tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post2792304467496733348..comments2024-01-18T11:39:21.989+00:00Comments on HATTATT: In Praise of Dining RoomsJane and Lance Hattatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-23248033163449624452012-08-21T06:39:12.815+01:002012-08-21T06:39:12.815+01:00Kim:
We are absolutely at one where dining rooms a...Kim:<br />We are absolutely at one where dining rooms are concerned. And a table large enough to seat a sizeable group of friends really is a bonus as there is nothing better than all the lively talk which inevitably ensues. We agree, why would one want one's guests to see what is happening, or not happening, in the kitchen?Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-13122743748055303332012-08-20T22:32:16.936+01:002012-08-20T22:32:16.936+01:00Loving to cook as I do, I spend a lot of time in t...Loving to cook as I do, I spend a lot of time in the kitchen and I have to admit that the only reason that we don't eat there is because it is too small. That said, I wouldn't give up my dining room for anything. Many houses don't even have a formal dining room anymore and I, for one, deplore that. I love your dining room and have a similar one - large table (with the leaves in it seats 10), china cabinet and sideboard. Not for me these "Open Plan" homes where your guests get to stare at the grubby, messy kitchen all through dinner! Kim S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06609086775319252934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-47043515679078666042011-09-09T14:18:17.692+01:002011-09-09T14:18:17.692+01:00Dolly:
We do like the sound of your 'bohemian ...Dolly:<br />We do like the sound of your 'bohemian garret/loft'[delete which ever is inappropriate] and are sure that we should find it delightful. As for retiring to the smoking room.....how very forward of you, but we are certain that no-one would have dared to deny you that pleasure....and what tales you could have regaled the 'ladies' with afterwards!!!Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-5250835937482905172011-09-09T14:00:34.916+01:002011-09-09T14:00:34.916+01:00Fabulous! Oh how I would love to have a dining ro...Fabulous! Oh how I would love to have a dining room but I live in an garret...ok more of a loft, which is one big room, albeit with the loo and bedroom up the stairs. I am told that it is very bohemian which makes me proud of my garret, I mean loft. I would love to eat in a dining room, then retire to the smoking room. As a woman I suppose that would not have been allowed! Fabulous post and kind regards to Timea.Dollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12477812986531102750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-85867524932221737572011-08-05T10:45:12.427+01:002011-08-05T10:45:12.427+01:00Missy:
How delighted we are to welcome you as a Fo...Missy:<br />How delighted we are to welcome you as a Follower. We hope that you will continue to enjoy what we write.<br /><br />Our fingers and toes are crossed for you for the Euromillions and we hope that the currency markets will hold up long enough for your winnings to be able to still purchase something. A housekeeper/ cook we can recommend as an investment as well as the key to leaving behind all matters domestic. We are so pleased that you are also keen to leave the kitchen sink since it never fails to amaze us how many people seem to simply love being in their kitchens.<br /><br />We have been much amused by your wonderfully spirited blog and we look forward to continuing the dialogue.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-72288529833581851332011-08-05T10:12:10.810+01:002011-08-05T10:12:10.810+01:00Hello, I know I'm very late commenting on this...Hello, I know I'm very late commenting on this post but I just found it and I love it! I hope you see it anyway. <br />I am in deep admiration for your attitude to kitchens and when I have the means to employ a housekeeer/cook (which I hope will be tonight when I win the Euromillions lottery!) I shall be very happy to join you in never entering a kitchen!<br />Thank you, too for your lovely comments on my blog and for becoming followers.<br />I am now your newest follower and can see that I have plenty of entertaining reading ahead!<br />JMissyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00770551694049478266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-75457856182377073222011-06-12T12:28:08.327+01:002011-06-12T12:28:08.327+01:00Annika:
Your kitchen sounds to be a most attractiv...Annika:<br />Your kitchen sounds to be a most attractive, warm and friendly place where family and friends gather and where, we are sure, lively conversation abounds. And, what is more, unlike the pair of us, you clearly are a very good cook which, we feel, makes all the difference.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-14809000617600316922011-06-12T12:19:01.387+01:002011-06-12T12:19:01.387+01:00It would never occur to me to want a dining room. ...It would never occur to me to want a dining room. It made me happy to finally move into a house that had a kitchen large enough to contain a big table. I near live in my kitchen, as I cook & bake a lot. When we have guests, I would not want to be removed from the conversation. My stove even faces the dining table, so that I can look at the people that I am cooking for, and talk with them. I love to sit in the kitchen, which is a bright, warm room. I eat there, or read cookery books, or have a glass of wine with a friend. I love being surrounded by all my kitchen utensils. It inspires me.Annikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06061208538689914487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-74258148239108467752011-06-01T05:37:22.009+01:002011-06-01T05:37:22.009+01:00Smilla4blogs:
