Maple Lake family ditches formal dining room for deluxe game space

The challenge: Vicki and Matt Marohn's traditional two-story house, which they built in Maple Lake in 2004, had a traditional formal dining room. But the couple realized that the only time they used it for dining was at Christmas gatherings. The rest of the year it was wasted space — except when it became a catchall drop zone for excess stuff. "Our kitchen already had a large eat-in area," said Vicki. "With two teenagers, we decided a game room made a lot more sense."

The Marohns also requested that the converted space have earthy design details to make it warm and welcoming for playing games and entertaining.

The remodeling project would have to be done within the dining room's existing footprint. "I didn't want it to look like a theme room, but feel like it belonged with the rest of the house," added Vicki.

The designer: Lisa Ball, Design by Lisa, designbylisa.com, 952-261-2027. The contractor was Plekkenpol Builders, Bloomington.

Old World pub: An aged-look stone arched wall, antique mirror and dark-stained cabinets "give it a game-room pub feeling," Ball said.

Matt always had a thing for tin ceilings, so Ball covered the existing ceiling with copper-sheened intricate tin tiles. "Sometimes ceilings are forgotten elements," said Ball. The tin tile wasn't costly, and it makes the room look finished. "Our biggest fear was that the tin would make the room feel dark," added Vicki. "But it reflects light from the windows."

Handy bar and buffet: The long granite counter is ideal for mixing drinks and serving food at big gatherings. "It was a great place to set out hors d'oeuvres over the holidays," said Vicki.

The knotty alder cabinets above and below the counter offer abundant storage, including a built-in wine rack. Vicki places wine and beverage glasses behind seeded-glass doors in two cabinets under the arch. "The bubbles give the glass doors a handmade aged look," said Ball.

Let's play darts: Ball designed a stone niche to hold a dartboard, with cabinet doors that can be closed when it's not in use.

Statement stone: The game-room wall is Broadwater Ledge stone from Hedberg Supply. The natural stone veneer was installed directly to the wall, with exposed mortar joints, said Ball. She added wrought-iron sconces for ambience.

Staying in character: Ball echoed the home's existing archways in the design of the game room's arched stone wall. The wood cabinet door is also similar in style to the kitchen cabinets.

"The game room is architecturally interesting," said Ball, "and unexpected when you walk in the front door."

Budget-friendly re-use: The Marohns kept the dining room's bay window and chandelier. They placed a large area rug over the existing low-maintenance ceramic-tile floor. "The light fixture will work if they turn it back into a dining room someday," said Ball.

The result: The former plain-Jane room now boasts Old World character, and the Marohn family uses the once-forgotten space every day. The kids and their friends play pool or air hockey on the dual-game table — or deal cards at the high-top table by the bay window. In the morning, the Marohns take over the window spot to sip coffee. "It gives our family another place to spend time together," said Vicki.