I’ve wanted a “keeping room” ever since I saw this image from designer Mark D. Sikes’ home tour:
So, technically, a keeping room is a little spot off of the kitchen, originally designed in colonial times as a place where the family could sleep when it was cold and still be heated by the stove. While I have no intention of anyone sleeping there—ever—I do like the idea of a little hang-out spot near the kitchen. (You know, where my kids will sit and play games quietly and talk to me about their days while I cook a huge meal that includes actual side dishes. Ha! In a perfect world, far, far away. . .)
image from BHG (house is Sherry’s, of course!)
BHG
So, here’s the deal. I don’t have an actual keeping room in this house. Just a small room (formally the dining room) adjacent to the kitchen that I’m hoping to make a cozy little den/piano room/sitting room. I guess I could call it something else, but “keeping room” just sounds so much more fun. :)
-view from front door-
See, it does function as a keeping room already. It keeps all the stuff I don’t know what to do with yet! The long-term dream for this space is to eventually make it part of the kitchen and possibly knock out a wall. . . The short-term plan is to do something fun just to see if I like it. I think it’ll look something like this:
I’m actually hoping this might be the room no one wants to hang out in, except for me. One can dream. . .
In case you missed it earlier, you can find the full “before” tour here.
Interesting! I have a space like this in my house, which is a renovated Royal Barry Wills cape. The space that’s the “keeping room” might have been a breezeway from the main house to the garage, but now it’s a somewhat awkwardly-sized room that I’ve been experimenting on with various furniture layouts. I ended up using stools at the counter which separates it from the kitchen, and then I did a pair of swivel chairs against the back wall. I guess picture #2 most accurately reflects what I did. We do have a small fireplace in this area, but it’s not centered on the wall, further adding to the awkwardness. I love the images you posted—great inspiration for pulling this space together!
“See, it does function as a keeping room already. It keeps all the stuff I don’t know what to do with yet!” – haha! don’t we all have a keeping room?! On a serious note though I love the idea of this room, looking forward to what you do with it!
I love that idea! We have a breakfast nook in our new house and I’m buying a baby grand piano to put in there instead since we have an open floor plan with a dining area and bar. I love that you make your home work for you instead of just going with what’s expected
I love love this idea. We have an open floor plan and eat at the kitchen counter/bar a lot. We rarely ever use the dining room table unless we have guests. It’s right off the kitchen. That area has the best view in the house as well! But I’ve been chicken. Because we don’t have another dining space in the house and we’d have to store the table and chairs and bring them out for guests. And it’s a little odd not to have some kind of dining space. SO I’m trying to figure out how not to give up the dining look and still have a comfy place to sit and hang out. Been thinking about a banquette situation and getting another table that would fit that configuration and somehow edge in a comfy chair or two that would be great for sitting in/writing/reading. Ever come across an inspiration board or photos along those lines?
I’ll keep an eye out but love that idea…
I don’t know the size of your room, Cheryl, but if you normally have the same number of guests , and not larger groups, maybe a smaller table could work and be set off to the side, even with the banquette seating you mentioned. If 4 diners is normal, fitting an extra 1 or 2 on occasion would be easier with a round table too.
I love the light in your house. It is wonderful. We live in a shaded creek big tree kind of light. I love all the wilderness but the rooms are darker. I kind of go with the cozy house colors, but when I see nice light in other peoples houses I drool a bit. Cant wait to see how it comes together.
Emily, I love that flush mount sputnik light fixture. May I ask where it may be purchased?
Me, too! It’s from this Etsy shop:
http://bit.ly/1OzbgyA
We have a keeping room, but I didn’t know to call it that until this post, so thanks. It’s similar to the inspiration photos you posted in that it’s inside the kitchen, but a different area. We do have it outfitted as a place to sit, read, sip tea, etc. Ironically it’s where we do time outs, too, so we usually say go sit on the kitchen couch. It kind of works to tell them to be in time out in a keeping room!
Have always loved these rooms. My mother was English and very formal and in every home she lived in or designed she had what she referred to as the “morning room”. A cozy spot to enjoy the morning coffee and paper or afternoon tea. I enjoyed reading this as it brought back fond memories of my mom.
Light Fixture: the sputnik. Just checked out the Etsy shop. Schoolhouse Electric also has one, called the Vega 5 (comes in Vega 3 as well), I really like the looks of it.
Those are all great inspirational photos, Emily. I really like the idea of the keeping room. Our dining room is on the small side and open to the flow of traffic in our home. We tend to host large family gatherings of 12 – 25 so one table for six rarely works plus we use the kitchen table as a ‘buffet’ for all the food. We don’t plan on moving any time soon but I always say our next home will have a large open space to set up more than one table lol.
Our “formal dining room” off of our kitchen has become our “music room/library” – includes piano and seating but the bookshelves are yet to come. I think using rooms in your home in a way that works for your family is the best thing! Also, what was slated by the builder as our formal living room is now our dining room. It is your house – have fun and live your life in it!!
Hi Emily, Your keeping room is going to be awesome! Love the black walls idea and brass chandelier. Can’t wait to see this reveal!!
PERFECT!! I agree call it the keeping room, I like that better than den. ” The Quiet room” is what I called our living room because it had the piano and reading chairs and that is where we visited quietly. My grownup boys would come to visit and they would still go in there to read the paper etc. It is all about making habits, routines and traditions. You will probably be surprised that some of your children will escape in the there to get away from others to have their Quiet time, we all need that from time to time.
I love this idea! So much.
Awwwww….my little keeping area made it:) LOVE the thought of dark walls and white furniture….duh right?
The floor plan to my townhouse is similarly configured – the formal dining room is a decently sized space adjacent to the kitchen. I use that space a playroom so I can hear the sweet cadence of my kids playing peacefully/happily together while I make dinner complete with 2 vegetable sides. (Indulge my imagination please). I do like having the kids that close and I expect that as they grow older, that room will transition to homework/rec/computer room