There was a large entrance way which was open to the living room which then opened to the dining room
Allowing people to be in both rooms and still be together
So the 16 or so at Christmas fit in the space perfectly.
With space to even add another table when we had to.
We knocked out a wall in the house before that one, to turn a bedroom into a dining room with French doors that led to the living room - again allowing people to be in both rooms.
This current house, however, isn't laid out in a way that I can achieve that.
The dining room is off the kitchen - which is at the back of the house - I worry that it'll be too small.
I've thought of opening up the kitchen entirely to create a kitchen / dining room space because I know families today prefer open spaces...............( resell - everything I do is always about resell ).but it's a tiny old cottage and I kind of feel it would lose some charm by doing that, which is why the plan has always been to have French doors installed ( which would lead to the garden ) because I think a small dining room would feel so much larger with the view that the doors would provide. ( I may have an ocean put in the backyard as well )
It would bring much needed light into a very dark dining room.
 |
Sorry for showing this horrid room twice in 2 days - but I'm itching to get started in there ( April - I'm praying by April I can at least start ! )
Again I'm showing the seller's photo
What do you think?
Is it ridiculous?
Or charming ?
If the entire room is white with black French doors ( black and white would tie in with the kitchen )
The wall where the single window is leads to the garden
The wall with the double windows leads to the side of the house - which is fenced in and filled with trees making a perfect spot for a little " secret garden " area.
Help!
John says - 2 sets of French doors in one small room? Ridiculous !!!
Suzan says - I think it's brilliant !
John says - YOU my dear, think everything you do is brilliant - and sometimes it's not
But if this beautiful space can have 4 sets
 |
| source |
And I thought the kitchen was a huge transformation
.jpg)
The dining room may be an even bigger one !
Can you help me convince John or are you on his side with this one?
Have a great day everyone !
Me
( dreamer of double sets of French doors )
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !
FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS
MY TURN FOR US LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH KATHE WITH AN E
omg your last place was so freaking stunning! What was the colour on the walls??? I need to repaint. Sigh. Repainting walls used to be the extent of my DIYing and now I never want to do it. lol
ReplyDeleteI can totally see the double set of French doors! In fact, would I be pushing the envelope to suggest a covered porch that would go around the house from one set to the other?! That would allow you to open the doors and use the covered space as additional entertaining space even on rainy days. I could completely see the porch set up with either black iron or white wicker and lots of ferns and plants in the summer. Doesn't the single window open to the pool area? How beautiful would that be? Just saying!!
ReplyDeleteHey Laurayne !!!
DeleteThanks !
( I think covered porches would defeat the purpose of letting more light in ? )
And there's only so far the budget is going to go this year - I'll probably buy them and not be able to afford to have them installed LOL
XOXOXO
Yes, it would cut down on the light and since you want more light, it might defeat the purpose. I was thinking more towards usable entertaining space. One you get everything painted and the doors in, you can always add a porch down the road if you think it would work! I can't wait to see it once you do your magic!
DeleteOh there's definitely going to be a deck on the side facing the garden ( the other one just steps down to a very small garden area - because it's on the side of the house and not much room at all ) but facing the garden I'll have a deck eventually - just not covered :)
Deletexoxo
Go for it!!!
ReplyDeleteI have seen several homes with multiple sets of patio doors. As long as it remains structurally sound and the doors are secure and energy efficient, there is no reason I can imagine where that would not be the most attractive option possible
ReplyDeleteANY number of French doors is just perfect. They'll look beautiful in that particular room, and you'll make them look like they were born there. Can't wait to see them installed and the room finished!
ReplyDeleteOne vote for the doors....not an ounce of hesitation! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks LOL !!!
DeleteWe win !
xoxo
I love the idea of 2 sets of french doors, just make certain you have the room to swing them open with chairs at the table (assuming they open to the inside). You will have to remove the baseboard heaters and replace them with another form of heating. If you can do this I say go for it. Buyers love access to gardens, myself included. I too always think of resell and any room that connects to the outdoors is a beautiful upgrade that shows thought, care and a love of your beautiful garden. Go for it! xo Patty
ReplyDeleteListen to your wife, John. Seriously. It will be fantastic.
ReplyDeletego for the two sets!! it's YOUR house!
ReplyDeleteThank you - I will ! lol
Deletexoxo
I can totally see two sets of French doors - more than one set makes a room feel so elegant. I can't wait to see what you do with this room. At least it has one good thing going for it right now, the hardwood floors.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing it !!!
DeleteThe floors need to be stained darker to go with the rest of the main floor that we already had done - but they're in good shape !
Thanks Marie !
xxx
1) My dining-room also used to be the darkest room in Cottage and now I go there to work on grey days, because it's so bright. If amateur like me can do it, you can too!
ReplyDelete2) I think two sets of doors to the garden would look lovely and if really you can't convince John, which I doubt, a window seat has so much charm!
3) I showed some of my dining-room inspiration pictures on my blog and many readers noticed most of them had French doors... It's something I can't create though in my stone Cottage because it would involve a support beam and all kind of things I can't pay, so maybe you can tell John you need to do it so I can experience it through your blog?
