Kitchen Island and no dining table

[FigandHoney]

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.

Why can't your DH sit at a table for breakfast.

I dislike bar stools as they're difficult, uncomfortable and a pain to move so this time we went for a small island but as others have said its an absolute magnet for clutter! Glad we got it as we don't have worktop space other than above 2 cupboards otherwise so it's a lifesaver and we use our massive table daily. I do like the banquet style but they looked too inflexible when we visited friends and again limit storage.

DH and I are tall, we would find doing food prep on kitchen table quite uncomfortable.
Our island seating is like number 2 on this site, except that also induction hob is on the island and it's stone not wood. Loads of space for food prep, but also nobody banging their knees against cupboards when seated.
https://www.durasupreme.com/blog/top-10-kitchen-islands-that-double-as-tables-with-seating/

I recently moved to a similar-sounding space. First thing I did was to rip out the island unit and bring in a kitchen table.

Island units are a complete waste of space unless you have a mahoosive kitchen.

@bellac11 the op has explained that she needs to have an island. I'm just pointing out that bar stools don't have to be uncomfortable. As I said in an earlier post I'm fortunate that I have space for a table and island. But the op is worried that she hasn't.
OP I have the below bar chairs at my island. The back is high enough to lean back properly on (comes up to above my shoulder blades when I'm sat on a chair) the seat and back are both padded for extra comfort and the foot bar is the height the floor would be at on a normal chair.

Forgot to add the photo

@FigandHoney have you considered a peninsular, could but a barstool or two at the end to satisfy DH then have a table in the centre?

How about a breakfast bar table with stools (no backs) you can push right underneath out of the way when your DH is not eating breakfast not in use. It can double up as a prep surface. And be moved for kitchen disco and roller skating.
Separate table for everything else.

Putting you feet on a bar underneath your seat it not comfortable even it it’s floor height. You aren’t balanced properly.

Yes because you have to put your feet right under you, not only do you not balance properly but you lean forward, not great for eating

The diagram above is a better layout but I wouldnt have the bar stools because then you cant have cupboards under and you cant have a hob on it.

The DH specifically wants to sit at a breakfast bar. What other people feel about the comfort of bar stools is irrelevant. The op is wanting help to try and accommodate.

Yes true

The problem is, its about understanding what is practical. OP hasnt got a massive kitchen, so compromises are needed. Kitchens are also a massive outlay and once done, you'd be loathed (and possibly couldnt afford) to change it again

I think people are just pointing out the folly of trying to squeeze in the bar stool design in such circumstances

It is possible to have an island with stools and cupboards. It just depends what you are going to store in those cupboards and how the island is designed, that’s the important bit. If it’s badly designed then it won’t work and forever be an annoyance.

My island works really well and though large, it only has 4 stools (which are really comfortable as height adjustable and have backs). I have a separate table as well. The worktop overhangs on one short side and 2 thirds of the long side to accommodate seating. There are shallow cupboards on that part of the long side that I store the high days and holidays stuff in. Other third of that long side has a normal depth drawer unit. Other long side has the hob and 4 x 1m drawers.

Horses for courses and all that but I hate sitting at something that has a sink or a hob in it. They are not aesthetically pleasing things. And attract even less beautiful things like washing up and pots and pans. Simple breakfast bar or table for me every time. One I can put a vase of flowers or bowl of fruit on and know it's not trying to draw the eye from the roasting tin that's been left to soak.

I think this is the crux of it, really. It's not at all relaxing.

We are planning a peninsula in our new kitchen, with space underneath for a couple of very occasional stools to make it versatile, a couple of cupboards, and a gap to keep a tea trolley. It's intended to be a space for making and serving tea etc, with kettle open shelves for cups, teapots, and so on separate from meal making. It can also serve as a collection point for crockery en route for dishwasher ( in pantry) It basically takes some pressure off the rest of the kitchen, and we will have a table too.

I'd opt for a decent table and no island myself, so important to eat together

I'd consider whether you could have a u shape, well c really from that wall with the island negating the need to walk around the island that way, then a round dining table

What about an extendable island. Something like the images attached. Table hidden within the island but able to pull out as and when needed. Sure a bespoke one could be nice. I’m in a very similar situation to you. I need extra surface space but don’t want to completely lose the option of a table.

I think you can fit both an island and a table if the island has no bar stools. It can just have prep space and the hob, but no need to sit there is you've got a better table just there.

What is the point of having a gap between the island and the table? You cannot open the cupboards/drawers in the island that back onto the table. It’s a poor design. The table needs to be an extension to the island. Preferably with storage not compromised.

@FigandHoney Im not sure what money you have available, but I notice you said you have a column in the way. This must hamper design. Unless the opened up space is huge, you should be able to take out the column and put in a steel to suppport the floor above. We have a steel spanning 5m in our lounge and a decent engineer could easily design a steel for you.

If this column compromises what you can do, get rid of it. You almost certainly can.