The Evolving Dining Room
In the great manor houses of the Middle Ages, there was no dedicated dining room. Architecture of the homes of nobles was fairly predictable. The sleeping chambers usually had an adjoining parlour for receiving visitors or carrying out daily activities. The kitchen would have been large and functional, while the Great Hall would have served as a multi-function room large enough to seat the entire population of the house.
During religious or marriage celebrations the Great Hall would have been the venue for entertainment as well as dining. There would have been a great long table or two extending the length of the room, with enough long backed chairs for everyone. The family of the home always had their own raised table at the head of the Great Hall, and of course first choice of each dish as it passed down the line. For the mundane daily meals, it was common for family members to dine separately in private chambers either adjacent to the Great Hall or to their own sleeping chamber. When the Black Death made its way across Europe during the 14th century, many families took to private rooms for their meals to avoid having contact with outside people unnecessarily. Of course, it is also possible the extreme number of people who died from the plague meant there was a great lack of servants.
The trend of taking meals in private chambers continued well into the 17th century, partly out of political reasoning and partly out of fear. When King Henry VIII called for the dismantling of the Catholic monasteries and stepped away from the Vatican, it became inadvisable for all private citizens to speak freely in front of a crowd of people. Eventually, the parlour became the dining room and the Great Hall became something only used on rare occasion. During the 18th century a trend arose in which the ladies of the party would excuse themselves after the meal was consumed, and retire to a drawing room for quiet conversation. The gentlemen would undoubtedly stay in the dining room with their beverages and discuss the issues of the time. Since it was the men who seemed to take leisure there for such length, the dining room began to take on a trend of masculine design.
The practice of the ladies and gentlemen separating after the feast continued well into the 20th century, however there were changes in the size and placement of the dining room. Previously, the small chambers adjacent to the Great Hall (that became dining rooms) were positioned on a separate floor from the food preparation area. It was quite common for food to be stone cold by the time it arrived at the table. Sometime towards the end of the 19th century kitchens were moved up one floor to coincide with the dining room. There would still not have been any indication by diners that a facility of such great work was close by, but the food at least arrived when it was still warm.
As the 20th century progressed, home design changed. It became more practical, less exclusive and far more affordable. Kitchens were adjacent to dining rooms, but a new feature was added: the dinette or breakfast nook. Regular daily meals were typically served in the dinette while the dining room was reserved for special occasions. In some households the dining room was used only for Sunday dinner and family celebrations. Other homes incorporated the formal use of the room only for occasions when guests were dining in the home. Towards the end of the 20th century, home design in the middle to upper class range began to enlarge the family eating and recreation area while getting rid of the formal dining room altogether. The focus was on family time and any special meals were taken outside the home.
Today, we are seeing homes built with a functional dining room that also serves as a place for the family meal. Practicality that incorporates a contemporary design is the choice being made by home owners. In this way, the desire to fulfil the needs of the family while maintaining a keen sense of style in the home is met. Advancing technology has allowed the use of finer materials and a more customized approach to furniture and home design, more so than ever before.
It is not just the dining room that has evolved; it is the entire idea of a house as a home. It is a place for sleep, fellowship and quiet enjoyment with loved ones. The dining room has progressed from a massive multi-function space that echoed every little noise to a well designed functional yet stylish room. Homes today have the ability to accommodate the needs of the family without the cold impersonal feel of a castle, thanks to advancing design and building technology.
During religious or marriage celebrations the Great Hall would have been the venue for entertainment as well as dining. There would have been a great long table or two extending the length of the room, with enough long backed chairs for everyone. The family of the home always had their own raised table at the head of the Great Hall, and of course first choice of each dish as it passed down the line. For the mundane daily meals, it was common for family members to dine separately in private chambers either adjacent to the Great Hall or to their own sleeping chamber. When the Black Death made its way across Europe during the 14th century, many families took to private rooms for their meals to avoid having contact with outside people unnecessarily. Of course, it is also possible the extreme number of people who died from the plague meant there was a great lack of servants.
The trend of taking meals in private chambers continued well into the 17th century, partly out of political reasoning and partly out of fear. When King Henry VIII called for the dismantling of the Catholic monasteries and stepped away from the Vatican, it became inadvisable for all private citizens to speak freely in front of a crowd of people. Eventually, the parlour became the dining room and the Great Hall became something only used on rare occasion. During the 18th century a trend arose in which the ladies of the party would excuse themselves after the meal was consumed, and retire to a drawing room for quiet conversation. The gentlemen would undoubtedly stay in the dining room with their beverages and discuss the issues of the time. Since it was the men who seemed to take leisure there for such length, the dining room began to take on a trend of masculine design.
The practice of the ladies and gentlemen separating after the feast continued well into the 20th century, however there were changes in the size and placement of the dining room. Previously, the small chambers adjacent to the Great Hall (that became dining rooms) were positioned on a separate floor from the food preparation area. It was quite common for food to be stone cold by the time it arrived at the table. Sometime towards the end of the 19th century kitchens were moved up one floor to coincide with the dining room. There would still not have been any indication by diners that a facility of such great work was close by, but the food at least arrived when it was still warm.
As the 20th century progressed, home design changed. It became more practical, less exclusive and far more affordable. Kitchens were adjacent to dining rooms, but a new feature was added: the dinette or breakfast nook. Regular daily meals were typically served in the dinette while the dining room was reserved for special occasions. In some households the dining room was used only for Sunday dinner and family celebrations. Other homes incorporated the formal use of the room only for occasions when guests were dining in the home. Towards the end of the 20th century, home design in the middle to upper class range began to enlarge the family eating and recreation area while getting rid of the formal dining room altogether. The focus was on family time and any special meals were taken outside the home.
Today, we are seeing homes built with a functional dining room that also serves as a place for the family meal. Practicality that incorporates a contemporary design is the choice being made by home owners. In this way, the desire to fulfil the needs of the family while maintaining a keen sense of style in the home is met. Advancing technology has allowed the use of finer materials and a more customized approach to furniture and home design, more so than ever before.
It is not just the dining room that has evolved; it is the entire idea of a house as a home. It is a place for sleep, fellowship and quiet enjoyment with loved ones. The dining room has progressed from a massive multi-function space that echoed every little noise to a well designed functional yet stylish room. Homes today have the ability to accommodate the needs of the family without the cold impersonal feel of a castle, thanks to advancing design and building technology.
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