The two sets of french doors will look amazing!! They will bring the outside in and provide you with lovely views while dining. I have a very small den with two sets of french doors and the room handles it just fine. Go with your gut - you haven't been wrong yet - your home is beautiful due to all of your decorating decisions.
ReplyDeleteOkay, John, listen to Suzan. She's come with ideas you thought were nuts before and she proved you wrong. I think this is brilliant. It will add more light and there will be times you can leave them open and the outdoors will be right there. I say VETO him and go for it, besides women are the CEO of the house
ReplyDeleteCindy
Thanks for the explanation, those walls have got to go!!! While you're at it you might as well put in a few French doors, they will looking amazing ;-)) Like I say I have become obsessed with light filled rooms after 10 years in the hobbit house so I'd put in as many as the walls can stand LOL I take it the wallpaper on the ceiling isn't embossed? If it was it would look a bit like old tin ceiling tiles once it was painted, which I would LOVE xxx
ReplyDeleteI think I'm in the Canadian version of the Hobbit house Gerry LMHO !
DeleteYou'd think with those windows there'd be light - but there's a ton of trees everywhere blocking it so I'm not sure how much light I'll get actually - but I still want them !
xoxoxo
You can never have too many french doors! Never!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the doors on both walls...of equal size though-not mismatched. I see that you will have to reroute two heating units to under the floor to do that. Is that feasible there? Also- I don't know about the parts I can't see. Does that give you enough room to add a buffet if you need one...I mean is there enough wall space to do that? If those answers are yes I say go for it! xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI think you could have two sets of French Doors. I can't wait to see the transformation.
ReplyDeleteFrench doors (plural) Yes yes....It'll be so lovely, and I too, loved your "flat". Wow, it was perfect, wasn't it??? The colors, the molding, the ceilings, the chandeliers, the furniture, all of it! I also like Laurayne's idea of covered porches surrounding the house from one French door to the other. But like she mentioned above, maybe that would be pushing "John" too far...good luck with whatever you do, l know it will be beautiful no matter what. You have the magic touch.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bonnie - it was, in fact, perfect, what the hell was I thinking?
DeleteAND it was in the most perfect location in Montreal !
I thought I needed more room - ( actually I definitely needed more room )
I can't cover the porch on one of them because it's on the side of the house with very little room before the fence ( and sidewalk ) and I'm nervous that covering them would defeat the whole purpose of letting more light in -
We'll see !
XOXOXO
Definitely go for two sets of French doors, it will lighten up the room considerably! Sorry John loses on this one ;)
ReplyDeleteYes! Two sets definitely!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that John thinks you can have TOO MANY SETS OF FRENCH DOORS in one room...there's no such thing...and, WE have 2 sets of french doors in our dining room...
ReplyDeleteI'd say GO FOR IT....:)
I do like the two French doors idea ,! Your space would balance ! You go girl! Tell hubby you will fix him a nice steak dinner and a little romance! Ha! That does the trick for me ! Good luck! Cindy
ReplyDelete2 sets it is !!!
DeleteI'll try your advice LOL
xoxoxo
I really like your idea Linda. It's going to open up the space a lot and will be quite charming. I like the idea of a secret garden to step out into.
ReplyDeleteI wondered why you weren't planning on 2 sets when you posted about this room earlier in the week. If you can manage it without making the room drafty, I would absolutely go for it. I think the dining room is going to be your most spectacular transformation yet!
ReplyDeleteActually those original to the house windows are so drafty that we have to change them - which is where the idea of 2 sets of French doors came from in the first place.
DeleteIt could only get better with glazed windows LOL
Thanks Mel !
xxx
I'm with you! 2 sets of French doors would be beautiful and let in tons of light!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, definitely two sets of French doors -- that would be fabulous as you have the garden views/greenery and still have lots of privacy. More glass equals the impression of more space. Do you plan on widening whatever the opening is between kitchen and dining room? I do hope you won't remove the dark beams from the ceiling, I think they would look great against a white ceiling. Bits of paneling on the walls though - oh my! The room does have a sort of rustic vibe and I find the floors and ceiling (minus the dark wallpaper) charming. I see a rustic classic French chateau sort of look with the beams, darker-stained wood floors and dark ceiling beams surrounded by tons of light from the French doors and white walls (accent with some silverleaf??? woo woo!)
ReplyDeleteYes!!! Two sets. Think of them as light sources, and that might make more sense to John. They will simply be windows that you can open and walk through to the outside. Light source. Big windows. That you can walk through. Maybe that will convince him???
ReplyDeleteTwo sets ,it would be an amazing area, i love the idea, come on John,pretty please!!! lol
ReplyDeleteAhhhh the light! I can see it now!
ReplyDeleteOh Poor John. Does he ever win one? Well I don't this isn't the one he'll win either. I was thinking of the wall decorating space you're gonna lose, but the windows really take up space already so french doors are so worth it. And the light you'll gain is better that what you could hang on the walls. Unless you have a Picasso.
ReplyDeleteOh well John maybe next time.
Barbara Ann
etsy.com / shop/barbaraannscreations
When it comes to the house - no - he never wins LOL
DeleteIt's not a big room so I couldn't put things against all of the walls anyways and it's really very dark - so this seems like the best solution !
No Picasso's LOL
xoxoxo
Definitely two sets!
ReplyDelete