I think it is a great idea...but of course we all have those and then we start adding up the bills. I would have them give a really good estimate of the cost since you say there is nothing there to draw on for plumbing. If you decide to do this it also sounds like a dish washer drawer would be good and an undercounter fridge. See I can very cheerfully spend your money LOL. But seriously it sounds like you really would get a lot of use. Caroline

I love the idea of a dishwasher drawer, frankly I like it more than an extra sink, but that's just because we seem to always be doing dishes and it sounds nice to have the breakfast dishes just right there next to the table. In and out! I think that plumbing is going to make it costly, but if that's not a problem it does sound like a pretty good idea.

I just reread your initial description....how is it a breakfast/wet bar if there is no plumbing ? I'm confused. You need a faucet to fill the coffee pot and make tea...I'd have the espresso machine and an electric tea pot , the undercounter fridge and the dishdrawer. That way you can do all the breakfast/snack things there. I hope this helps. c

Can't remember your kitchen plan...Could it make sense to move the island prep sink toward that end to be used for both areas?

Having a sink one can reach from the table is convenient. I grew up with exactly what you're talking about. But I don't know how much it'll do for you on the pictured layout. It's no closer to the family room than the kitchen, and the kitchen sinks aren't very far from the breakfast area.

Is the "breakfast/wet bar" against a wall? That's what it looks like. One thing it will do is keep the partiers out of the kitchen, which might be worth it. It doesn't look like there's anywhere else good to put a wet bar. If it's between the breakfast room and another living area that's not pictured, definitely do it!! Otherwise, I'd say it's a toss-up.

If the cost of the plumbing is a consideration I don't think you'll really miss it. A good ice bucket and a galvanized tub can make a great bar for entertaining without plumbing. If you can afford the cabinet space you'd be giving up, and the plumbing doesn't cost too much it could be convenient. But people would still have to negotiate the table and chairs to get to it.

The one I grew up with has a large opening with a passthrough bar counter above it into the den, so it really works as a bar. If it's between a table and a wall it's a lot less so.

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses. We need to decide if we want that space to be just storage, which it is now, or whether we want to add a sink and/or undercounter fridge and/or DW drawer. The breakfast/wet bar (if that's what we make it) is on a wall that backs up to a hall closet. Right now we keep extra drinks in our garage, and our friends are used to going to get their own drinks (except for the occasions when we bring drinks in and put them somewhere in the kitchen or breakfast room). We are just the family that hosts most occasions for our close circle of friends -from the Jewish holidays to watching the Superbowl -and I am trying to design something that works for our family and also for our entertaining needs.

Trailrunner, if we make it a wet bar, we would put in plumbing. If not, we would just have storage and maybe an undercounter refrigerator.

Rhome, We put the prep sink on the other end of the island so that we could have a long expanse for the buffets we usually do. I guess the prep sink could move, but I don't know if that makes sense for the rest of our kitchen design. (Figuring out where to put the prep sink has been a big challenge in designing the kitchen.)

Pillog, it's a great point about having to negotiate the table and chairs. We have them there now, and when we put food out on the counter on the wall, people go get the food that's there. But people would certainly go there more often if drinks and a sink were there, so I need to consider traffic flow. Right now we have a galvanized tub and nice ice bucket, and we use them frequently. They work fine, but I was thinking a breakfast/wet bar would be nice.

So, I think the bottom line is that I need to draw up two options -- one that is a breakfast/wet bar and one that is just storage - price them both, and then decide. Thanks for your help!

I think it's a great idea if the costs don't go too high. Just curious: if you did end up with the breakfast bar (and DW drawer, etc.) would you keep a second set of dishes there, or bring them over from the kitchen? Anyone else with this setup--what do you do? Holly