Skipping a formal dining room in our new build is one thing I’ll never regret. Building a home is all about give and take—letting aesthetics and function meet in a way that actually fits your life, not someone else’s. When we really looked at the square footage it would take to create a room we’d use only a handful of times a year, it just didn’t make sense for our family. The way we live, gather, cook, and connect happens in the spaces we use every day. And yes, I’ve heard the comments: “How ‘c