I think the counter height tables do look nice but I think they do look more modern or pub like but I also think they would be hard for young children or older people to sit on. I myself prefer to have my feet on the ground when I eat but that is just MHO.

I'm only 5' tall,so take my opinion with a short grain of salt.

I hate counter height. The stools are never comfortable, and sitting at them makes me remember my college pub crawing days.

Then you add kids...my son can fall off a 1/4 inch floor transition board....he's dived off our couch (12" maybe off the floor" I just live to offer him a high stool on a regular basis.

We had that type of set up here in the kitchen. I cut the offer and included that as a negative to the $50,000 less offer...I HATE the things.

ANd that's my wishey washey opinion!

I too have to say I dislike counter height. I like to have my feet on the floor. We also did not do an island partially due to lack of space, but also because I grew up on stools and did not want that again. It's fine for the occasional time, but on a day to day basis feet on the floor for me.

I too would worry about my kids -- altho they are grown now, I was always a nervous nelly when they sat on the stools at grandmas.

We had a counter height table before the remodel, and went back to regular height. The counter height was not conducive to leisurely dinners where people sat around for awhile and talked. In order to be comfortable for an hour or more, you need to be able to stretch your legs around and shift position. This is hard when your legs are perched on a stool-type chair.

I agree with the others. We had a counter height table for a while, and it just wasn't comfortable enough. We do eat in the dining room, so didn't have to use it for meals, but the kids did their schoolwork at it, and it was never the best arrangement for any of us. My husband pretty much refused to sit there.

I'd keep looking for a regular height table that really suits your needs. They're out there!

I'll have to chime in with another vote against counter height tables. I just don't find them comfortable and I also worry about my kids sitting on them. The way my 2 1/2 yr old bops around in his chair at the dinner table, I would be a nervous wreck. He almost knocked out a tooth when he fell off his Aunt's counter height barstool and hit the granite counter.

We are looking for an expensive table to get us through the young children yrs (who knew little kids could be so hard on tables!? I have a thousand fork dents in my old table to prove it!). I am seeing a lot of counter height tables in the lower price ranges...Not sure why that is...Or maybe it is just "the thing" right now. I am also seeing a lot of chairs with upholstered seats...Another thing I want to avoid right now... The little ones are just too messy. I am just going to keep looking until I find what I want.

Good luck to you. I hope you find something that meets all your criteria. It's out there!

Thanks for all the replies. My other kids are 5 and 7, so they are still little, and I would especially worry about the 2 1/2 year old. I think maybe the counter heights are the 'in' thing right now, and I can see how maybe it would get old.
I will keep looking! I actually like some furniture at... hate to say it... walmart! They have a line called Canopy Living, that apparently holds up to kids. It looks nice, is reasonable, and if it can hold up to our kids, may be worth it for now (our current kitchen table is pretty much ruined). They also have a chair and couch we may buy.. they all get good reviews too! We really like the Penney's table though, but not sure if want to commit to a 72" table on a daily basis.

What do you think about a regular height square table? (approx 54x54) Have seen a few of those.

Steph, Like the others I vote for table height for you - and the kids. A year ago I bought the counter height table for my single son who just bought a new condo. It is the fashion trend, and looks great in a bachelor's pad. Now we are remodeling our kitchen, but I will not go that route. Get me planted on ground please! Like igloochic I am only 5', even my 6'1" husband does not want a counter height table. He does not mind counter height bar stool at the island or peninsula.
By the way I bought my son's table at Big Lot's of all places. For those of you not in CA, it's like the K-Mart liquidators or the equivalent of 99 cents store. Very solid, and I would have gone shopping for a table height for myself if they carry them today (unfortunately they do not). So keep on shopping beyond Penneys, even on-line.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Heh, regular height has worked for civilization for thousands of years, for some reason in the last few years someone came out with a trend of counter height tables and tall chairs. Not sure why you would want to sit higher, especially if you just have 8' ceiling. Maybe it's ok for a group of NBA players?

I am almost 6' and I do not like sitting at the bar height sitting at the restaurants either.

Well, luckily, all of a sudden last night, my husband said 'I don't think a counter height table will look right in there'. Thank goodness! I was seeing him and I disagreeing for quite a while and no new kitchen table for a long time!

He's not interested in the walmart table, says it's too 'plain'. We are going back to a local furniture store to check out a line that has a 54 x 54 table that seats 6.

I'll have to post back here with pics once the kitchen is mostly done! Thanks again.

Another place you might look for at table is one of those unpainted furniture stores. They seem to have a lot of traditional designs. I'm not sure what the prices are like, but I think they're reasonable. Then you can put any kind of finish on it you like: painted legs with a clear top, all clear, or all stained....

Well, we went to a local store today and ordered a 54" x 54" square table. The top is a lighter wood, and the chairs and legs are a cinnamon brown color. We think it will look nice in front of the new run of counter/cabinets at the window, and it won't interfere with the family room.
Thanks again everyone!