The death of the dining room

The apartment dining room is apparently on its way out, or has perhaps already expired in an untimely demise. The "dining area" has replaced the dining room, not only in adaptive-reuse condo conversion projects but in new-construction apartments as well.

Dining as event: a dramatic apartment dining room in Miracle Mile

Dining as after-thought: the "dining area" in a new building in Mid-Wilshire

In the example immediately above, the awkwardly-situated dining area is relegated to an after-thought; it serves not so much as a place to shove down food (preferably as quickly as possible) but rather more prominently as the entryway for the apartment. Alas, this plan is far from uncommon in today's lofts and apartment buildings.

True dining should be an event, and it deserves a dramatic space dedicated solely to an indulgence in food, wine, and company: the dining room.

A proper dining room at The Talmadge on Wilshire, with a view into the living room

A dining room at The Gothic, Los Feliz (courtesy GLB Properties)