Print this page
With all the harping that is done by nutritionists and parenting experts, we are repeatedly told of the importance of sitting down to a meal as a family at least two nights a week. I personally think that's a rather low number to aim for and I think most people achieve more togetherness than that! In the past, many homes had a dining room that had a matching buffet and hutch, large table and six chairs for the family to sit together under the light of a brass chandelier (or reasonable interpretation). The problem with these rooms is they were treated as shrines- not to be used lightly, and certainly not for a quick dinner of hamburgers and chocolate milk! As children, the only time we were allowed to eat in this "grand" room was on special occasions and holidays. This didn't add up to very many trips into this room!
Today, we have drifted from the notion of needing a formal space to feed our families and entertain our guests. In many homes, kitchen walls have been pushed back and a large island or table has been added to serve a variety of functions: homework center, serving areas for casual "help yourself" buffets, and craft station for little budding artists. I personally like this more family friendly style. I entertain very casually and often opt for potluck style meals where everyone feels comfortable and kids are welcome. I have had two formal dining rooms in the past. The first was a basically unused space which we passed by on our way to the livingroom. The second, I decided to defy the rules of formality and used it daily-having chosen wood-flooring for easy clean-up. In this house, we have an eat-in kitchen with an island as well. I love the simplicity of it all and will likely never go back to the formality of a separate dining space/shrine to all things formal! What is your preference?
