Have you considered removing the cabinets that were added?

Yes! Although I'm torn on it. I'm not sure what would be more inconvenient - very few cabinets or hauling chairs (or a potential eyesore of chairs out).

I was thinking I'd try it out with them in and then decide. They also are really nice cabinets and counter tops so I'm more hesitant than if they needed to be replaced.

I'm wondering if I could take out the lowers or repurpose them so that they are just a counter with leg room underneath. Or I could take out the lowers all together and put a longer surface in for a table. Thanks for the idea!

In your shoes I would definitely go for one of these options, rather than using the living room as a makeshift eating place. Having few cabinets has its advantages: it forces you to consider what you use and don't use and to get rid of all superfluous stuff. We've just been though this process ourselves, having recently moved from a suburban ranch-style to a 100-year-old urban semi-detached with a small kitchen.

We eat breakfast at a tea table placed in front of a sofa. We often eat dinner on a tray while watching tv in the den, but it's awkward. A tea table that's about 24" high works well.

Growing up, we had a "lake home" so small that there was no spot for a permanent table. We had one that folded down from the wall (had book shelves behind it that we stored all our dishes/napkins/utinsels on.) It kind of looked like a big fold down ironing board. For a while we just lined up the 4 small chairs under the folded up table like a bench. When Dad decided we needed more floor space between meals, he put pegs in the walls and hung the chairs up by their backs, one over another. That's how the settlers did it when they lived in cramped 2 room log cabins.

What about a coffee tablet that raises up when needed? They're expensive, but not always that expensive now.

Forgot to say that I absolutely don't think you'd be comfortable eating at a small rolling island. I'd nix that one, for sure. If you had room for one of the so-called breakfast bar islands, now, but it doesn't sound like you do.

What's on the kitchen wall that is shared with the living room? Can you remove any uppers and open that top half of the wall and add an eating counter to the living room side? Is that possible with your layout and budget?

You wouldn't have the expense of removing a wall and the concern over load bearing or not. Just a 'cut out' in the upper half to add the pass-through to living room and counter area. Something like this?

lavender_lass - That is a good option and one I was considering. However, how it is set up the wall is actually a couple inches from the counters - none touch that connecting wall (due to a heat vent being right there - how I guessed there weren't cabinets there before). From the counters, it is about 1 foot to the entry way so that whole part of the kitchen is probably 2-2.5 feet. I am not sure that would be enough room for 4.

Thanks everyone for the great comments! Taking it all into consideration. This is definitely a challenge so far!!

have you got wall space to hang folding chairs when not in use? I rather like the look, but haven't got the wall space. I believe Ikea still has a table with drop leaves and a narrow space in the center that holds four folding chairs, so folded up it only takes a foot of space by whatever the width of the table, yet can seat four.

I carved a dining 'room' space out of my living room on either side of the doorway into the kitchen. On one side an old pie safe with my dishes in it and on the other a small table with removable leaves for company. I could seat 8 for a sit down dinner with the leaves, but usually it's just me. The table without leaves is about 20 inches by 4 feet.

Find chairs that either fold away or serve multiple functions...desk chair or living room seating.

To tell the truth, I often have dinner in front of the tv in my club chair.

would a tea cart like this work? mine is probably large enogh for 4 people when unfolded.http://homesteadfurnitureonline.com/images/occasionals/3020-small-tea-cart.jpg

We also eat in our family room chairs, but I guess that is not so good a thing to teach the kiddos, huh? There are probably the lift-up coffee tables available at times at thrift or second-hand stores. I almost got one a few years back. Here is a source for the mechanism if you want to make one yourself. It would give two people sitting on your couch an eating surface, which would be good in your sized home for the odd get-together if not for every day. http://woodworker.com/coffee-table-top-lift-mechanism-l-r-mssu-164-228.asp?gclid=CjwKEAjw6_q5BRCOp-Hj-IfHwncSJABMtDaiwuFq_E-O8Tt2tvGtgIm0ue8hjOppr8QYC2w6gA73wBoCptPw_wcB

Or here are a bunch on eBay. The other thing to keep in mind is that this item would also give the kids a place to do homework or anybody a place to pay bills, right in the center of action, not tucked away in a corner of a bedroom or basement.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281621336698?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

Another thing you could be on the watch for is the console dining set. I saw one from the 1930s that had beautiful wood work. Many look like hall tables or buffets, but the insides are hiding the dining table leafs. Sometimes folding chairs fit into the space that looks like it is a buffet storage area. Sometimes that area is full of 6 or 8 feet of real wood dining table. In that case, you end up scattering dining chairs around the house. One in each bedroom, one next to the front door, one in the kitchen.... wherever you can fit one! No, it is not convenient for daily dining. "Okay kids, go wash your hands for dinner and get your chairs!"

Another option is to make your couch area in the living room into very comfortable buffet seating, so that it does double duty as couch and dining room seating. Where is the table? I don't know the layout, so I can't tell you where to hide it! One option is a ottoman that "grows" to table height and then the top turns over and is a hard laminated surface instead of a plush top. It is a bit tricky, as you have to have the ottoman make room for feet and legs, but I bet there is one out there or that one could be designed. The table top almost has to be 12 inches bigger than the ottoman top on at least two sides to make that extra leg room, though. I guess you hide the chairs for the other side of the table in the bedrooms in this case, too.

I have tried using a portable island for dining, and if there is not adequate leg room, it is no good. I believe 12 inches is minimum and 15 comfortable. We have 14" overhang for our island seating in the kitchen and our knees do not bang on the back at all.

I have used a tea cart pulled up to my family room chair and it is okay for two, inadequate for three, and I cannot see it for four. Only two people will have the fold-up top part to sit at, the others will have no place to put their legs. I have also used a fold-up table that I got from the drugstore. It is about 48" x 18" and it seats 3 for dinner if you fill your plates in the kitchen and carry them to the table.

Check out the Bjursta line of tables at Ikea. Here is a link to the smallest version but they go larger. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70116846/

How about this....

http://www.wayfair.com/Stakmore-Company-Inc.-Mission-5-Piece-Dining-Room-Set-in-Fruitwood-SKM1031.html

Fingerhut catalog had folding dining tables on wheels. They had two styles, one with stools, one with folding chairs. Dimensions in catalog and prices are affordable. Can also be bought on time. The figures are in the book, so you know how it's figured out for your purchase. they have online catalog. Good luck