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[wilma]

Do you have a formal dining room and fine china? Do you use them regularly or just for special occasions? 

We used our dining room only once or twice a year, but now we use it for every meal. It’s been this way since we remodeled the kitchen and dining room several years ago. The kitchen was small, and a table for 4 was just swallowing up that space. 

After removing walls, we now have a more open space. We gave our kitchen table to my brother who needed it, and we began using the dining table and chairs for every meal. I keep the protective pads on the table all the time now, and use various table cloths and placemats. 

We’re still using our regular dishes, silverware, and glassware though. Once in a while we use a platter or serving dish. If we host a holiday meal we use the fine china, better silverware, and glassware. Some of the fine china and stemware is displayed in the hutch; the rest is packed away. 

[AuntG]

No, we eat in the kitchen. Extended family is so large that sit down meals are impossible. Our farm kitchen table is used to hold all the food (buffet style). When all six leaves are in it, we have a twelve foot table to hold the food. Nescos and crock pots are on the kitchen counters.

[FastDogWalker2]

We mostly use our dining room and china for holidays or when we have company, which is not that often.  Our china isn't really china but rather Staffordshire (sp.?) dishes which belonged to my great aunt.  I do love it!

[Puppy Lips]

We rarely use our dining room.  Part of the reason is because we bought a really nice dining room set years ago.  I fell in love with the china cabinet and the table, which has a design on the top.  However, the chairs that came with it were so cheaply made that I think 3 of the 6 have broken.  We still have them but won't sit on them.  Then one of the supports on the table broke.  We fixed it, but then it broke again a year or so later.  Right now, we have blocks holding up the support.  I really want to ditch this table and set of chairs.  The table can be fixed (not by my DH) so I would rather sell it.  We need to get on that.  I would hate to just throw it out.

As far as my china set, it had been YEARS since I have used it.  We have three boys, one married, and I honestly think none of the wives will ever want my china.  I am sorry I even got it, but you know, it was the thing to ask for when you were getting married back then.  My sister at one time looked into selling her china to Replacements.com.  But she said it was a lot of hassle and you did not get much for it.  I have nol looked into it myself.

[Oznell]

Hey, good for you, @wilma --  I like it! 

We have a tiny dining room in our 100-plus year old house.  The house was built "farmhouse style",  so the first floor has no hallways-- you proceed from one room to the next, and get vistas of the next room while you are sitting in another one. 

So we're constantly walking thru it.  It's a dining room slash tiny library.  It gets clear north light and western light, so have used it as a studio too!   We eat there usually only on more formal occasions and holidays, but because of the way it is situated, and our bookcases being there, it gets plenty of use.

I'd like to dine there more, as it's rather cozy and cute!

[Sooner]

In this house, we use our dining room a lot.  Unless it is just one friend, we are in there.  It is more comfortable and people linger a long time!  We do use the kitchen bar all the time too.  It's fun to eat there.

We do have several sets of china and also more casual dishes--I love them and have bought over many years.  the things we use most and switch often are bowls and salad/dessert plates.  We use these a lot for snacks and desserts and company and we keep them on a plate stack in the kitchen where they are handy,

We keep some silverware in a tall celery glass and a vase on the kitchen counter--four teaspoons, soup spoons, iced tea spoons and small knives.  One of the holders is full of salad/dessert forks and we use these all the time.  It is very handy to grab something and go!  

[queendiva]

When I moved in 2006 I sold all my good china and crystal and other sets of dishes. That was downsize #1. My ex took the DR furniture (hooray!) and I knew I would not have the room or the desire for the table settings. I still have the Reed & Barton 18th Century sterling service for 12 which I use infrequently. That house had a small eat-in kitchen. My sons were still in school at that time. We ate dinner every night in the DR at my new dining set, except during the summer when we often ate out on the deck.

Down size #2 in 2018. I have a larger eating area in my kitchen. Bought a beautiful mahogany table with 4 leaves at thrift for the kitchen. Still have my dining room set. I have only used one leaf in the kitchen table so far, and only on two occasions. I do have beautiful white fine china that I love and use daily. The type of entertaining I do now is informal. I use my "china" from Costco on the rare occasion when I have more than 3 or 4 guests and I do have Christmas Lenox china which I also picked up from thrift for holiday gatherings.

My DR table is small-ish and round. Ordinarily I have it set up with 4 chairs . It is nice but not overly formal or imposing. It has a leaf which I pull out of the closet when needed, which is not too often. No more formal entertaining, except maybe Christmas Eve. DS & DDIL do Thanksgiving and sister does Christmas day.

Just me now, so I eat at my kitchen table for all meals at home. It's next to big, beautiful windows with a great view and is easy to change from tiny (drop leaf sides) to seating at least 8, maybe 10.

[jeanlake]

First house we bought (on courtyards steps) was the "fanciest" home we've owned. Formal living and casual living room -- dining and eat-in kitchen. Started a family and never doubled up on those rooms again for our next homes; except for finished basement. Gave my Mikasa china to a young couple who were 'financial aid' poor. I was thrilled to have more kitchen space.     

[Dinaki]

in my house (here and in Athens):

Breakfast is served in the dinning room with porcelain and crystal tableware.

Lunch is served in the dinning room with porecail and crystal tableware.

Dinner is served in the dinning room with porcelai and crystal tableware.

4' oclock tea is served at the sitting room.

I dont have special occasion tabeware and/or flatweare, I am using my Limoge everyday, that's the reason I bought them.

[Group 5 minus 1]

Years ago it was so important to me to have a formal dining room.

Not any more. We live in a home that is open space. Not many walls. I like living like this.