Kitchen: Table
" Kitchen Dining Whether their space is large or small, most clients request an eat-in area in their new kitchen. Usually, this will be secondary to their formal dining room — just someplace to sit for a bite to eat. This, too, is a request that will depend on square footage. Double dining. For those clients lucky enough to have an island, many still request additional kitchen table seating, even if they have a formal dining room. Why? Islands are great for quick bites, but not so great for longer informal meals. And formal dining rooms — well, they’re just so darn formal! One client mentioned that she likes to look directly at her kids during conversations, which is less likely when sitting side by side at an island. One option is to have both an eat-in nook with a table and a countertop bar, as shown here."
"Enjoying a tête-à-tête. Whether you’re just starting out, raising a family or enjoying your empty nest, it’s nice to have a sweet and intimate spot for the two of you. You can be sipping coffee while the other person makes eggs and bacon. Or the two of you might sit down here for a peaceful meal and a glass of wine after tucking in the kids. "
"Cozying up. If you’re working with a smaller space, a window seat or a built-in nook like this one can accommodate a group without compromising comfort. Throw in plush pillows and an extra pot or two of coffee and your little pancake breakfast may very well transition into a late lunch because folks will never want to leave."
"Storytelling. Even as we create new traditions and make fresh memories, the swapping and retelling of old stories makes us feel at home. We affirm and call out one another’s memories as we share family lore and epic tales of friendship. We listen, make eye contact, sip coffee for hours and share our imperfect selves with our imperfect people. Storytelling enriches our lives. Sitting down every evening to eat and to digest our histories as we live them is a priority for my family. I may have spent the entire day with my 3-year-old son, but having supper with him and listening to his animated recounting of the day from his perspective gives me joy. This may stress out my perfectionist friends, but I kind of delight in the imperfections that emerge on a kitchen table over time. The patina that develops on a zinc table like this one is the reflection of a life well lived. A wooden table with water rings from cups or dents from overly enthusiastic game players will become a uniquely beautiful tapestry. Every darkened spot will be a small mark of a family’s history."
"Homework crunching. A large island can replace a kitchen table and provide loads of elbow room for after-school snacks and long division. It becomes a multipurpose hive of activity as the late afternoon transitions into evening and young scholars need to refuel with dinner. The counter height is ideal for parents who are encouraging their kids, finishing up their own workday and prepping dinner all at one spot. The storage space beneath this island is perfect for stashing books when it’s time to help set the table for supper."
"Kids being kids. Like me, you might have experienced the havoc toddlers can wreak on a kitchen table. It’s a fine line between the joy of art projects involving crayons, Play-Doh and glitter (why?) and the demise of my sanity. I hear it only gets wilder as they grow up. My mom tells horror stories of a kitchen table full of teenagers playing a game of extreme spoons. Enter the farm table. Its charm and character lie in the fact that it appears to have been raised in a barn. If roughhousing, messy meals, spills and science projects happen on your tabletop, a farm table or other table made of a durable hardwood like mahogany, walnut, maple, oak or teak may be the perfect solution for masking your collateral damage as casual chic."
Top an antique with marble for pastry and ...
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