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Need more help with breakfast room layout

11 years ago

I am looking to replace my 42'' round breakfast table, with a new table that can seat 4-6 people. The room is long and narrow (9' x 19'). It'd be natural to have a rectangular table, but I haven't ruled out a slightly larger round table.

Above are sketches of the two possible layout. Which one do you think will work better? What changes would you make to make the seating & dining more comfortable? Should I go with a smaller, shorter, or narrower table?

I considered using benches instead of chairs. However, many people suggest that benches are not that comfortable, and my husband doesn't want to mix bench (on one side) with chairs. So I think bench is no longer an option.

At the moment, I like this chair and this trestle table:

{{!gwi}}

Thank you for reading. I posted this on another forum, and didn't get much response. I hope members here could help me finalize the layout. Thanks again!

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Sun, Mar 10, 13 at 22:27

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Comments (6)

pschul05
11 years ago
Have you considered a circular table with an adjustable/removable insert that would make it an oval? That way, you could keep it a circle most of the time, but would still have the option of expansion when necessary.
ILoveCookie
Original Author
11 years ago
My current 42'' table has an insert that would make it an oval.

It feels a bit tight when I sit along the wall (i.e. at the long side of the oval). I think that's probably because 42'' is too deep for the space, when it's a elongated shape.

Also, when I don't add the insert (just 42'' round), it feels a bit small for 4 people (but not too small).
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andee_gw
11 years ago
Many people dislike/love round tables. Do you really like them? How do you feel about rectangular tables? From your drawings, it seems either would work if 6 is always your maximum for seating. The trestle table is gorgeous.
ILoveCookie
Original Author
11 years ago
I really like round tables, and have 3 round tables.

My outdoor dining set is a 5' round with 6 chairs. The coffee table in my sunroom is a 4' round. The breakfast table I am going to replace is also a round.

Since I already have so many round tables, I feel like it might be a nice change to get a rectangular table. (The trestle table I posted is a bit expensive though..)

Besides, my formal dining room (which is currently empty) has a square shape (about 14' x 14'), which seems to lend itself well to a 6' round table.. Of course a 7' x 3.5' rectangular table would work just as well in this room, but I am a little afraid that I might end up with a round table in every room.

On the other hand, if a round truly works better in my space than a rectangle, I think I'd just go for it.

Even though I am pretty sure 6 will be the max, I cannot help but keep thinking that the rectangular might be a little more flexible. Say I happen to have 8 people (very very unlikely but not impossible), I could add two temporary chairs to the two ends..

This post was edited by ILoveCookie on Mon, Mar 11, 13 at 11:51
chispa
11 years ago
I don't think 6 of those chairs will fit properly around a 42" round table. I have a 60" round with similar sized chairs and that size is the minimum for 6 chairs. It doesn't look right if you can't push the chairs most of the way under the table.
ILoveCookie
Original Author
11 years ago
chispa, that's a really good point. I didn't think of the difficulty of pushing 6 chairs under a 48'' round table.

A 60'' round will probably be too large for my space, so I guess I will have to go with a rectangular one..

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