More photos.. tables.. And thank you!

Are you changing anything else with regards to the kitchen design? I would love to see the fridge to the right of the dishwasher and the stove where the fridge is for better flow.

Either way, I vote for a dining table. Liking the round one best.

I do have a dining room but really don’t use it much except for holidays. My issue with the island is losing the dinner where we actually face each other?

Where is the unused dining room relative to the kitchen? I love the look of dining tables in the kitchen and prefer them over an island if there isn't other dining space. That said, I don't love having the chairs in the kitchen, as I find they're frequently not pushed in and become something over which to trip. It sounds like you have other dining space, so I might go with an island and turn your seldom-used dining space into a daily-use space for family meals.

I’m keeping the permiter cab and layout.. the doorway to the dining room is next to the fridge. I think because the great room is open to the kitchen.. no one wants to be in the dining room. Including me :) If I we’re doing a complete reno and money wasn’t a factor I’d knock out that wall and make one large space. But alas.. money is indeed an issue! I’m leaning towards a counter height table. Chairs not pushed in would be the same issue with an island.. I would think. I’d love to fit both but it’s just too tight. Unless I did some type of banquet seating on that half wall and a very narrow table.

The difference in chairs pushed in is that with an island there's usually only seating on the outside, not in the work aisle, whereas with a table there is seating in the work aisle. Another consideration is that unless you're a very tidy cook, it can be stressful to eat literally surrounded by any mess made while cooking.

I'm a big advocate of using all of your house, not surrendering parts of it for occasional use. What would it take to make your dining room feel cozy and like a place you want to use? Often part of the reason they're not used is decor: they're decorated to feel somewhat formal/stuffy/stark, and so they don't feel as comfortable as the great room, so they don't get used. I think there are likely decorating things you can without removing the wall that would make it a place your family would like to spend daily dinners together.

My personal favorite is when dining rooms are made to look like libraries. It makes them places that get used during the day, but I think it also makes them cozy for meals. But, then, I'm a book lover, so I'm biased. What would be the equivalent for you and your family?

The advantage to this is that you could try it out before doing any remodeling. See if you can get into the habit of using the formal dining room now. Give it a few months try before you make a decision. Then go from there.

I would love to eat in any of these formal dining rooms every day.

Robbs Run Residence · More Info

Rénovation d'un appartement Perret · More Info

Colorful Dining Room · More Info

dining room and built-in shelves · More Info

Crystal cove · More Info

Table in the kitchen.. and if you don't ever use your dining room as a dining room, consider using it for another function.

I would choose an island for sure. The dining table chairs will be all over the place, causing a messy look and you won’t use the table to prep. Can you make the dining room more usable somehow? It’s a shame not to use it.

We had a custom farmhouse table built for our kitchen that had some storage built in. We used upholstered stools rather than chairs, so that they could be pushed under and out of the way. That way we could use the table top for prep and weren't always pushing chairs out of the way or leaning over chair backs.

ETA: We loved having the family style seating when our kids were younger (and still eat most of our meals this way now that our kids are teens). It seems to be out of the norm now, at least for the families of my kids' friends.

Daisy chain- Do you have a photo? I’d love to see the table!

My personal preference is an island, but that's probably because I grew up in a small house with a very large table in the kitchen. We didn't have a separate dining room and the table we had was way too big for the space, so I always felt there was never enough room, especially with the large chairs we had. I also hated eating in the messy kitchen (my mom was a very messy cook). I have a small island now with the kitchen table in the eat-in area next to it and while I'd love more separation, there isn't enough space. Our dining room first started as the kids' playroom, now it's a homework/study area. I never prep at my kitchen table.

I would not do the diamond shaped island though as you'll probably need at least 2 seams for whatever countertop you go with.

For me personally, I just think a giant island is overkill. I like islands AND I like kitchen tables and think they really can coexist merrily. In any case, I just think the oversized island is not desirable. Awkward cleaning and serving with it. A scaled down version is fine.

Table, without a doubt. And not counter height. Kitchen tables are where the living happens.

I'm amused by the notion on the behalf of some folks that a kitchen table isn't or can't be a work surface. That's part of the point of it being the kitchen table, rather than the dining room table.

I’d use the knee wall as the booth area, slim table and chairs.. do small island only 3 feet long or so measuring from near stove as prep... my kids would LOVE a banquet... AND you can see family room/tv and the rest of your company, you wouldn’t feel so far away from everyone in there

I meant use booth type seat against the knee wall, or bench with cushions, the rest would be chairs

I grew up in a kitchen with a table, my sister has one, and we cook very well in both. Sure, from time to time, somebody forgets to pull the chair back, but this is a no problem short of particular situations. I agree with the fact I dislike eating at the island, and as beesneeds says, a kitchen table can be used as a work surface and has been for generation.

So, it you have enough storage, I would do a table.

