Great looking home! I would continue using white cabinetry that matches or coordinates well with what is in the kitchen. Same counter tops as well. I would definitely do the dining buffet/bar. Not knowing the ages of the children, their use and need of space will eventually age out. As teenagers they will be in their room for quiet and privacy to do their work. I would focus on keeping your main living areas coordinated and the main use for eating and entertaining. Best wishes!

Ikea has a large number of units you could design for this space to perform multiple functions. Most come in white. I wouldn't build anything in. Too restrictive. I could see a wall unit with pull down desk surfaces so multi-purpose activities could be done in this space and when the kids get to get 12-13, they will want to be away from parents! So, then you can find a more adult use of this space.

A nice long dining table pushed to the wall would serve the same purpose and you could do shelving, but kids couldn't use those shelves. Storage units on casters to be pulled out and used for extra surfaces or storing "stuff" would be functional and could look nice. Then in a few years, pull the table out and use it for dining. Or if it is seeing better days you could paint it or even put it on patio. Main thing for kids is getting the "height" of the writing surface proper for their age or chairs that can be raised up until they get bigger.

I was just thinking of doing a 24" top surface, hubby can make and getting hairpin legs for it and to start with the shorter ones for the kids. Leave ends for some cabinet units where you can stow things behind some doors and use the "wall attaching" devices to ensure the kids don't pull them over on themselves. The big box stores actually have countertop surfaces you could use and they have a variety of "laminate" top surfaces. Just depends on how much money you want to spend. You can do a kid's custom design so that it fits the things your kids like to do. Check out "closet" organizing looks. They have lots of good ideas for things like you want to do. It can be temporary, but also fit into your style. I saw one recently. I'll see if I can find it again and post it for you.

You will have to measure the width in your space to see if you really want a table surface that wide - don't forget that the chairs will stick out even further. Personally, I wouldn't do it. You already have a dining table right next to it. As for the bench or chairs, neither one is good for your young children. Wasn't the whole point of that area to give them a surface to use? I think you need to stick with adjustable height, comfortable chairs so they can actually use the space.

Have you considered a live edge wood table? You could get slabs the width you want and all hubby would have to do is put legs on it. Could be simple hairpin legs for now and perhaps a more substantial base later with perhaps an additional board?

Live Edge Wood & Iron Dining Table · More Info

Somerset X-Back Metal Chair With Rustic Walnut Seat, Antique Turquoise · More Info

This one is less expensive but wider. However, if you hunt around you can find one. The one you posted seems to rustic for your more modern/rustic look?

You can find the "live edge" slabs on line, or at specialty wood shops in your area. Shipping is the only challenge with on line things. But if you get the slabs, you can make the table more narrow which would suit your needs I believe. You might even find a single slab that would serve almost like a buffet later. I think it is a flexible solution. I'll see what I can find for you. And these slabs could always be "recycled" later for other purposes. Maybe a desk surface in a den for example.

Here is one website: thelumbershack.com they seem to have a wide variety of slabs in various wood species, and sizes. Take a look on there. There are many others as well. Make sure you can see both sides of the slabs too, so both sides are cut. Let me know if you find something interesting. The black walnut is gorgeous.

Yes, I think that last one you posted is too rustic. You have a chic rustic vibe going on and I think that is a bit too cabin rustic if you know what I mean.

Put an elevator in there. PVE Elevators can be installed anywhere in your home in 1-3 days. They simply rest on your ground floor and are powered by Air.

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators - Boca Raton Home · More Info

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators - Boca Raton Home · More Info

Learn More: www.VacuumElevators.com

LOL I guess the idea is that your daughter could do her homework while she's riding up and down in the elevator.

LOVE elevators! haven't tried the pheumatic ones though. As the population ages, more and more people want them in new homes. Prices keep coming down so you can plan one into a new build home for around 15-20K which for a new home is not bad. The kids LOVE them. Great for moving holiday deco boxes up and down, and storage items. Wonderful!

I would definitely paint that table. If you use a "chalk Paint" there is very little prep necessary. That is the going price for a chair slip cover. They are a lot of work to construct. If you don't like the chairs, paint the table and start looking for just new chairs that you like. Chairs are the expensive part of dining sets anyway. Are the chairs in relatively good shape? If you have a auto paint shop near you that you trust, try taking a chair to them and see if they could spray paint them glossy black to go with the new white table! Not sure what they would charge, but they have all the proper equipment and can do glossy really well! I would ask. They may have done tables too.

Slipcovers would be even worse with young kids than the microfiber seat. Have the seats recovered with something durable for the kids, and then replace the whole thing after they are older. Reupholstering a flat seat like that is relatively easy and inexpensive.

I thought you said your husband wanted to keep it and you just wanted to change the chairs. Unless you can change the whole thing, I would just recover the chairs, especially since you can do it yourself. Use a black or gray wipeable fabric. If you want something new, get a casual distressed finish in solid wood or with changeable chair pads so it can be used by your kids without worrying about it. And again, even if you want a farmhouse look, no one likes sitting on a bench seat.

Nix the bench. Terrible for people to sit on and once on it, it is never in the right position, so floors get scraped up. Picnic tables outside fine but not in house. OK, can you remove the seats of the chairs and recover them with a nice leather look? That is simple to do. Turn the chairs over (maybe you have already done this so forgive me) you should see some holes and deep in the holes will be screws. Those screws are holding the seat in place. Remove the screws and seat will come off. Then it is simple to recover. Need a sample gun (electric) some fabric and watch a youtube video and do it yourself. You can pick any fabric that is washable you want. Some of the new Sunbrella fabrics are really nice too and they wash. Slip covers for these chairs I don't think will work, to say nothing of the cost.

I have a feeling new chairs are in your future! lol You won't be happy until that happens I'm afraid.

that would be cool. You can get those chairs too if you like them.

Set of 2, Greta White Modern Dining Chair · More Info

Good job. I think that is getting close to the look you were after.

Very attractive, and functional too.