I am a big fan of reinventing spaces. In every place I've ever lived (or considered living) I shifted rooms around to accommodate our needs. Here in the NYC area, many of us don't have space to waste. Big screen televisions end up in rooms that once served at formal living rooms, dining rooms double as libraries and offices.
Do you use all the rooms in your home? I grew up in a home with a living room/dining room used only for entertaining. My Mom would know if I sneaked in to read a book or magazine by the window because of the footprints in the carpet.
In our home we use our living room as a place to play a board game or do a puzzle (a giant ottoman holds an assortment), read, or just think and relax. Since our kitchen is small, we eat every meal in the dining room and the kids do homework at the big farm table. The entry parlor now has a set of small-scale leather club chairs and small accent table where my husband and I can enjoy our morning coffee or a drink in the evening. Our walk-in "butler's" pantry has become a mini-kitchen, with coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven and beverage refrigerator. Its plentiful cabinetry holds breakfast foods, snacks, a set of dishes, glassware and utensils. What once seemed like a beautiful space with little purpose is now used constantly after a few minor upgrades.
When renovating spaces in your home, think outside the box. With the help of an architect or designer, your rooms can be repurposed—without ruining the "feel" of an older home—while improving the "flow". Furniture can be arranged to help a room serve multi-purposes.
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