Southern Living Idea House with Bunny Williams
Now that our side yard project is underway (I admit I check on it dozens of times a day), I’m thinking about how the rooms will connect. I want a home that flows smoothly from room to room and from inside to outside where possible. Even when your layout isn’t ideal, it helps to make thoughtful design choices that get the most out of the existing spaces.
We’re considering swapping the kitchen and dining room — the kitchen would move into the dining room and the new dining area would sit where the kitchen is now, with a banquette along one wall. That plan keeps the single door to the porch and side yard in the same place. The layout already exists but could be used more effectively and made more charming. Working within a budget often pushes you to be more creative with what you have, which I enjoy.
The door will remain its current size. It will be a Dutch door, which I’ve said many times and am very excited about. There’s no plan for large double doors, but this door can still be made charming. Since the side yard will be refreshed, the door will open to a cozy outdoor spot for our grill and seating, which is delightful.
Having a clear starting point is helpful. That doorway inspires me to connect the exterior, the dream Dutch door, and the rest of the house into a cohesive flow.
As you enter through that Dutch door, you’ll step into a space I picture as a hybrid between a dining area and a mudroom-style entry. That door may become a frequently used entrance, so it makes sense for the space to function flexibly.
This is a modest one-level home with a basement. The main floor—kitchen and dining room, living room, three bedrooms and a bathroom—is about 1,500 square feet, not including the basement. In a home this size you sometimes need rooms to serve multiple purposes, and I enjoy the challenge of making those compromises feel intentional and beautiful.
No complaints here — I love figuring out how to maximize our square footage.
On the far wall, next to the planned Dutch door, is a wall of cabinets that currently houses the refrigerator. It offers great storage but also room for improvement. That’s an opportunity.
Because the Dutch door will sit at the end of the banquette dining area, I see that wall becoming useful storage for both kitchen and dining needs. We might refresh the existing cabinetry, turning it into a charming built-in that serves as both dining storage and kitchen overflow, which is the inspiration behind the photos in this post.
To the right of the fridge, through the door shown above, is the hall. The current basement stair wall could be opened to make the hallway feel more spacious, and the existing cabinet could be refreshed to read like a butler’s pantry even though it sits in the hall. It would be a convenient place for overflow platters and dishes — a simple reimagining can make it both functional and attractive.
Continuing down that hall leads you back around to the new kitchen, creating a nice circular flow through the main living areas.
I hope these ideas inspire you if you’re thinking about dining room built-ins or butler-pantry style cabinets. It’s been fun sharing this part of the process.
Millhaven Homes
Jack Bilt Homes
Jill Hinson – Forever Cottage
Eleven Gables