A good friend was unhappy with the layout of her entertaining area. The living room and dining room were too small and the family room was hardly used. Company always seemed to

Before - Kitchen

congregate in the crowded living room.

While the kitchen was a good size, and was located in the middle of all 3 rooms, it was cut off from the living room. After looking at the traffic flow and floor plan (and having some very good times at their parties) we sat down to analyze what could be done. We decided to move the dining room to what was formerly the family room. It was wide open to the kitchen and made serving easy and...comfortably allowed seating for 10 -12 people!

The original L/R - D/R was now a larger living room. A new layout and new furnishings offered more seating for guests as well as a great spot for reading or watching TV.

After - LR view

But the little change that made the biggest difference, was taking out part of the wall that divided the new living room from the kitchen (see pix top & left). About 3o" of wall was removed, as well as the upper cabinets, creating a peninsula that makes it easier for the hostess to be part of the party.  To make up for the lost upper wall storage, we added a tall reduced depth base cabinet facing the living room, that supports the serving bar.

All in all, a more usable space that accomodates friendly entertaining.

    Carole Ponzio, CAPS, CGA