We bought our set when they first came out (6 years ago?) I have a love/hate with it. Our guests LOVE it, but it's hard for me because I have a knee problem and can't bend my knee enough to rest my feet on the rungs. So I just use a step stool beneath my chair.

I do see them a lot at garage sales, but that may just be because I notice them. We have no intention of trading ours out. My set has a butterfly leaf, so it can open out to a large square to seat 8; normally I have it closed up so it seats 6. I purchased 2 backless stools that stash away easily to use as the other 2 seats.

When they first came out I really wanted one but we couldn't afford the one that I wanted. I mentioned the set to a few friends & one of them immediately went out and bought it. Her sisters later told me that when they had dinner there it was fine for eating, but really uncomfortable for lingering (everyone wants after-dinner coffee somewhere more comfy). Maybe they were just trying to make me feel better. I think the set that we did get (not counter height) is more practical.

I think they are very trendy, and would be hard for children to get up and down from. My DH and I have sat at two when visiting others and we thought they were quite uncomfortable. Have you ever tried to eat dinner at a bar? That's what it's like.

Having said the above, to each his own. I am sure there are those that love them. ;)

We have the world's tiniest dining room-- I would actually call it a breakfast room--and the only thing that has ever worked out is a counter-height table with Asian-style stools. We love it for the following reason: (1) it's awesome for hanging out (it's just so easy to just pull up a stool); (2) we can see the view out our window now and (3) it's really easy to vacuum under. What we don't like is that our guests don't feel comfortable--but I think that is a stool factor, not a table factor.

When I ate at a counter height dining table I found it to be very uncomfortable. I couldn't get my legs in a good spot and my posture was off.

Jennifer

Depending upon your age, they may be easier to get in and out of. Arthritic knees don't have to bend to stand up. My MIL likes riding in my van because of this reason. It would scare me with little kids in boosters, etc.

Interesting thread. I have been noticing them a lot when browsing at furniture and honestly just don't get it. I figured I was just old. It seems rather trendy to me. Sometimes I do enjoy a trend as it gives a very updated and fresh infusion, but I don't think I care for this one. I think the experiences shared here of those who found it less than linger-friendly speaks volumes. And that analogy of eating at a bar kind of clinched it for me.
Attractive visually, but not to my butt:)

They're not quite as high as a bar stool but I could see how perhaps not being able to put your feet on the ground would make the chairs uncomfortable for sitting at for longer periods of time.

I sit at our kitchen table now quite a bit, as it's my favorite place to spread out the newspaper every morning.

Interesting comments, if anyone has any pictures of their sets, I'd love to see them.

I could not believe it when DS/DIL bought one. I just thought it was so impractical. It did look nice in their home,though. Very modern, up-to-date. But they have sold it recently because it doesn't work well with a high chair for baby.

I personally despise counter-height and bar-height chairs... they seem to be the trend nowadays and when we went shopping it seemed like every table I liked was too tall, and I refused to buy them. I find it really hard to scoot the chair in toward the table because I can't sit and put my feet on the floor at the same time. When we go to a restaurant, I try to avoid sitting at tables like this if I can. Maybe it's just me, LOL.

Like sashasmommy, I can't get the chair or stool close enough to the table, because my feet can't touch the floor. So I don't like the counter height tables at all. They might work if the chairs had casters on them, though.

OMG, If only this thread had popped up 2 weeks ago! My new counter height set was delivered 2 weeks ago. I thought it was time to have a grown-up set. While it looks better than the old but doesn't have the comfort and functionality as my other set (which I sold on Craigslist). I wanted something for 6 people; my old set seated 4.

As far as feet touching the floor, I'm short and always have that problem. I'll take a picture and report back. Just two of us have use it and only twice so I'm still trying to put my finger on the issues.

We have one and we love it. Bought it just a year ago. Great for meals, and perfect height for other tasks besides eating. I can setup my laptop and have coffee, etc. This set has gotten more use in the past year than our old set was used in 20 plus years. Of course, I am way past needing to accommodate a high chair!

Different strokes, I guess.

I wouldn't want one, though I can see they might work great for other tasks. Think I might watch CL for one as a cutting table for my sewing projects.
When I first saw them I thought "those are for the YUPpies since they'd be great at group get togethers. I wouldn't want one for dining. I'll have to ask our daughter how she liked hers. She just sold it, so my guess is she didn't.

We have the Basque pub table from Crate and Barrel and the matching (tall) chairs. Works great for us but we're all tall and we like the looks. Also works great when we entertain (which we do several times/year) as a good height for placing appetizers etc., for people who are standing.

I thought my mom wouldn't like it as she's much shorter than me (she's 5'4", I'm 5'11") but she likes it fine when she's over.

I can see how the chair scootching would be tough for some people. We kind of slide in and out rather than push way back when we get up.

This is our every day table for just 4 of us; our DR table is a bit taller than our old "regular" kitchen table but not as tall as the pub table.

We have had a counter height set for 5 years now. It is in our only dining area. It's a 54 inch square table, and we can seat 8 at it, but it's more comfortable with 6. We actually rarely use the table, because it's just me and my husband most of the time, and we sit at our counter - on the same counter height chairs that go with the table.

I bought the set when we moved into our new home, in which we also have the taller "comfort height" toilets (which are so much easier on the knees), and kitchen height bathroom counters (don't have to bend over so much to brush teeth). My daughter, who is the shortest in the family complained that everything in the house is for tall people. Five years later she is looking at buying her first dining table and only wants counter height. She thinks that it is much more comfortble to sit at. And at the same time I was thinking about going back to a lower table, mostly because I found some standard height chairs that I love. Fortunatley, I didn't spend much for my current set, so I can afford to change it out if I want.

Here's our dining room:

I think if you're considering a counter height dining set it might be worthwhile to check CL. A lot of people seem to be selling their counter height sets on my CL, lots of them on there.

I'm one of those who don't find them comfortable for lingering. I'm not exceptionally short, 5'-6", and I can certainly sit at one but I wouldn't want to own a set.