Source
r/InteriorDesign•
0x800

Kitchen island as a dining table, yay or nay?

Hi all,

our brand new flat will come with a kitchen, which we can alter to an extent. We’re thinking of transforming the kitchen island into a dining table (apologies for potato quality):

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Pic 4

As you can see, the kitchen + living room is not crazy big, so we’re trying to avoid the need for a proper table.

Is this a good idea? Can you think of a better way? Any improvement tips/tricks/suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks!

EDIT: In case someone finds it helpful, here's the whole flat blueprint

Posted Jan 21, 2018, 3:37 PM UTC · edited

1820
electrick_avenue•

If you want to have more table space, you could always do a drop leaf on the island. It could fold out to give you more space if you have guests or something.

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0x800OP•

It's what we wanted/suggested, only to be shut down by the kitchen provider - apparently they can't do that. :/

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electrick_avenue•

Can't or won't? jk :)

That's too bad. But your other solutions would be fine too.

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Trala_la_la•

Can you disconnect it from the wall so it's an actual table and not a peninsula/bar with chairs?

6
0x800OP•

We could - the original kitchen comes without the island. We were playing with a round table separating kitchen & living room, but for some reason abandoned the idea. Do you think that'd work?

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Trala_la_la•

I'd go with a normal rectangular table but put it in the spot the island is. Either that or a disconnected island.

Are you planning on living here awhile? If so go for the design you want. If you think you'll sell in five years disconnect the island.

1
velvetfreak•

IMO, no way. I hate sitting at stool/bar level at the best of times, nevermind when you have people over and are trying to sit and talk. I just ripped out something exactly like this so I could get a dining table.

Small dining table any day. Way more practical and comfortable.

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galacticprincess•

It looks like you really don't have a choice. It's hard to see where a table could go, if you want to have a "living" area. I would make that island top as large as you can, so you can use for both eating and work space. You don't say how many are in your family, but it's not going to work to have chairs/stools on the inside of the table where the kitchen work area is.

4
0x800OP•

True, I can’t really see a good place where a table could be. Luckily, it’s only 2 of us for now, so we don’t need much, but it would be nice if we could sit at least 4.

Do you think cabinets under the ‘table’ would be in the way? The alternative, which I really like, could be something like this, but could take way too much space:

Pretty island

What do you think?

3
galacticprincess•

I don't think it would work to have cabinets underneath the table where you'll be sitting. But if you make that island as long as possible, you could probably fit cabinets under the part of it near the wall. Like the picture shows, but more.

You should be able to fit 4 people then - 3 on one side and one on the end.

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sgijc•

I think this idea with the extended peninsula (pretty island) with space underneath is ideal. I never liked eating at islands bc of the knees issues and friends of mine who put up stools never actually eat on the stools. I don't think it will look cramped to extend the peninsula to the fridge line, esp if the space underneath is kept open.

The only drawback will be the temptation to clutter up the counter when it's nice to have a designated "eating area".

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Trala_la_la•

I've seen extra wide islands with cabinets in them but recessed so there is a foot of space on either side so everyone can sit under the table but you still have cabinets you can get to to store that not as often used serving dishes, etc.

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oberstofsunshine•

Can you make the island longer?

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0x800OP•

We were thinking about extending it to be almost (or maybe completely?) in line with the fridge (check Pic 3), but I'm worried it might feel too closed off/weird.

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oberstofsunshine•

It doesn't seem closed off to me at all. Still plenty of room to walk around. I wouldn't even be against extending it further.

0
RaguGirl•

I will say a friend of mind did this recently in her home. They are a family of five and they all hate it. If they want to eat together they don’t like to because they aren’t facing one another so they end up eating on the couch in front of the tv. It looks nice though.

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0x800OP•

Exactly the reason why I'm hesitant about it! When we're alone we're always eating on the couch, so no problem there, however, when people are over it's kind of nice to sit at a proper table.

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garena_elderenthusiast, aestheticist, spam-guard•

I think it would look better to just have the counter and then have a wooden dining table pressed against it.

1
sealsarescary•

Not a great idea, kids and old people/less mobile won't be able to eat there.

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FloorPlanBot•

I turn floor plans into 3D models → How did i do?

^^Built ^^with ^^3d.io ^^— ^^Creator ^^— ^^Questions

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