No kitchen table???

[BirdieInTheHand]

I'm renovating my home and at the back I'm planning a large open plan kitchen/dining room/family area.

I'm planning a big kitchen island but will lose the kitchen table as a result. There'll be a table in the dining "zone" but will I miss a kitchen table?? It has always been the heart of previous homes.

I'm having a last minute panic

If it's an either/or scenario I would always opt for the kitchen table for the reason you mention of it being the natural hub of the home where everyone gathers. It means the cook can chat to whoever's at the table/help with homework etc.

I hate the my kitchen is too small to put a table in.

I did exactly this and arranged my island so it has an overhang on two sides so the four of us can sit at it on (on comfy bar stools with backs) when we don't want to use the dining table. The island hasn't got anything on it so it's replaced the kitchen table in every sense. It also means guests can sit and drink gin with me while I'm cooking! I use it for prepping, chopping, rolling pastry, etc but it's big enough to do that and have people sitting at it too. (About 1.3m x 1.3m)

we have just finished a project doing exactly the same and we don't miss it all! we still have a separate dining area (as you will) have but haven't used it. our island has a wooden table section to sit round, so is like table and not just a bit of worktop. because we can sit on three sides of it, it has become the heart of the home!

It's the people sitting at the island whilst I cook which is attractive - sort of more interactive.

The island has nothing on it and will have an overhang and comfy bar stools.

We kept our kitchen table when we had our kitchen done about 6 months ago. We planned a lovely island which I was hoping we would use for “informal” dining - it’s an island with overhang and comfy stools.

To reassure you, we haven’t used the kitchen table once in 6 months! The island is where we eat and gather and is definitely the heart of the home