.

Original poster

Zone4flaneur · 03/02/2020 22:07

I don't think we'd close it up permanently but I might keep an eye on some salvage yards for some of those wooden dividing doors to swing into service with eventual teenagers. We only have one door to the hall anyway.

I was keen on knocking down the wall between the hall and the back room (essentially only leaving a hall alongside the front room) so the space was more open to the kitchen diner while still also sort of separate but DP has vetoed that as he likes a totally separate living space. It would need a beam so not a simple job.

These are all good ideas! Will definitely look at some adverts to see what others have done. The kitchen diner is long but skinny, maybe 3x12m.

OP posts:

KoalasandRabbit · 03/02/2020 22:13

Old house was like this - front was TV with 2 sofas, back part was kids bookcase and play area though then DH put a grand piano in it so it became DHs and kids playarea.

KoalasandRabbit · 03/02/2020 22:16

We also had a children's table and chairs at the back with a computer for the kids to use and couple of chest of drawers with their toys in. They loved the big open space.

FernBritanica · 04/02/2020 08:02

We have what sounds like a similar set up to you and have tables in both the kitchen and the back of the living room. Generally at least one is covered with an ongoing boardgame.. I'm guessing that when children come along this will change to crafts etc.. if there's a table free we eat at that or otherwise on the sofa in front of the telly

NemophilistRebel · 04/02/2020 19:26

We have the same layout in Hertfordshire

We have sofa and armchair and tv in front room, back room is music and dining area with desk. We use this room a lot.
I work from home, dc use dining table for play dough and drawing.
DH uses it for craft.
Kitchen is long and thin with a bit of an extension to allow a dining table.

We use this for breakfast mostly but it tends to be the cooler part of the house so gets more use in summer as the patio door leads out to the garden from there too.

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