OUR DINING ROOM

We’ve been busy working on the next chapter in our dining room for what feels like forever but we’re making progress. From re-varnishing the floor to growing its purpose behind this very door. I’m so excited to share in today’s blog why we’ve decided to turn our dining room into a dual space, doubling it up as a book nook! The ultimate reading room and our very own shelf-care sanctuary.

Let’s face it, as much as we’d like to be throwing dinner parties every weekend it’s just not realistic. Not for us anyway!? We feel so lucky to have this space but to be truthful it doesn’t get used daily. Let me ask you a question. Imagine you’re eating dinner at home and it’s a regular weekday, not a special occasion or anything – where do you picture yourself eating? I’ll go first – we’d be in our open-plan kitchen. It sees the everyday action and facilitates all of our daily meals. As a result, the formal dining room has become a little obsolete at This Home Grows other than for big celebrations.  

While we may be working, eating and resting all within the home, the pandemic has actually put the formal dining room back in the spotlight. For many it became their very own restaurant experience, workstation or even remote classroom. During lockdown it became a couple of those for us too but it’s since reclaimed its name as the ‘celebration room’. A place outside the kitchen to escape in food, conversation, laughter, wine and flowers. A room that we want to embrace more often. Finally, as a family we’ve found the right design element to introduce. We’re welcoming a book nook to combine perfectly with the allure of private dining.

Rewind: our dining room so far

The inherited yellow dining room with green carpet and gas fireplace has already been on quite the journey. Along with every room in the house we’ve removed the fifties feel and introduced traditional elements with a modern twist. If you’ve visited THG before you’ll know that we removed the gas fireplace in the dining room and went for a timeless fireplace design in the living room.

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We “knocked through” to create a broken-plan living arrangement, setting us up well for the future. It offers two flexible rooms with a level of connection that can be adjusted. Reduce the room for privacy or open up for socialising and room flow. The French doors are key to the design and were a very reasonable Ebay find. Once painted they fitted seamlessly into the room, like they’ve always been there. I particularly love the panels mirroring our windows as it gives a continuous feeling of light.

Our dining room design gives the chef, aka hubby, space to work in peace. Notice how our pig painting marks the all-important serving hatch via the kitchen the other side. This is one of the only ‘fifties’ style elements we wanted to keep! We’ve enjoyed our dining room just like this for over six years with birthday celebrations and Christmas’ taking centre stage. However, as we grow and our needs naturally change so does the freedom to tailor a room. So what might the next iteration of our formal dining room look like?

It’s going double duty

Oh yes, a dining room combined with a book nook will provide the best of company even when we’re not entertaining. A dual purpose that can be dressed up or down giving us the versatility we so need as a family. A room to gather for special occasions but alternatively a comfortable space to unwind, read and play games.

I’ve always been a bookworm and my husband’s love for books has grown over the years. Now, we’re enjoying reading to our daughter. Watching Esme restates for me that nothing compares to that feeling of a good book in your hands. To quote, Stephen King “books are portable magic”. Despite being in a remarkable digital age it’s that tangible object that has the power to transport us into another world. And there was my answer. The perfect collaboration. Adding books into the dining room will make the room feel warmer and more connected to the living room with the potential to spark conversation. When the room isn’t being used for gatherings it can still hold a special purpose in our everyday.

Designing a book nook or a home library doesn’t mean owning a stately home. In fact, you can incorporate the idea into an existing space just like we are. Interiors expert, Emma Sims Hilditch offers inspiring advice for creating your own home library in this Homes & Gardens feature.

The shelf-sanctuary

You know that scene in Beauty in the Beast where Belle discovers the library? Well, some girls watch it and want the Prince. Yeh, I watch it and want the library!? Don’t worry hubby, I struck it lucky finding you as well. Even so, a dining room that doubles up as a book nook needs somewhere to store those beauties. So, we’re going for the real deal with floor to ceiling bookshelves. Now, after a few eye-watering quotes to build bespoke ones we had to rethink how we were going to turn this dream into a reality. In order to achieve the look without the hefty price tag we’ve had to break it up. Calling upon different professionals to tailor each element of our design. Plus, we had a little kick-start from our friend, Ikea.   

There are many Ikea Billy bookcase hacks out there on Pinterest but we wanted to put our own spin on one, This Home Grows style. I’m already in love with the details we’re adding, like these library lights. Next up are the doors, so I’ll be able to share a full height effect soon. Eventually, closed cupboards will be our much needed family storage solution.

As with any hack project we’re experiencing a few hiccups along the way combined with the severe lead time on materials. Although my Belle moment isn’t around the corner I’m focusing on what I can see and that is that our dining and book nook combination is shaping up to be an amazing one. 

What about our dining room table?

Our dining room has always been the formal gathering space to mark special family occasions and these always centre around our preloved table. Little moments that make lasting memories. Despite our initial thinking, our formal dining table must stay. Without it would be a real loss. Instead we’re turning the table so to speak and giving it another use besides formal dining.

The table was bought second-hand over six years ago from a lady whose husband had just passed away. The cash was being gifted back to an associated charity, so the exchange became pretty poignant. As she helped us dismantle the table, all their memories made at it poured out. It even had a trip to New Zealand. That day we bought home a table and so much more. I made a promise to love and enjoy it and I fully intend to keep that promise.

The exciting part is that I can already see its future potential. The dining table can be quickly transformed into an elegant space for occasions, or dressed down for reading and games. I can’t wait to put our table back up in its new surroundings. It’ll be minus the middle (like the below image) to give us more room to explore the bookshelves…

Still to come

What we’ve learnt so far is that having a formal dining room actually still matters to us. It means togetherness in real-life form and where magical moments occur. I appreciate the quiet luxury of space that allows us to ponder our formal dining room’s role. However, we’ve come to realise that certain rooms don’t have to work really hard all the time to be worthy or meaningful.

Maybe the dining room will branch out to become Esme’s homework room? Who knows where it’ll end up growing, but a dining room that has a dual purpose gives us promise for the future. It can be whatever we need it to be. Ours was calling out for more soul but the formality it commands will remain. So bring on the hibernation, wine drinking and great company. Let’s feed our mind and stomach at the same time!? That’s an idea I’m fully on board with…

Do you like the book nook/dining combo idea? We’re excited to keep sharing our updates as it grows.

Hols x