Family meals are always at our dining room/kitchen table. Breakfast lunch and dinner when it's just me and the kids is often at the island for convenience.

Many of our homes include some type of table for everyday meals in addition to a snack bar. Usually it's in the form of a smaller, more informal dining area in the breakfast nook that overlooks the back yard.

I just wanted to bring this up, because I know a lot of young modern families that are too busy to even eat as a family during the week! That's why an eating bar can be convenient if family members are coming home at different times throughout the evening. This way you don't have to mess up a huge table. But at the same time I think it is very important to have a set dinner time during the week, where family members can re-connect and talk about their day.

The bar setup is fine...if you're tall. All the "petites" need no explanation.

We recently remolded our kitchen and changed the layout a little bit. Our contractor wanted to eliminate our kitchen table and give us a large island instead. I really couldn't come to peace with the idea of having no table in the kitchen and just a large fixed island. If we did sit down and eat as a family, we would have to eat mostly side by side or go into the dining room and mess up the "big table" as someone mentioned previously. I opted to go for a smaller island and keep a rectangular 4 person kitchen table as well. The table still works for a casual eating area and an additional prep space if needed.

Dinner at a kitchen table but breakfast/lunch/snacks are good for island seating especially if you're in a hurry!

More people are saying table, but let me tell you...we remodeled our kitchen 15 months ago and added a huge island with seating around. After that I could not get my family back to the table that was a mere four feet or so away. Guests would come over and make me move the table sittings to the island! I finally sold our kitchen table and brought in another chair.

Kitchen table, since it is inviting, my breakfast bat counter is way too high anyway.

we eat in the dining room for breakfast and dinner. i'm no purist but the dining room is sunny in the morning, and there is room to spread out newspapers.

i eat at my island counter for lunch because the kitchen is the sunny spot then.

i dont have a table in the kitchen at all.

If you live in a condo eating bars or islands are a great way to utilize space. They are multifunctional because you can use them as a kitchen counter as well. Eating bars or islands are a great way to eliminate the kitchen table and save yourself precious space in your condo.

Hate the bar in my kitchen! Just collects junk!

I love my kitchen table. When we were married 41 years ago and didn't have a dime to our name my husband built this table. Sitting at his table in the morning with my coffee and watching the sun come up over the water is the best way to start my day. In the evening over dinner we watch the fishing boats come home. Also the occasional submarine as we live not to far from Bangor sub base in Washington state.

We even use a tablecloth or placemats & real napkins at the table. Took awhile to break him of the paper towel habit, rolls last a long time now

Breakfast and lunch can be at the bar but I find dinner should be at the table. This way people are facing each other and it encourages a conversation.

jalarse that table is beautiful. Thank-you for sharing. I also love your view, I would love to have my morning coffee at that table.

We are remodelling a small one bedroom apartment that had one person Horshoe kitchen. We are transferring the entire kitchen into the dinning area to make it usable. There are only two of us in the unit so we decided that we liked our buffet hutch more than having a dinning table. We will be eating on the island when renovations are complete. The kitchen used to be where new laundry room is.

I prefer my dinner served on a tray in bed. Growing up, my mother always served the kids at the bar. As an adult, I like to sit on a comfortable chair with my feet touching the floor.

Zarko Cumpf thank-you for sharing your kitchen floor plan. It's going to look great when it's done.

We just use the table for holiday dinners.

I eliminated the kitchen table in my remodel. At this time in our lives it is totally appropriate for us. It gives us so much more room and flexibility. We have a formal dinning room for when we entertain or have the kids and grandkids.

Definitely an eating bar.

It really depends on the size of your place and how much space you want to give up! You can put in an eating bar and eliminate your table to give yourself more room. Or maybe you have a very large kitchen and it looks nice to have both. In the picture below our clients had enough space for a table and a eating bar.

I won't design a home without a dinning room away from TVs. In my own home I tried a new concept... having only a formal dinning room directly off the kitchen (no nook or bar) and for 2 years has been great.

That is another great idea Brian Shelton. There are so many options when it comes to designing a kitchen or a dining room.

Either is fine! In one house I ate at a high breakfast bar most of the time, dining table when entertaining. Another at a low island. Currently, at bistro table in kitchen and dining table when entertaining.

Thank you for sharing photos beverlynn. I also eat breakfast and lunch at the eating bar, then move over to the table for dinner. I like the eating bar for quick meals.

I have a kitchen island, a dining room table and a small two person table to enjoy coffee on the conservatory. Again its how you want to live that counts. But in my house to have a table in the kitchen would be duplicative.

Yes I agree bellburgmaggie it depends on what option fits into your life style. Again I think it comes down to how much space you have in your home.

I owned a house about 10 years ago that had a kitchen island shaped like a "T". The leg of the T had seating on either side, facing inward. There were 2 counter height stools on each side so that they faced all faced each other just like at a rectangular kitchen table. I had the same thoughts about not eating at a kitchen table with my 2 young kids, but this was actually the best of both worlds. Also, since it was counter height and not raised to bar height, it was even better for the kids! We loved it. And our larger dining room table was used for bigger groups or special occasions :) It was a great plan for us!

That is another great option Lisa! There are so many options for places to sit down and eat!

Dinner is always at the dining room table. Breakfast, coffee & lunch is usually at the breakfast bar.

IMHO it all depends upon the stage of life you are in. We raised our children eating around the dining table and engaged in family conversations. There was no TV in our home. It kept us close as a family and intimately acquainted with our children's thinking process. We had many opportunities to hone their critical thinking skills. We imparted our values and moral standards.

Now that they have their own families they are following our example. But my husband and I now dine and converse at the kitchen island counter. It works for us.

I'm petite & especially dislike having my feet hanging off of a stool or balancing on it's rungs. A chair with a chair pad & rug underneath is much more comfortable to me.

If you live alone or have a partner that is on a different work schedule then you, it's nice to have the eating bar option. This way you don't have to sit at huge table by yourself.

A bar with seating on all sides, or at least on the ends

I only wish I had made my center island bigger. It seats 10 comfortably. Every party we have ever had, despite our efforts to have people in the living room and dining room, everyone ends up in the kitchen. Our dining room has turned in to a showcase, used for Christmas, that's pretty much it and I think the kids would rather be in the kitchen.

I prefer a table. It depends on the space though. A bar can be handy if the kitchen isn't an eat-in kitchen and there's a dining room.

If I'm sitting down with friends and family to eat, I want to see them.

I'm currently single (my significant other has his own place) so I eat meals alone sometimes. A bar would be handy in that case. I just dine on my lap in my favorite easy chair if I'm alone. My place doesn't have a bar to eat at. We do use my dining room when he and friends come over.

When I was growing up my family had a dining room. However, it was only used for special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I wish we would of used it more because it was a really nice space.

I have a galley kitchen with a small table and chairs in the corner. I'm short, and it lets me sit down comfortably. When I have more than three people around, we move to the dining room.

It's always nice to have a dining room if you can. Then you are able to entertain comfortably.

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