Dining In Is A Kitchen Event

As you plan the features you will want to include in a new kitchen, it’s clear that the concept of gathering around the kitchen table takes on new meaning in today’s household. In fact, the table itself is far from the modest metal-legged, oil-cloth covered version that graced many post-World War II kitchens.

As the utility of a separate room for dining has diminished, the kitchen table has evolved     to take on the tasks of family dinners, entertaining and general gathering spot for daily projects and conversation.

                             
Given that shift, selecting the right kitchen “table” or eating/working surface will be a key part of your remodeling plan. For one thing, the table you select will be an integrated element in the overall design, not an unrelated piece of furniture. The kitchen style you have in mind - cozy country, sleek modern, or something in-between - will help inform the look and size of your “perfect” table.

If space permits, consider a long, farm-style table that will accommodate more than half a dozen diners comfortably, or play host to concurrent activities such as baking and homework. A smaller table with leaf extensions is another way to provide that additional space when you need it.  A round table makes a comfortable gathering spot that’s great for the kids. Fold-down leaves or extension pieces will make this choice more adaptable to your changing needs. Tuck your table - square, oblong or round - into a corner, add a bench and a create a handy breakfast nook.

  
A nice feature of a table, as opposed to a fixed element like a built-in island or peninsula counter, is that you can move it around the room - out in the center for meals or meal preparation activities, and into a corner or along the wall to serve as a bar/food staging area for a party.

When is a table not a table? When it’s a bar! A very small or narrow galley kitchen need not discourage you from designing practical, even elegant dine-in/work-in space. A “breakfast bar” counter along a wall can provide comfy seating with high-back, cushioned chairs. Add lighting, electrical outlets and a laptop, and Voila!, you have an in-kitchen office/work area.

With the wide variety of great design options available today, you and your kitchen design partner will have no trouble creating a “dine-in” solution that feels right and fits your lifestyle to a T.