| "ou know when your house just doesn't work right, even though there seems to be ample space. Certain functions may be cramped, like a lack of room to pull chairs out from the table. There also is such a thing as too much space, as in the case of a kitchen island placed a hop, skip and a jump away from the other counters. The dining room concept needs to be re-evaluated since the room often is used only for holiday dinners and eating with company. This dedicated room rarely uses the available space and sits dormant most of the year. What is needed is 'flex space' that can change as our needs change, either seasonally or on a whim." "Several 'uncomfortable' areas were obvious in this house. The family entry (A) from the garage (B) functioned as laundry room, coat storage and hallway with absolutely no maneuvering room. A second door (C) had to be negotiated to enter the kitchen." "The kitchen (D) was too large to be efficient. The poorly placed island (E) was only a junk collector since it was too far from the other counters to be useful — I usually recommend 30 inches for efficiency. The kitchen table (F) was squeezed in between a wall (G) and the island, mandating a dance if someone was sitting at the table and another person wanted to access the deck (H)." "The family room (I) was so big that furniture had to "float" to get close enough to the fireplace and television, creating a no man's land behind the sofa (J). This was space that could be appreciated elsewhere." "The formal dining room (K) was too remote from both the kitchen and the living room to draw people. The proportions of this room were unpleasant as well. It primarily served as a shortcut from the kitchen to the front door. Most important, a formal dining room was not a required element in this family's lifestyle." "The first move was to separate the laundry functions from the family entry. Many people, especially the person who does the laundry, don't want to see the waiting laundry every time they leave or enter the house. The formal dining room (K) was joyfully sacrificed for
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