No, my table sits against the bar that separates my kitchen from what was SUPPOSED to be the dining area, but I use it for my computer 'room'. I have enough room to put it in the middle of the kitchen, but it's too awkward to move around.

No table at all in our little one butt kitchen.
It's a very small galley type kitchen.

No, in both houses, the table is against the wall that has the heat (a forced-air register in one house, a radiator in the other).

The kitchen being a room where, if you're using it, you need to be able to get from Point A to Point B to Point C, etc, efficiently, I like to keep the traffic patterns as clear as possible.

Here's the thing about kitchen architects and designers--they're generally men, or have been taught by men. I found, when we were getting ready to redesign our kitchen, the designers we spoke to simply could not come up with the kind of efficiency I wanted in my kitchen. They seemed stuck on employing arbitrary rules that I didn't feel were the right way to go for the kitchen I'd be using. So I designed the space the way I wanted it, we were our own general contractors (and did a lot of the work ourselves), and as a result, we got a fantastic, very useable kitchen. 30 years later, I wouldn't change a thing, and I've gotten a LOT of compliments about how easy it is to work in, over the years.

My point is this--YOU are the one who will be using the kitchen, not the architect. It's up to YOU to make sure that the space suits your needs and comfort level. Maybe putting the table in the middle of the room makes sense in your kitchen. Maybe not. But only you can really make that decision. And do try to decide BEFORE the electrical work is done, because it can make a difference as to where you install ceiling fixtures and wall outlets.

Trust your instincts, though. You'll be the one living with the results for years to come.

My kitchen table is built into the kitchen and sits smack dab in the middle. It is raised, round, and connects to the island, and so when I am doing a project, I have a HUGE island with the table as part of it. We use wood stools for seating, and they slide under the table. Under the island is an electrical outlet and some cupboards with doors on either side. I didn't like it when we bought the house, but now I know I would not have it any other way. In fact, our daughter is remodeling her kitchen and is trying to replicate this one for her family.

I have what is sometimes called a Great Room, but it is not exactly.

When you come in the front door, you can see all the way to the back door which is in the kitchen,

There are partial walls separating the LR from the kitchen. My table is on the kitchen side of where that wall would be. The table is rectangular and seats 6, but we can get 8 squeezed in using two fold up (nice looking) chairs. The table has a leaf which we don't use. It would be too long.

I have pictures somewhere, but not on Photobucket to show you.

I think you should put your table where you want it!

Sue

Between our kitchen peninsula and the slider to the backyard is a small area where we have a 42" round pub height table with four chairs.

In the formal dining room, our table is in the center with a server on one side and a view of our atrium on another.

Jodi-

We have a high bar that separates the kitchen from the eating/dining area and the table sits in the middle of the dining area. There is enough room at the bar for stools to sit and still room for the table. I like it that way. You have access to the kitchen from either side of the table and it in no way obstructs.

Against the wall. When we did a kitchen remodel , I made sure the wall was long enough to accommodate the 1830 farm table and chairs.

Nope our is over to the side, near a wall. I think that it would a bit intrusive to have a table in the center of my kitchen, though there was always one in my Gram's kitchen. We sat around it cleaning veggies and peeling potatoes nearly every day.

Along two walls, I have a kitchen nook now.

Sue

I have a dining table in my formal dining room. I have no table in my actual kitchen, I have a breakfast area off the kitchen and have a small table there that has fold down sections on each side so with those down it is like a bistro 2 seat table, sides up it is a 4 seater. It is an antique from hubby family. Works great for a tight space.

Our kitchen is a largish rectangle. One half of the rectangle is the cooking area, and the table is in the center of the other half, which opens to the deck. The two areas are identified by an island, also in the middle.

We can seat 12 in the kitchen, with the leaves in.

I have an island in the middle of my kitchen and if it didn't have a sink in it, I would hate it. The large sink, trash, and dishwasher are on the opposite side of the island from the stove, so sometimes it seems like I'm always walking circles around the stupid island to get to things. If I'm doing a large meal prep, I set myself up with a garbage container, cutting board, set of bowls, etc. on the stove side of the island which works because of the smaller sink with a disposal in the island.

I think a table between the stove and the sink would be inefficient, but I don't know if that's your proposed layout or not.

don't have one. At all

No kitchen table, just glass top dining room table in dining room.

Thank you all so much for commenting! I will definitely put the table where I want it, but I'm trying to figure out whether I want it against a wall because I've always had it that way or because it truly is the most efficient plan. It seems like tables were often put into the middle of rooms in the old days, but maybe the kitchens were bigger then?

Our architect is a 75-year-old little lady and I like her very much. She's all about efficiency as well and our main problem is FOUR doors into our little kitchen, which have to stay. My dh is set on an island for its counter space and extra storage but I'm afraid this messy family will turn it into a convenient shelf for dropping all kinds of things. Well, since the kids are about grown, I guess I'd only have myself (the main culprit,) and dh to blame. Thanks so much again for posting--I really appreciate your input.