We are inclinedto agree with what yo...Smilla4blogs:<br />We are inclinedto agree with what you say about modern families for whom, as far as we are able to tell, most things are carried out in a rush.<br /><br />Your own book lined dining room does sound lovely, but then so too does being warm by the stove on a winter's night.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-48341527028779513662011-06-01T04:33:27.701+01:002011-06-01T04:33:27.701+01:00A wonderful post and I couldn't agree more. Th...A wonderful post and I couldn't agree more. The dining room is sadly neglected. I suspect busy modern families find it easier to eat on the run, as opposed to actually dining. Our own dining room is lined with books and when our children were growing up, there were always lively conversations at dinner and books were produced, questions answered and debates raged. That said, on a frigid Maine winter night, we retreat to the kitchen with its large granite fireplace and chowder on the stove...smilla4blogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17516736514127098070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-44206868332559371602011-05-31T08:37:41.043+01:002011-05-31T08:37:41.043+01:00Nicholas V:
We are so pleased that you had the str...Nicholas V:<br />We are so pleased that you had the strength to stand up to your builder over the 'breakfast bench'. In our experience, builders can be very persuasive but, for us, we usually find our resolve when they [invariably] say...."but everyone else has this..."!!Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-48182061909746496762011-05-31T07:07:54.841+01:002011-05-31T07:07:54.841+01:00Hurrah for dining rooms! We always eat in the dini...Hurrah for dining rooms! We always eat in the dining room and agree wholeheartedly with you that a kitchen is a place to cook in!<br /><br />When we were renovating we had a jolly argument with the builder who wanted to convince us to put in a "breakfast bench" in the kitchen. "Over our dead body" was the response...Intellibloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04262938291462934103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-6545780838421422152011-05-30T20:03:04.866+01:002011-05-30T20:03:04.866+01:00Dear Polia:
Oh, how very reassuring it is to know ...Dear Polia:<br />Oh, how very reassuring it is to know that you are with us on this. Indeed, you must frequently find yourself in a professional capacity having to make inward compromises.<br /><br />We love the Nicaraguan saying which we shall commit for future use!Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-90839801085410627522011-05-30T19:47:09.201+01:002011-05-30T19:47:09.201+01:00Oh, I just couldn't agree more. There is no ki...Oh, I just couldn't agree more. There is no kitchen cum living room, or kitchen cum breakfast "nook", (or as we say in the US "dine-in kitchen") at my Houston cottage (no matter how many dine-in kitchens I design, I cannot adopt the habit). We eat in the room that was made for dining, as we say in Nicaragua "como gente civilizada".Nadia Palacioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371293342938831419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-81295018751113966182011-05-29T07:40:25.904+01:002011-05-29T07:40:25.904+01:00Perpetua:
We do count ourselves as most fortunate ...Perpetua:<br />We do count ourselves as most fortunate and are very conscious that, compared with many other people, we are privileged to have both masses of space for the two of us, and of course Tímea, now in her seventh year, full time.<br /><br />We feel very much for young people today, both working, as your son and daughter-in-law, who are having to bring up families in quite small spaces for which, in the UK, they have had to pay huge sums of money.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-79405134177228403822011-05-29T07:34:29.904+01:002011-05-29T07:34:29.904+01:00PixieMum:
It seems to us that you make very good u...PixieMum:<br />It seems to us that you make very good use of your dining room, and we quite understand the need for a second television whilst your family was growing up.<br /><br />Normally we too listen to The Archers but in Hungary we hear it through the computer on Listen Again and so it can be at any time. Just rcently it seems, to us at least, to have become a little dull.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-57932409995448783142011-05-28T22:27:08.025+01:002011-05-28T22:27:08.025+01:00Jane and Lance, your way of life is probably unatt...Jane and Lance, your way of life is probably unattainable for many people nowadays, especially in the kind of modern townhouse now being built. Our son and his wife, both well-paid professionals, live in a 3-storey house with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms, but only one reception room and a kitchen/diner on the ground floor. Most of their friends live in similar houses, without the luxury of a separate dining-room. I can imagine that in their very busy lives, they would probably envy you your housekeeper more than your dining-room.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-37350965604179654342011-05-28T22:24:42.180+01:002011-05-28T22:24:42.180+01:00We have a separate dining room in our 1930s suburb...We have a separate dining room in our 1930s suburban semidetached; I am pleased to say that it is in use for most of our meals. the exception is when we are short of time. <br /><br />It was not until the offspring were in their twenties that we had a TV in the dining room, now it is used to listen to the Archers if we eat at 7pm. We had the TV as it solved the problem of son wanting to watch sport and another family member wanting another programme.<br /><br />Does not apply now, son married and daughter out and about more, but Ian and I still like to dine properly. Neither do we hoard our best china, we use and enjoy the beauty.PixieMumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14717092173188052675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-69620806393396016342011-05-26T11:15:46.209+01:002011-05-26T11:15:46.209+01:00Delia Hornbook:
