Kitchen island or large dining table

56 replies

LoveBluey · 19/03/2023 19:29

Am planning a new kitchen for once our extension is finished. It's going to be a bigger open plan kitchen / dining / family space.

We have room to have either an island with stools and then a very small square or round table with 4 chairs or no island but a large long table with 8 chairs.
There will also be another family area with a 2 seater sofa.

I'm torn between options. I've always wanted an island and can imagine the kids doing homework while I cook or setting out buffet food for a party etc. But that would mean we only have a small dining table which would be fine for the 4 of us but not sure what we'd do if we had guests for dinner/family at christmas etc.
Would we be better to forego the island and have a larger dining table in its place?
The trouble with that is we lose the option for storage that you have with an island.

OP posts:

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Firefly2023 · 20/03/2023 15:05

Table. Islands make a room feel smaller so I feel they only work where you have a large enough room, in which case you would have both so wouldn't be asking the question.

Snoofox02 · 20/03/2023 15:20

Island!pick what works best for your family not what everyone else thinks

mychildrenarealiens · 20/03/2023 16:02

Capezio · 20/03/2023 14:01

We have just fitted a massive dinning table island and dropped the traditional dining table altogether. Comfortably fits 12-14 people for dinner, with the added benefit of masses of storage underneath. It has transformed the kitchen, both in looks and use. The extra storage is really helpful and the kitchen actually looks far bigger and nicer. We spend more time in there now and so do our teens and their friends.

I think the biggest factor is the kitchen layout and in terms of the footfall flow, entrances, exits etc. In some kitchens islands block the natural routes and in some they fit with the flow.

For us it has exceeded expectations and we should have done it a long time ago.

@Capezio don't suppose you have a photo of this? I'm intrigrued!

Lostmarblesfinder · 20/03/2023 16:05

Island all the way. I ended up having to knock into another room to put in a dining table to have in the room but we use the island all the time.

Capezio · 20/03/2023 18:54

@mychildrenarealiens

It is 150x170. Top was made to measure to fit the units. It has a full lip all the way around, so can be sat at all the way around. You can buy padded seats, so you still have the comfort.

mychildrenarealiens · 21/03/2023 12:40

Capezio · 20/03/2023 18:54

@mychildrenarealiens

It is 150x170. Top was made to measure to fit the units. It has a full lip all the way around, so can be sat at all the way around. You can buy padded seats, so you still have the comfort.

Thank you, That's a brilliant idea (that I may end up stealing!)

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