Anonymous
Post 02/09/2026 09:48     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

No, I don't think so. That is just a big house, so much wasted space.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:27     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like the no bathtub trend.


+1
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 17:17     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

If I were building a house I would not include a formal dining room. It's simply not the way we live anymore.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 16:26     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

This sounds like the no bathtub trend.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 13:39     Subject: Re:Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

If you have a great room/open kitchen and only two other non-bathroom rooms on the 1st floor, it seems that one should be a dining room and the other a snug/den/study. The truly superfluous room is a formal living room. So I think only houses that lack the two other rooms should lose the dining room.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 12:07     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Anonymous wrote:We recently custom built - no formal
Dining room. Imstewd, we have a large “dining area” located between the kitchen and family room - holding a large 8-seat casual dining table and comfy chairs. That’s all we need. No regrets.


Same. This a flex space that we used for another sitting area. Our kitchen has a table that seats 8. Dining rooms are no longer a given.
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 11:40     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:That would be awful, but you do you. We yse the dining room daily.



We do too. Where are these people eating if not in the dining room?


Kitchen island or breakfast room
Anonymous
Post 02/08/2026 11:39     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

We are planning to build in the 22101. Our proposed first floor layout includes an enclosed library, a formal dining room open to the family room, a breakfast area open to a chef’s kitchen with a 9-foot island seating four, a prep kitchen, and a bedroom with a full bath and closet.

Given this layout, do we still need a separate living room on the first floor?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 19:23     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Anonymous wrote:That would be awful, but you do you. We yse the dining room daily.



We do too. Where are these people eating if not in the dining room?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 19:11     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

We are thinking about building in 22102. We definitely want a house with a formal living room and formal dining room with walls and doors, that is not open plan.

We want that formal area separated from the informal open and connected den, breakfast, and kitchen area.

OP ought to do whatever makes her happy.

My sense, however, is McLean's demographics are not identical with HGTV or some "nationwide" trend. We do not entertain often, but we often use our dining table. Most neighbors pretty frequently have other families over for dinner. I think many (not all) prospective McLean buyers would want to have a dining room suitable for 8-12 people. I might have a different view in some different locality/area.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 19:03     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

This is a weird house, one that size should have a living room, dining room and the study should be a bedroom
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 18:58     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

OP's desire seems to be to have a library instead of a dining room.

Why not have a room positioned such that you could put (freestanding) bookcases into it for your library, but that someone else later on could use as a dining room (or as a study)?
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 15:27     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We recently custom built - no formal
Dining room. Imstewd, we have a large “dining area” located between the kitchen and family room - holding a large 8-seat casual dining table and comfy chairs. That’s all we need. No regrets.


Do you also have a dedicated breakfast area?


No. This area is the sole dining area, quite spacious. There is an adjacent kitchen island with seating for 4 chairs but we never use it.


Pp above..our home likely market price close to $3m but we don’t care about resale, not selling anytime soon. The home works for us - clean design and no redundancy.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 15:23     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We recently custom built - no formal
Dining room. Imstewd, we have a large “dining area” located between the kitchen and family room - holding a large 8-seat casual dining table and comfy chairs. That’s all we need. No regrets.


Do you also have a dedicated breakfast area?


No. This area is the sole dining area, quite spacious. There is an adjacent kitchen island with seating for 4 chairs but we never use it.
Anonymous
Post 02/07/2026 12:53     Subject: Is it ok to build a new house without a formal dining area?

Not for me. We have people over for dinner weekly and host things. My dining room seats 8 easily and 10 at a stretch. Regretting not having a bigger one. But it's an old house and it's how we live. We have multiple couple friends who also host a lot.