I can only comment on the counter height DR table . I just don't like it at all. It feels like a pub...for my height...5'2" it is also uncomfortable to climb up and down from the stools. I much prefer a reg table and chairs. They don't have to be formal DR furniture , mine sure isn't, but I do think for best seating for a variety of folks the standard height is the way to go. Of course this is JMHO :)

Congrats on almost being done ! c

I'm with trail on this one. I absolutely hate stools in any fashion, and I'd feel really funny (like you were at a pub is right) sitting at them in a dining room. They "might" and that's a big might to me, be ok in a kitchen, but they're not dining room furniture, never.

Your home looks fairly streamlined to me. I think a gorgeos sweedish table in a blond wood with perhaps glass highlights (like a river running through it) would be wonderful. And chairs :) Real chairs.

Although it's not my first choice, I don't view counter height the same way I would bar stool height (42"). My sister has a counter height table and she uses it all the time...Even when our parents who are in their 70s come to dinner (Mom is 5'). I think it sounds like a good idea to have stools that can work both areas, which is what has me leaning toward the counter height table in this situation.

I don't think it's a big deal that the stools don't swivel unless you're going to try to fit them close together.

I agree with previous posts! I hate counter dining also!
It is too "trendy" and too uncomfortable for shorter guests or those with back problems. I think you need a more classic style stream lined dining table. The above post is nice (if you like comtemp) or just a simple classic style.
I don't know what colors of wood are in the dining area, but you only need to match each other (buffet, server, china,
table, chairs etc. It is OK to match kitchen somewhat but you don't want everything to be monochromatic Boring!
Browse through some furniture stores or google images by entering (dining rooms)! Your kitchen is lovely and I have the swivel stools with leather seats and cherry legs and I LOVE then here is a pic!

I'm slightly confused. You say you opened up the kitchen to the dining room, but it looks like there is a wall there? (behind the card table). So it's 'open' behind, by the sliding glass doors?

Our kitchen is completely open to the DR- and we don't have much room, so we went with a counter height table, to gain the most seating possible in our limited space. Our stools are actually tall chairs- very very comfortable (and outrageously expensive- still can't believe I paid that much!) We have four at the table, and two at the peninsula. We've had lots of company (kids too) and no one has said anything about being uncomfortable- though my Mom hasn't visited yet- we'll see what she says...

I originally wanted swivel stools/chairs, but was told that North American manufacturers don't make them, only Asian imports have them...so quality can be an issue... That, and the real danger of someone swivelling into the edge of your granite/table etc. So, we were convinced to go the non-swivel route. Have to say, don't miss it one bit, and for small kids, probably safer anyways.

But, everyone's life style is different. We're empty nesters who eat at the peninsula (on the stools) or in the LR watching TV. We don't use our DR table regularly - much of our entertaining is done outside (on a normal height table). For us, this was the best compromise- the other option would have been to have folding chairs as extra seating, so personally, I'd rather sit on a higher comfortable 'stool' than on a folding chair.

In your case, since you have that wall between kitchen and DR, I don't think your island stools have to match perfectly with your table chairs. I'd say go looking to see what's available- we ended up having ours custom made, and chose a dark wood to contrast with our relatively lighter floors and cabinets.

Thanks to each of you for the very helpful responses - a very nice cross-section. Very good tip about making sure to match buffet and other items.
raehelen - You are right about being open by the glass doors. Although you can't see it from the angle of the photo, the wall is only 4-1/2' and the opening by the glass doors is 6-1/2'.

I'm not sure what we're going to do yet, but one of the options under discussion is to live with the card table for a year or so until we can afford to buy custom DR table & chairs. We went on a family vacation to Nappanee, IN this summer and there's an Amish furniture company called Borkholder that has simple but beautiful furniture and will make custom for what seemed to us to be very reasonable prices. Before we do that, we absolutely need to be sure what we want. I may try to get some really inexpensive stuff from Craig's List if I can find it both as a stop-gap and to see how it works in our space. Thanks again for helping us along on our path.

I just want to add to above, consider a standard height table. Lots of people have a real problem with counter/pub height stools. (Physical problem not just personal taste.)

eandhl - even the ones that are less like stools and more like chairs that have been raised 4"?

chefkev . . . I can vouch for Borkholders -- beautiful workmanship! We lived at Lake Wawasee, just a few miles from Nappanee, until this spring! You must have been visiting Amish Acres!

We're shopping for dining room and breakfast area tables and chairs and every time I see those counter height tables it makes me think of snacking in a bar waiting for a dinner table. I personally think they'll be very "in" for a while and then very, very "out"! JMHO

Arlene

from my personal experience; counter height or worse, pub height tables are uncomfortable for short people. Fine as alternative/overhang seating but IMHO not preferred for dining.

Here's another opinion. I am only 5'2" and I love a counter height table. A bar height stool is a climb, but counter height is just a matter of sliding my butt on the seat. My mom, who's 78, is 4'11" and has no problem with counter height seating, as long as there is a rung to rest her feet on, which most have.

The idea of having your island stools and DR chairs the same height is very practical if you entertain a lot. People will often pull another stool or chair up at a casual gathering to join a group for appetizers and chatting.

I will concede that most DR counter-height furniture does lack in construction and timeless style. I do think it looks trendier and not like investment pieces. We went with counter height in our lake cottage (where we plan to retire) because it really lends itself to how we live and entertain there. In our house here in suburbia I would not put a counter height set in our more formal dining room.

Just wanted to offer up that, for me, as a shorty, I really find counter height seating very comfortable.

hostagrams - Yup, we were visiting Amish Acres. Thanks for confirming our thoughts about Borkholders and for weighing in about style. remodelfla and amck, thanks for weighing in about comfort and style.

Thanks again to everyone. What we've been able to gather is that if we want a "real" formal dining room, we should definitely go with a regular height table. DW and I are still discussing how formal we want to be. Regarding the comfort issue - I do see that some are not comfortable with the higher chairs. Ironically, my father who has just terrible arthritis and bad knees prefers the counter height chairs because it's hard for him to sit very far down and get back up (he isn't tall, but has long legs). At this point I'm leaning towards a regular height table just so we'll have two different heights available so our guests can choose depending upon where they are more comfortable.

YOu're wise to wait and weigh all your options. It's nice that you're set up can accomodate different options. I had found this company while surfing... I don't know much about them accept that I like the looks of their stuff.

Here is a link that might be useful: dining tables

From what I have seen, it looks like counter height is more for casual "eat-in kitchen" meals, and the dining room is a traditional table. I like counter height. I am really tall (my whole family is) and appreciate the taller chairs, but don't want one as my primary dining table. We plan to use a corner of the sunroom as our informal dining area and will use a counter height table there, partially because the higher chairs will give us a better view of the backyard.

remodelfla - That is a great website! I looked through it and have it bookmarked. ccoombs1 - Thanks for your input!