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Original poster

Kitchen Island and no dining table

96 replies

FigandHoney · 31/12/2023 14:23

Does anyone with kids have just a kitchen island with seating and no dining table.
We don't have a seperate dining room.
I can either fit a small 1.5m long island and a small table. Or a much bigger 8sland but no table.

OP posts:
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11
Brendabigbaps · 31/12/2023 14:25

When we did our kitchen dinner we put a breakfast bar in, I thought we would use it all the time for meals. 3 years in and we’ve all sat at it together maybe 3 times in the first week, that’s it.
my daughter sits at it all the time for meals on her own, breakfast, the odd lunch etc

SecondUsername4me · 31/12/2023 14:26

We have had a house with no space in the kitchen for either, and now have a house with both a dining table in the kitchen and a room we could use as a dining room, and we still don't use the dining table apart from Christmas lunch and for card /board games.

We much prefer all sitting around the massive coffee table (ottoman stools around it) to eat.

Our kitchen table is now used mainly to store clean dishes before we put them away or as a prep surface for cooking.

So, short answer, go for whatever you fancy Grin as long as there is some sort of surface (games and homework, cards, dinners) it's no matter what that surface is.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 31/12/2023 14:26

It's s preference thing. I'd only have an island if I also had space for the table and space all round it so people aren't squashed. It's nice to all sit round a table as a family sometimes, and when you have guests.

Orangello · 31/12/2023 14:26

We in principle have a dining table, but it's pushed in the corner and only comes out for dinner parties. All meals with family are eaten around the large island. We prefer it - have the dining table out now for the holiday period, but nobody is using it.

ClematisBlue49 · 31/12/2023 14:31

How does an island work with a large number of people? Is there a breakfast bar on all sides?

Chickpea17 · 31/12/2023 14:33

Can you just have a nice big dinner table and no island? island with stools are one of the most uncomfortable thing on the planet in my opinion. We had them at are last house thinking they were a solution to having a small kitchen but we got rid of them after about 6 months.

SecondUsername4me · 31/12/2023 14:39

If I had the space I'd go for this. It gives an island surface in the middle of the room, decent table to sit round and also potentially space for stools at the far end (back to patio doors)

Kitchen Island and no dining table
Nomad19 · 31/12/2023 17:21

Islands with stools are so uncomfortable to eat at. Need a back rest of a proper chair to eat in peace!

troppibambini6 · 31/12/2023 17:23

It would be a table for me. What if people came round for dinner? Or or on xmas day?
We have a large island with stools and never use it. We all use the table for every meal.

tiggergoesbounce · 31/12/2023 17:30

We have both, we have a good sized island and a dining table. We eat all our meals at the island, the chairs/stools are really comfy and its a great place to eat and chat about our day.

tiggergoesbounce · 31/12/2023 17:31

Sorry but we do have an extendable dining table for when people come around, but very seldom used.

gocompare · 31/12/2023 17:52

SecondUsername4me · 31/12/2023 14:39

If I had the space I'd go for this. It gives an island surface in the middle of the room, decent table to sit round and also potentially space for stools at the far end (back to patio doors)

We are hopeful to move next year and I've been saying I'd like this style if we have to redo a kitchen. Best of both worlds

NancyJoan · 31/12/2023 17:57

I’d hate not having a table. Islands take up a lot of space, do you really need one?

dastidlydaschel · 31/12/2023 18:03

If you've not got proper room for both, I'd go table over island. Much more comfortable to sit at, and I have both. And I have comfortable chairs rather than stools at the island, but the table is much more comfortable to sit at.

TeenLifeMum · 31/12/2023 18:06

I’d choose dining table over an island if I could only have one. I looked at a home online that had replaced the dining table with an island and I discounted it. We can extend our table or push it up against the wall for parties. No such flex with an island.

Dynamoat · 31/12/2023 18:09

We chose not to have an island. I like that we can remove the table if we need to for any reason. I also don't like the serving set up of an island/breakfast bar, positioning the cook (often the woman) as serving everyone else like they're staff. The table seems far more equal and the conversations are better as you're not having to try and talk in a row.

Dynamoat · 31/12/2023 18:11

Also not having an island has given us lots of flexible space for random things like dancing, my DC deciding to master roller skating, huge paint projects on the floor.

trickyex · 31/12/2023 18:13

I would have a decent sized table and no island..
Much nicer to sit and eat at, drink tea at, play cards etc. We use ours as a bar when teens have parties.
And can be moved out of the way for kitchen discos.

Iwant2beJessicaFletcher · 31/12/2023 18:17

We have both. Breakfast bar is used by youngest DC for their every meal- the rest of us barely use it and eat instead at the dining table.

It's personal preference but as I've got older I've hated having to climb up to the breakfast bar seat (they all have backs!) so wouldn't want only a breakfast bar for that reason.

bellac11 · 31/12/2023 18:18

Personally I wouldnt have an island.

They waste space. If you put cupboards under them, then people dont have anywhere to put their knees and cant get close enough to eat, if the plan is for people to eat

If you dont put cupboards under them you've lost all that space

If you have stools they are unweildy and uncomfortable to sit on.

But its personal preference. Im sure someone somewhere likes an island!

Derb · 31/12/2023 18:20

We have a large island with two seats either side and a dining table but Angela Sue the table and always opt for the island

gonogo · 31/12/2023 18:22

If you dont put cupboards under them you've lost all that space

Agree with this, also an island without storage beneath is just a table which cannot be moved. Worst of both worlds.

bellac11 · 31/12/2023 18:22

Derb · 31/12/2023 18:20

We have a large island with two seats either side and a dining table but Angela Sue the table and always opt for the island

How is Angela Sue these days?

TizerorFizz · 31/12/2023 18:41

@FigandHoney You need to use a bit more imagination! You can have both. Just drop the end of the island to table height and put chairs round it. Don’t have an “in line” breakfast bar. It’s impossible for family meals and having friends round. You can even have a flap end to extend the dining section if you need it bigger.

TizerorFizz · 31/12/2023 18:50

Something like these.

Kitchen Island and no dining table
Kitchen Island and no dining table
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