What's yours used for?

    The dining room. Some people actually eat in theirs, on a regular basis even. While others use theirs as a wonderful 'pile it there for now' area. And in yet other homes, the dining room is reserved for only the specialist of guests, or for holidays.
   
    I don't really remember the set-up in the kitchen of the house my parents first rented, after we moved to this state. But I do remember the dining room. The front door dumped right into it. And you got to the other rooms of the main floor, as well as the staircase to the upstairs, via door ways out of it. And we ate all of our meals in there.
    The next house we lived in, had a 'formal dining room', but it also had the cutest breakfast nook off the kitchen, sticking off the back of the house. It had wonderful bay windows, that good breezes came through. And built in shelves on the top, a counter space, and cupboards on the bottom along one wall. My mom's collection of salt and pepper shakers came to fill those shelves. The toaster sat on the counter. The table fit in the middle of the room so that chairs could be all of the way around the table. Later, Craig's high chair took prominence at the kitchen end of the table. Can you tell that I both have fond memories of, as well as really liked that breakfast nook? It too is included in the list of things that I want in my 'dream home'. But today is about dining rooms, not breakfast nooks ... . We ate most all of our meals in the breakfast nook and thus the dining room was saved for special events.
     The next house my parents moved to, they had designed themselves. And while the kitchen did have the old breakfast nook table and chairs in it, we ate most meals in the dining room. It too had a bay window in it.

    Our current home most definitely does not have room for a table in the kitchen, so we use to eat all of our meals in the dining room. That was before it became such a piled in 'for now' area. Lately I have again been chipping away at it. I wish this vertigo would disappear, so I could out and out attack it!!! I not only am tired of looking at the mess, but I also strongly want to eat our Christmas dinners in there!!!

    This month, our blog is doing a skim through of sorts, of the book, "PRETTY NEAT - the buttoned-up way to get organized and let go of perfection" (which was co-authored by Alicia Rockmore and Sarah Welch, from 'Get Buttoned Up' ). We are currently in chapter eight (8), which is titled, 'CLEAR  THE  CLUTTER  AT  HOME'.

    Today obviously is about 'dining rooms'.   What is your dining room used for?  Do you eat most of your meals in there, or do you too have a breakfast nook or eating area in the kitchen itself?  Or, while your 'suppose to be' eating in there, has yours too become a 'pile it here for now' area?

    - What sorts of things do you like to keep stored in your dining room, and what do you use to store them in?
        - Examples:
           - some people use table cloths, centerpieces, etc. If you do, where and how do you store them?
           - in some homes, the dining room table is also the main home work station for younger kids. How do you keep necessary supplies near by?
           - some people fold all of their laundry on their dining room table. If you do, do you store hangers near-by?
   - What method's have you found helpful in controlling the things that have a tendency to collect there, but don't actually belong in that area?

     Honest, we really want to know! For one, there are others whom might benefit from implementing your tactics. And then there is of course the fact that it just might win you $250!! ;->  Remember, that while you might not think your methodology is all that impressive, you can't be sure that they (the books authors and contest judges) look at things the same way you do, and thus they might like something a LOT that you think is only 'okay'. ;-)

    Don't worry, if you do not have a blog of your own, you can use "anonymous" to leave your comment under. HOWEVER, you MUST include your name in order to get credit for the organizational tip or shortcut ("methodology")!!!

    Looking forward to reading what methods you use (you are going to share them with us, r-i-g-h-t ..?  o;-p)

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    Reminder: use the "link" in the side bar of our blog, to go back to the original posting which introduced this book and the connected drawings. Then, leave your "organization tip or short-cut" (methodology) under that posting. That way, it will be counted for our overall number and they will be sure and find it to consider it in drawing #2. :-)  Thanks!!! ;->

     Brian and Cheryl B. from, The Bz House That Love Built