No kitchen table, just a dinning room table. I do have a island with a stool that I can use.

The table we usually eat at is in the family room against the wall. It used to be at the end of the kitchen in a little nook made for that purpose, butI used that space for my computer desk. Hoping I can get a new, smaller desk sometime soon.

Isn't it fun to remodel? I loved when Harry and I did our whole house before we moved here. We used 2x4's to lay out the island and lower cabinets. Bet we moved those things a hundred times!

We have a separate breakfast nook with a round table and four chairs.

My cooktop is in the island in the middle of my kitchen. My round kitchen table is at one end of the kitchen...not really a breakfast nook, but a space for a table.

Our 'breakfast room' is also our lunch and dinner room. It's separate from the kitchen. I don't want to 'perch' at a counter for meals. I like real chairs and normal table height. The area is about 12 X 12 and seats six plus a small buffet.

You might go to the "Kitchen" forum for more ideas.

Mine is in a storage unit.... and I miss it terribly. I wish, I had it back.

Moni... still lusting after a house of her own!

I have a huge old-fashion kitchen with a round table in the center and a 5 light tin chandelier hanging over it
Feels and looks " homey." I like it.
Lois

My kitchen table is smack in the middle of the kitchen, the same as you're considering, and I like it. We have a small (13x14) square kitchen with four doorways - there isn't a lot of room. The table is 38" square.

The table works fine. We have it set up so there's plenty of room on three sides and a little less room on one, but that's the side nearest the cooktop, and I'm usually the only one that uses it.

I chose a counter-height table, because I thought that a regular-height table didn't look right. One thing I really like about having the table in the middle of the room is that it works beautifully as a prep surface, in addition to the regular counters.

Thanks again for the suggestions. In my mind I keep trying to picture this, but forget to increase the dimensions of the room which makes the table location smack int he middle of two doorways.

Joann, did you ever post a picture of your kitchen on the "show me" thread? I'd love to see a picture if you did.

Moni, I hope you find the perfect house very soon and can once again be back to sitting at your beloved kitchen table!

I've haunted the Kitchens forum for years, as this is our third try. I figure most who are finished with their kitchens haven't had enough time with their lay-outs to know quite yet what works and what is maybe not quite right for them. I KNEW you all would have the answers for me!

Mine is right smack in the middle of the kitchen. I was worried about this set up, but having it there allowed for a lot more cabinet space along the walls. I use it a lot to set things on when I am cooking, so it is handy in that way. It also acts as a barrier to keep people out of the work area when I'm cooking. You know how everyone ends up in the kitchen? I sit them at the far side of the table and they are out of my way while I cook.

When I come in the back door I dump stuff on the table so it does tend to be a catch all.

On the other hand, when I am seated at the table I sometimes feel like I am sitting too close to the work area. I sit with my back to the sink and I can see out the window and also out the glass door, so the view is good.

Here it is. My kitchen is not so very big.

As others have said ... visualize your traffic patterns carefully, especially the stove (or microwave) - sink - fridge triangle (if that's relevant for you).

As for my small kitchen: same location that it was last year ... and the year before that ... and five years ago ... and nine years ago when Aunt Phyllis was here - beside the wall: the only place available for it, as I can reach the top of the stove on the left, also beside the wall, and, if the fridge had a door with hinges on the left, I could reach into it, sitting as it does beside the stove, and next the wall coming out to accomodate the door at the top of the stairs.

With a bit of a stretch to the right, over the space just wide enough to accomodate the door into the dining room (what was the dining room - that table, chairs and accoutrements are long gone: Uncle's friends, relatives, etc. took care of that) I can reach a spoon sitting on the counter beside the sink.

If I moved the table to the other wall ... either I couldn't open the door leading to the back door landing and downstairs ... or I couldn't open several doors or pull out a couple of drawers (or more) in the already rather smallish cupboards, in addition to only being able to open the downstair door about 3/4 of the necessary way ... but the rather high window would be over the table, and the hot air register down by one's toes.

Were one to choose that location ... I think that it would operate for about half a day.

ole joyful

Nice kitchen Pam! (I remember your name, from the Better Than Pam thread!) LOL

Thanks. I have to learn more names on the KT. I'm enjoying the conversations here.

When I talk over my kitchen table ...

... it doesn't answer back ...

... as happens at this one.

o j

didtired--thanks for posting the picture of your pretty kitchen! It's very helpful for me in visualizing a table in the middle as my lay-out is quite similar, except that my kitchen in enclosed and it looks like yours is open. I can see me (and family members,) not remembering to push in the chairs. :) As comfortable and friendly as it looks to have a table in the middle, maybe I'd better play it safe and put it back in the corner.

And thanks for your descriptions too, OJ. It sounds like your kitchen might be even smaller than mine!

I have a 50's ranch house,so have a dinette area off the kitchen.We have one of those Nooks with the benches on each side.Before we did that we just had a table and chairs in the middle of the dinette area.
kathi