Does the kitchen need a seating area?

[MsAnnFrope]

We are looking to redo the kitchen which is 4.5m by 3m (approx). it currently has a u shaped kitchen at one end and then we have a table to seat 4 and random storage at the other. It has 2 sets of double doors at the end with the table.

We are keen to have more storage space i.e. pantry and bigger fridge freezer but would also like to keep some space for worktop and stools at the table end.
Its not really big enough for an island or peninsula (despite kitchen designers trying to convince us to the contrary.

We have a separate dining room so only have coffee, snacks etc in the kitchen. Anyone not got seating in a kitchen which is theoretically big enough to take it?

I don't think you necessarily need a table and chairs, but some sort of seating, like a bench under the window is nice so friends can chat whilst you cook.

Do you have children, and if so how old are they? With DC, I like having a table for them to sit at for homework/meals while I cook, do laundry etc.

If it’s just you and partner, do whatever you like, though if you are thinking of moving in the next few years, most people do like to eat in the kitchen.

Thanks. We have 1 DD7. There isn't space under the window - if we have seating at the "dining" end of the kitchen you can look out the doors into the garden or at the wall!
Would you compromise on pantry storage to have a seating area?

Also the washer and dryer are in the garage but DD does like to chat while i cook

Whenever I've looked at properties (over 40 years) it has always been a real negative for me to not be able to sit and eat in the kitchen.
Unless I could see a way of reconfiguring it, it would put me right off a house.
I'd rather put a storage cupboard in the garage or the dining room or under the stairs or whatever works in that particular house, for things I don't use on a daily basis.

Well, see.
I'm the polar opposite of @BackforGood and @fallingsnowflakes.
I have a reasonably big kitchen with no seating.
It used to have a breakfast bar - but we took that out to make it easier to get to stuff.
I have no desire whatsoever to sit in my kitchen either at a table or anywhere else, and would hate anyone else to be sitting there while I'm trying to cook.
Don't talk to me when I'm cooking - it's distracting.
I'm also a bit of a messy cook.
Short answer is, it depends how you live and what you like.

I like a kitchen table in the kitchen - it can be small, but big enough for breakfast / kids tea / quick lunch when WFH.

Would any unusual shaped tables work?

Can you draw us a diagram?

I can see it’s time for a diagram!

Ok not the best scale drawing ever! But basically the u shaped kitchen needs to stay. The other end I’m wide open to suggestions!

Yes and I hate it. I would prefer to eat meals in our kitchen though, keep the mess in one place!
We’re open concept and I HATE it.

How about a breakfast counter type area with stools and you can put your legs underneath. Then just tuck the stools under when not in use.

@Suzi888 good to know! We thought about knocking through kitchen/dining room/sun room but I like to close a door on the chaos if I choose

Do you think a breakfast bar type area would work if we were facing the wall?

The entire house has to be tidy at all times or it drives me insane. We may put a wall back up between the dining room and the living room. 😖

I would take facing the wall to sit in my kitchen I’d take anything haha! But we don’t have much cupboard space, that’s the only downfall. Need to ensure you don’t mind losing cupboard space or looking at a wall.... if it’s just quick snacks/ breakfast for me, Dh and kiddies it wouldn’t bother me personally.

It would also be an extra worktop. I’m a bit disappointed that the kitchen people who have quoted have not really had any suggestions.

What about something like this built into the bottom left corner (whatever you store in the storage, store in the drawers here and have a little bistro table for DD / snacks as you need it.

I find it useful having a table in kitchen, not only for eating but also for cooking with kids - height much better than worktop. Looking at your plan, could you get a bit of extra space by having a single rather than double door?

My parents’ kitchen is very similar to yours. They don’t have a table in it, it’s not really big enough. They have lots of storage at the ‘table end’ in your house and eat at their dining table. It’s just in the next room.

Breakfast bar at the end with a long mirror the full length of the bar would make it feel less like you were facing a wall.

Do you use the patio doors year round or just in summer?

I’d probably move table closer to those and have all the storage at the other side.

If you do use those doors all the time, then put the table at other side.

But I agree with PPs about having some kind of sitting/eating area in there.

Also look at IKEA for tables and chair ideas - they don’t have to take up as much room as you might think.

How about a little IKEA table that folds out from the wall & two stools in the corner near the double doors?

Or one comfy armchair in that corner to have coffee while admiring the garden?

Or.
Africa2go's idea but instead of the bistro table (which you'll have to keep moving to get into those drawers) my DSis had her kitchen fitters make her a very simple, square table, to her specifications, using the kitchen worktop material (no use if you're having granite etc).
They fitted 4 circular legs and put castors, with a push down brake, on each leg.
She can wheel her table out of the way if she needs access or wheel it to wherever it works best for her chopping stuff, prepping etc.

Are you sure you couldn’t sacrifice the storage at the end in favour of a kitchen island with storage in it? From a symmetry point of view I like the idea of that - the idea of being able to tuck the stools under is appealing

Thank you so much for the advice! I think we are going to sacrifice some storage to have a peninsula attached to the wall with enough space for bar stools and some underneath storage.
DH can’t be persuaded to a breakfast bar facing the wall and I do take his point! The double doors to the garden mean we can just open the right hand one most of the time so we can have storage on the dark corner next to them with the seating to the other side of the kitchen near the interior door!

I’m just looking at holiday houses (dreaming...) and found this.... might something like this work? Obviously with storage instead of oven/MW.