Friday, August 31, 2012

FAVORITE ROOM

Alison at The Polohouse is hosting her monthly get-together, and this month's theme is 'Favorite Room'.  Please be sure to go by her wonderful blog to check out every one's favorite room.

My favorite room in our house is actually not a room, but a glorified hallway that just happens to hold our dining room table.  We live in a small rambling ranch-style house; and to get to the bedroom and bathroom wing from the kitchen, garage, and mudroom it is necessary to walk through the 'dining room'.  It gets lots of traffic!!!
For the first 12 years that we lived in this house, it was actually a closed-off room with a doorway from the entry way.  It really did not function well.  So, in 2009 we did a small remodeling job.  Where you see this entry table and mirror, there formally was a coat closet and the wall/door to the dining room.  Out it came to open up the entryway to the dining room/kitchen.  What an improvement - you can see my blog post here to view that dirt and demolition.
It still is a narrow area with lots of traffic, so there is minimum furniture.  To compensate, Bob made this hanging dish rack to accommodate some of the dish addiction.  Next to the plate rack is the door to the mudroom and garage.
As you move around the area past the opening to the kitchen, we have the necessary ugly corner.  We do have cell phones and a portable phone with an answering machine base; but there is something comforting about always knowing where at least one telephone is at all times -- hard wired into the wall with a ridiculously long, ugly cord!  This little table was my grandmother's and always set by her chair holding her bible, poetry books, diaries, and her current crocheting project.  The doorway to the left leads to the living room and the screened in-porch.
On around to the gallery wall that holds various yard sale pictures, plates and a shelf with small family bibles.  One of the bibles belonged to my great-great grandmother and is dated 1846.  It came to Colorado with my first ancestor to come west in 1876.
When we remodeled, I measured to the inch leaving enough wall to house this old wardrobe.
And, what does it hold? -- scads of dishes, of course.
The table and chairs sit right in the middle of the room/hallway.  Previously, when this was a closed-in room; we used a couple of different tables from previous houses.  We tried a round table with leaves; then a square table with leaves.  Nothing ever functioned right -- we were always moving the table, adding the leaves, and back again, etc. etc.  I knew I wanted a stationary table that would seat at least 8, but it would have to be narrow to accommodate that walkway traffic.  The solution was for Bob to make a table that is only 30 inches wide and 7 feet long.  He used the five legs from the previous square table and made the top from old floor hardwoods.  
Our chairs are family pieces purchased when my grandparents married in 1904.  They have been used daily for 108 years and are as sturdy as the day they were purchased.
We are now back to the entry which has doors to the living room and the guest bedroom plus the hall to the other 3 bedrooms and the bathrooms.  Thanks for stopping by to view this long post about my favorite room, the true hub of our home.
I often think of this room as a round-about with our table as the Arc de Triomphe in the middle!
THE DETAILS:

I'm also joining the following parties -- please check them out, too!
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday Treasures
Northern Cottage for Partytime Tuesday
Jann Olson for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

14 comments:

Marilyn said...

The table is great! I wish I had a few of those carpenter genes in my house! Wally loved to work with wood, but wasn't always the best at finishing up his projects. But then, neither am I! I have a whole section of UFO's in the basement. I am not naming them all here!♥♫

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally! Oh, what a wonderful space and that table is just wonderful. You do have the smarted hubby to build it. The first thing that struck me was that gorgeous rug! I always love to see your home and all your pretty family pieces.
Have a great weekend.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Soooo many things to comment on!
Plaid, brown transferware, dishes, that HALL RACK! Oh my, Sally.... I do so love this room too and cannot believe your sweet hubbie has so much talent to make that long and awesome table. Perfect!

Thanks so much for sharing with us at Favorites on the First!!

Oh, and love the wooden bowl and long wooden French bread tray with the row of green apples in it too!

xoxox
A

Susie Q said...

I absolutely love your table...your room is so warm, so pretty and filled with lovely pieces, sweet memories and joy. Your husband is truly talented, well, so are you! You have created the most wonderful home. Thank you for sharing this Sally!
Oh, and I may be a teensy early but Happy Anniversary too!!!
Love,
Sue

Sue said...

your home is just a treasure.....that table looks great down the center of the room with the apples all lined up....and ofcourse I love that plaid blanket.....

Chenille Cottage said...

What a warm and welcoming hub for your family and friends to gather and spend precious time together. You have such lovely taste. I haven't begun my Fall decorating yet. Your home is a delightful source for inspiration!
Autumn Blessings,
Carolynn
I found you on Jann's lovely blog.

Elena said...

I love your kitchen table and the chairs. That is so great to have furniture with wonderful family history. Our kitchen table is the hub of our home too! You have done a lovely job of decorating your favorite room! Have a wonderful day!

Sarah said...

Sorry I'm so late arriving. Your "hub" is fantastic. Love that long table. What a talented hubby you have! The plaids and brown transfer ware are making me smile.

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

It is really quite fantastic! I love it! Thank you for sharing. Visiting from The Charm of Home. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/09/make-it-pretty-monday-week-13.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Oh Sally, your little hub of the home is wonderful! How awesome to have a hubby that can create such fantastic [oeces for you. Love the shelf and the table! You have so many unique things. The dishes and the seltzer bottles create a homey feel. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
Hugs,
Jann

The Charm of Home said...

This is beautiful! I also love your hall tree! Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi Sally,
just wanted to hop over and let you know that I will be featuring this post on Share Your Cup later today.
Hugs,
Jann

Dieneke said...

Your blog is so nice.
I like your home. It is all so beautiful and organized.
Thanks for sharing, greetings from Holland.

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

That table is wonderful! Everything is...I love the old antiques and your "Ugly Corner" When you said that I started laughing because yours is still cute :)