Is a kitchen diner a must have?

[Orangeinmybluelightcup]

Just that! If you were buying a house, would a kitchen diner be a must have? I'm considering alterations on my house. The existing layout has a kitchen diner but the dining end is dark and cramped. I could fix this a couple of ways. I could turn the dark cramped dining end into a wc and utility and put the dining table in the adjacent room, accessed through a doorway in the kitchen. If I put a steel in I could open up from the kitchen into the adjacent room, so they're better connected, in kind of an L type shape. But would not having a kitchen diner put people off, when I sell in 10yrs?

Not me, I’ve purposely kept mine separate. I don’t like cooking smells going through every room downstairs so like to have a separate kitchen.

Think about what will work for you for the next 10 years, not a mythical buyer!!

If you’re not planning to move for a decade, I’d suggest to do what would suit YOU best. It’s a long time to live with a layout you don’t like, just for the resale value. Fashions change - who’s to say separate dining rooms won’t be all the rage again by then.

I guess it just feels backwards having a kitchen diner and changing it to not have! Everyone I know has gone the other way.

We’ve just bought a house without a kitchen diner but we are going to extend to put one in so it wouldn’t put me off but I’d want to be able to put one in/knock through to convert. To be honest, it is a big plus with small DC’s to be able to cook and have them at the table colouring etc and being able to supervise them. Mine are older now but I still like the way they can sit at the table and chat to me/do their homework while I’m cooking.

I would extend the kitchen into the dining room and have it as one large kitchen with dining. This is more desirable than separate rooms.

I have a separate dining room and use it about four times a year to actually eat in. We have an island with stools in the kitchen but only my teenagers eat there.
Do what YOU want, but I'd want a kitchen diner. Mind you if it's an easy change future buyers can make it themselves.

It would be a lot of work to change.
I'll shove some layouts on...

Existing plan and X2 plans I am considering.

I’d be happy to knock through myself to create one, but would probably mentally factor in the budget I’d need for that.

Plan A was of course the first plan, but got concerned about squeezing past the table all the time. The gap is less than 1m.

I'm looking for an open plan house myself (like a previous poster, I like to be able to keep an eye on my toddler and baby while I cook) but it won't be a deal breaker for me and I'd consider opening it up (though would factor into budget). If you'll be there a while though, DEFINITELY do it to suit you! Life's too short to live for a potential future buyer's tastes!

I would do what works for you.

We prefer a big square kitchen with space for table but would buy a house with different configurations. Not keen on toilet just next to kitchen. Some people prefer a seperate dining room which is what we have now. Main thing for us is kitchen is big enough for all appliances and cupboards and space for a dining table somewhere close by.

I don't like open plan, but I can't bear kitchens with no table.

In an ideal world, kitchen with decent table, enough for daily family food.
plus dining room, which is probably used for craft/homework/etc and then special occasion food or visitors.

I don't mind a layout where the kitchen table can also be a full dining table, but then lounge must be separate

I personally like having a kitchen diner, however my parents are looking at moving and they specifically want it to be separate.

I’ve never had a kitchen diner. I’m starting to think they’re a bit overrated. Would be good to have a utility and downstairs loo.

Yes, kitchen diner is probably my no1 requirement in a house. All the properties we have bought have had one or the potential to create one. But you're going to be there for 10 years! Have the house how you want it.

Everyone is so different. My old house had a lovely long hallway with kitchen then large living room and a dining room. Layout was great for us. Buyers (3.5 years ago) recently sold again so I saw pictures on rightmove where you now walk through the door into one big room - a big rectangle with one door to a downstairs loo. They also removed the very expensive walk in wardrobe in the master bedroom and replaced it with a swing... never seen anything like it. Presumably they liked it like that and they sold it so someone else did too. We wouldn’t have bought it in its new state.

I would definitely want a kitchen diner, yes.

I’d also want space for a dining table in the sitting room (ideally a through-living/dining room), because that is where DH works.

@m0therofdragons a sex swing? Or a kiddie swing?

@Changechangychange it seemed too low for sex swing but they were a short couple (guy was about 5foot 2) so who knows? I was left wondering where their clothes were as they didn’t have any drawers or wardrobes in any bedrooms.

Your plans look like kitchen opens onto it anyway with a family room doesn't look like door between so is kind of open I would say

Lol to the short sex swing!

With the house layouts at do have a separate living room at the front of the house, the long room is out the back

I’d remove the units just as you come in the kitchen on the left, swap the dining table for a round table and employ the use of mirrors, lamps, plants to soften and brighten the darker dining room end.

We have recently moved, at last I have a kitchen diner, something I have always wanted, so much better & more convenient. Space for the family, nice large table, we eat together every night, it’s really lovely.