We are quite certain that you have...Delia Hornbook:<br />We are quite certain that you have great fun at meal times with your family and friends and it is, after all, the company, and to a degree the food, which matter most of all. Your kitchen we imagine to be a very jolly place!<br /><br />Thank you so much for visiting and for becoming a Follower. We are much enjoying reading about life in Somerset.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-91203888746397963112011-05-26T11:02:01.149+01:002011-05-26T11:02:01.149+01:00I just wanted to say a quick hello and to say than...I just wanted to say a quick hello and to say thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a lovely comment. I love dinning room eating but with my little house and with a kitchen dinner its that all the way for me. I think the kitchen is a very social place to be for a relaxed informal style of eating and the dinning room more directed for formal dinner parties both lovely on there own way. I will pop back again soon, take care, dee ;-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01807783495138462705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-36614196880564878162011-05-25T15:05:22.242+01:002011-05-25T15:05:22.242+01:00Lost in Provence [to the power of 4]:
You are both...Lost in Provence [to the power of 4]:<br />You are both so kind and thoughtful and it is really appreciated. Thank you so much for the offer of help together with such excellent ideas which, we assure you, when we are ready to move forward we will get back to you about all possibilities. We cannot believe, though, that two such creative and imaginative people should be stuck over the problem of the "frigo"!!<br /><br />Rival blue skies here in Budapest!Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-44162151366787343862011-05-25T14:56:58.442+01:002011-05-25T14:56:58.442+01:00Oh my, this is I belive, my fourth response to thi...Oh my, this is I belive, my fourth response to this post. That has to be a record! I am so glad that you like the idea and will be happy to look for sources (a treasure hunt!) a little more if or when you decide to move forward. Just let me know. Remi also suggested the moucharabieh screens from Morocco as another version of the same idea.<br /><br />I hope you are both having a fine day. Sadly, I don't think that there is a solution to our "frigo" problem. We'll just have to make it work once we get in the space! And for that I will have to wait an entire month...<br /><br />Sending lots of happiness your way from under the bif blue of Provence,<br /><br />HeatherHeather Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01316279029849503437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-54250527689658882582011-05-25T12:24:43.660+01:002011-05-25T12:24:43.660+01:00Bluebell:
Whilst we totally understand those for w...Bluebell:<br />Whilst we totally understand those for whom cooking is a joy and a creative art, it is just that we are not one of them, and so consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have Tímea to keep house for us. If, as you say, cooking does not appeal, then it is just a regular chore. However, the Aga on a winter's morning...now that is something we could warm to!!<br /><br />Thank you, Carol, so much for such a very generous comment.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-71643737162542102402011-05-25T09:51:51.071+01:002011-05-25T09:51:51.071+01:00Hello Jane and Lance, as usual, I enjoyed your ent...Hello Jane and Lance, as usual, I enjoyed your entertaining and thought provoking post. Personally if I never saw my kitchen again, I certainly wouldn't miss it except perhaps after a long hack on a winter's morning when the Aga is hard to beat for warming frozen bones. I loathe cooking, so if I were to become unexpectedly wealthy then a wonderful housekeeper like Timea to do it for me would be first on my list of desires.<br />Your dining room looks absolutely beautiful and it definately does inspire me to look at our own with a fresh eye and make more use of it rather than just Sundays and special occasions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8102162146315706774.post-48965505591870480462011-05-25T07:38:12.610+01:002011-05-25T07:38:12.610+01:00Annie:
Of course, as you say here, there is so muc...Annie:<br />Of course, as you say here, there is so much more to meals than simply the eating of the food. Mealtimes afford a wonderful opportunity to relax, to catch up on news and views, to exchange ideas or, very simply, to have a moment of respite in a busy day.<br /><br />Tímea, as we so often say, is a National Treasure and we are so fortunate to have had her for the past seven years. Long may she continue with us.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.com