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Design Dilemma Dining Rooms Kitchens

Banquette or move kitchen?

5 years ago

I am looking for advice on a layout mistake. I've posted previously with the following;

I've made a big mistake in the layout of my new extension, to cut a long story short my dining table was right in the middle of the space and I quickly found it was a pain to walk around and was used as a general dumping ground for post, handbags etc.

The only 'solution' that I can think of now is to move back the wall with the utility to the right as you walk into the space. However I am restricted structurally because a) I need to retain a pier and b) I cannot remove the wall between the utility and the kitchen.

So, my first question is - do you think that is a sensible idea? Are there any alternatives that I haven't spotted? Unfortunately I don't think I can live with the table in the middle.

My second question is - if I do move the wall how best to accommodate a dining table? I need to be able to seat 8. The space would be restricted because I have to retain a pier - see photos and layouts. I've resorted to shoving the table against the wall for now.

I've looked into banquette style seating and square tables but I really don't know. I am also worried about having a big space of nothing in the middle of the room.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

I've pretty much decided that I am definitely going to do something rather than live with the table in the middle or pushed to one side. I could pursue the banquette idea I originally had or I could bite the bullet and totally change the original layout. Here are some rough drawings of my ideas;

Obviously the banquette route would be much less expensive than moving the kitchen, but there is no point in doing it if it doesn't work out. Can anybody help me out, if I went to the extreme of moving the kitchen are there any better options?

Featured Answer

Kirsty Kirby
Original Author

5 years ago

Thanks LTS and Emily. This is how I have the lounge area at the moment - I have a sofa facing the tv. If I went with the banquette idea I think I'd either have low backed chairs or a bench on the 'open' side of the table then I'd probably have an upholstered fixed bench made as you suggest Emily. I really like the yellow bench in the picture that KK1000 sent.

LTS - where do you have the dining table in your similar shaped extension? Do you have a banquette?

Comments (15)

Carolina
5 years ago
Are you happy with the table moved to the side, where it now is? In which case you’ll probably be happy with a banquette, long dining bench along the wall too.

There’s nothing wrong with an empty space in a room. If the layout is as in the drawing, with two sofas opposite each other, you could have on or two accent chairs facing the TV. Or you could place one sofa facing the TV. So you’ll fill the gap a bit.
Kirsty Kirby thanked Carolina
KK1000
5 years ago
You don’t have to have every inch of the room filled with furniture, empty space in the middle is fine. I would go for built in seating with bright coloured upholstery and funky pendant above the table. Go for industrial style.
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KK1000
5 years ago
Some ideas
Kirsty Kirby thanked KK1000
Ellie
5 years ago
I think no matter what is there, what type of table etc it is always going to be a dumping ground for stuff as it is a passageway to the kitchen. Do you use your dining table much? I am wondering if it's because it is rarely used you feel this way. We use our table breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it wouldn't become a dumping ground. Easiest solution would be a nice storage unit on the wall on right as soon as you enter dining room, you have space for it.
Kirsty Kirby
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Ellie. The dumping ground bit isn't my main problem, it just doesn't flow right being in the middle. It's just "odd" - not sure how I didn't think of this when I was looking at the plans. The rationale at the time was that we don't really use the dining table so I wanted to give the kitchen and the lounge area priority. If I could go back, I'd put the kitchen in the middle and the dining table at the front. My dilemma now is whether to stick with the table at the back and create a dining nook and style it out - as KK1000 suggested I'd go with a mid century/industrial look. OR take a big plunge and spend a fortune re-configuring the layout. I've lost confidence now. I know that ultimately it's my decision, but people's comments on Houzz are really useful and I am very grateful for everybody's input.
LTS
5 years ago
I think making it into a banqueting area would work really well. Your kitchen run (where the sink is) ends half way across the exterior wall anyway so I don’t think it will look weird not having the table in the middle. We have a similar shaped room for our extension but our utility is next to the living area. Good luck!
Kirsty Kirby thanked LTS
Emily
5 years ago
I love dining nooks personally. Think they feel cosy and secure and sort of “protected” with a fixed bench and solid wall on one or two sides. You might find that you use it more and even becomes a favoured space especially if you make the bench upholstered. And in today’s times if you have sockets there for phone chargers I bet you’ll find people sitting there often. I would change to low back chairs for the other side though and make sure they fit all the way under table when not being used. Or a bit like Carolina suggested having chairs facing tv, you could have two new attractive/funky dining chairs in that position that get pulled over to dining nook when needed.
Kirsty Kirby thanked Emily
Helen C
5 years ago
Given your dilemma I think you want to get this right second time around and that therefore puts pressure on you. It’s hard to make a decision in such circumstances. If I were in your shoes I would be employing someone like Oneplan to guide you through to making the right decisions on paper before you commit. The additional support will give you the confidence you have made the right decisions.
Kirsty Kirby thanked Helen C
Emily
5 years ago
Your lounge area looks great. I can see moving the dining table allowed living area to feel spacious and actually I think pinching some of utility for the dining banquette is going to make for a fab and interesting overall space :) Not a space that’s been compromised at all. Good luck
Kirsty Kirby thanked Emily
LTS
5 years ago
Hi. My dining table is in the middle but as you can see my utility is next to the family area.
Kirsty Kirby thanked LTS
Kirsty Kirby
Original Author
5 years ago
Wow! That looks great. Thanks for your help.
Jules Mc
5 years ago
Before you embark on a major and expensive overhaul can I just ask if you/your family are using this new lounge area all the time now? Has it taken over from the main living room at the front of the house?
It looks great as it is but you could try a quick furniture change that will cost peanuts compared to what you are considering. If you move the dining table into the lounge area ( lengthways) but keep the corner sofa you could view the TV from both the sofa and the dining table. You could then put the blue sofa in the area where you are thinking of putting the banquette seating. The TV could even be moved to this area instead, especially if its not where you settle down for the night you watch TV, but a secondary living space . As I say it depends on how you use and zone the areas but it might be worth a quick shuffle of the exiting furniture to see if it's practical for you.
Kirsty Kirby thanked Jules Mc
Emily
5 years ago
I saw this image and thought of your kitchen. I wanted to suggest if you do knock through to pinch some room to make the stub wall seem even more “right” I like the idea of retaining part of the wall above the new alcove. I’ve done it before and I remember the builder saying it’s wrong but it isn’t if you are intended to define a space. Hope you can see what I mean from this pic.
Kirsty Kirby thanked Emily
Kirsty Kirby
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks Emily - I still don't know what I am going to do! I haven't ruled out just starting again. I'll share any plans that I come up with.

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