How do you prep on a dining table?- isn’t it too low? Would you not have to reach over the backs of chairs? I’m just not understanding the practicality of that suggestion at all. Seems like a “romantic” notion at best. Maybe it’s just me.

I take my cutting board, and my veggies and a knife, pull out a chair and chop away. I usually bring along a bowl or a paper bag for the peels, end pieces or whatnot that will go into the compost.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Seems team table and team island are tied. I am leaning towards table but agree with Steph on prep. I don’t see myself sitting. Ugh. Ideally I want both. Maybe I really need to play around with the drawings and find a way.. I just know that what I have now isn’t working and I’ve lived with shimmy’ing between the island and table for two many years. The current island is also oddly placed. It’s on a diagonal so I’m facing the great room..

After much thought, for me, I have decided to have both. I am not willing to give up a table but I do like the island as well. With that, the island I will have no seating, but still provide workspace , storage, and serving space, It;s funny because I prefer to prep standing up, while DH , who does most of the prep, prefers to sit at the table. To each his own and it really can all go together.

I think your current layout, as far as the island at least in that view, looks like it works ---for me.

That photo makes the kitchen look workable. It’s a flattering angle. The person who sits against that half wall has to be a contortionist to squeeze in and if someone is sitting with their back to the island.. you can’t walk past. It just doesn’t work. If I made the island parallel with the back perimeter cabs and longer.. maybe it’ll open up space for a table. Back to the drawing board!

Personally, I would go with the island and start making use of the dining room for dinners and the island for casual eating. I do not have an island in our current home, and I miss the convenience and storage they provide. It's nice too when cooking or prepping for parties that the island provides a place for family members/friends to gather around and hang out. If you absolutely do not want to start using the dining room, stick with the kitchen table. You'll lose prep/storage space but looks like you have adequate counter space on the perimeter. Sounds like intimate family dinners are important to you and island seating just won't provide that...not to mention, not as comfortable.

Rectangle island for sure!

I prefer tables over islands if you don't need cabinets, sink, etc., and I think the round table option is my favorite. I also like the suggestion of incorporating built-in seating against the kneewall combined with chairs on the other side of a table.

I have a small table in my kitchen, and it has 4 stools around it. Stools feel more space-efficient and slide under the table when not in use. My table is counter height and DH prefers to prep there over our counters (which are spacious - go figure, he just likes prepping on the table). While some may prep sitting down, I find that the height of a chair relative to a work surface is ok for dining but not for cutting or other prep actions (i.e., the table is too high relative to a chair). I like prepping on a surface about hip to waist height.

I know this idea is frowned upon here, but it might work in this situation...instead of having the banquette on the pony wall you could have it against the island.

If you want an island for prep, have you considered a portable island/cart? Boos makes super gorgeous ones and Ikea makes quite adequate ones. The Boos ones are seriously handsome.

I like the pony wall seating with table idea with an island if it would fit, flow nicely and look good. That way you would have the storage and prep space (which I never have enough of) along with a family dinner area.

I like the pony wall seating idea too. I’m going to attempt to draw up a few ideas. Not sure if I have the room or not.. maybe a rectangle island that’s not quite as deep as originally planned and no seating. Just for prep. And then the table. I could even extend the bench out on each side for extra seating. I have something in my head.. just have to find my inner artist! If anyone has those skills.. that would be great!!

Working at a kitchen table, I sit or stand depending on what I’m doing. sitting down to cut an onion isn’t functionally different than sitting down to cut into my dinner. Kneading bread or pressing out cookies, mixing things in large or deep bowls, or rolling out pasta is easier on the table because it’s a little lower and I get better leverage. Tabletop cooking is fun, I like to use my raclette grill and hot pots for fondues and soups. Sometimes it’s handy to be able to stand over an appliance, like a top load juicer or when grinding meat. It’s also great for using as a work surface for a lot of non-food related stuff too.

Do you use an office desk, or a craft or sewing table to work at? Those are usually about the same height as a kitchen table. You are able to work while seated while at those, right?

I like counters and islands and all, but I love my kitchen table. I’m biased. It’s the one I grew up with, lots of good memories and decades of cooking on that table. And unlike a built in island, Ive been able to take the table with me through the years. Always the heart of the kitchen, no matter which kitchen it is.

I’m still swirling around fitting in both the island and table using this knee wall.. thinking something like this.. but smaller. thoughts?

I like the second picture very much.

I do too! Now I have to decide if it’ll fit with a rectangle island.. just not as deep. Remove the row of seats and use it for prep. Like I do now.

Can you consult with a kitchen designer? Or maybe you have. I feel like there’s potential for a good solution. From the drawings, it doesn’t appear large enough to do the banquette with a table AND an island. I feel for you! Don’t rush the process would be my advice.

I also like the 2nd picture. If round doesn't fit, maybe a narrower oval? And no seating at island.