The table looks really pretty in the store but up close looking at it is a different story. It is a floor model obviously, but the wood seems softer. I'm afraid of regular family use it wouldn't look so hot really soon. I wish they would get in some better quality wood table surfaces. I am looking for kitchen area as well and Pottery Barn has the right size but I am held back by the quality I see and the reviews.

Ohh, I love Maine Cottage, but I can't bring myself to spend $500 per chair for this room. Or even $350, which seems to be the cheapest one they have. The more I am looking and thinking about chairs, the more I think I want something like a Parsons chair or at least something other than a straight wood chair. These chairs might be pulled over to watch TV, etc... and I want them to be comfortable. On the other hand, they will also be used when sitting for art projects, so they need to be practical for that purpose. Those bright orange chairs that lukk posted might be just right. They look like they could be hosed right off! rose, I have a Home Goods about 20 minutes away but it's rare to find 4 of the same chairs there. I might check, anyway. If nothing else, I'm sure I'll be able to find a couple of turquoise or orange accessories for the room!

Here's what I did. In the spring when JoAnn Fabric's was having a sale I bought a metal window box on legs. It's free standing. In the box part I put rolled towels and hand cloths.On the bottom I cut a piece of thin wood and painted it to match the legs. The bottom has metal bars which help keep the legs from bending so with a little work I was able to cut the wood a little larger than the support system thus making a shelf on the bottom. On that shelf I put a couple of baskets with bath supplies in it. I'm even thinking of taking the wood out and replacing it with glass BUT it's so low on my to do list it will be summer before I get that far. IF all you want is the table space think of using a piece of wood with some decorative supports. Add some moulding around the edges and you are good to go.

One problem with making this decision is that your needs change as your family grows - both in number and in years. For example my sister in law put an island in her new kitchen instead of a table when her kids were small. The twins were constantly falling off the tall stools,and she really liked the idea of gathering around a table for family dinner so she ripped out the island, and bought a table. That was several years ago. Now she is missing the workspace (and her prep sink, which went away with the island) and, regrettably, there are fewer opportunities for family dinners with older kids rushing off to sports and other evening activities. We are fortunate enough to have room for a peninsula with seating as well as a table. But it does seem somewhat redundant. Especially as we also have a dining room with table (which I'm certain will never get used except holidays.) However, we are a family of 6, so we could never fit entirely around a peninsula or island. I do think kitchen tables are underutilized especially when entertaining - everyone crowds in the kitchen and some perch themselves on a peninsula barstool, but who goes and sits at the kitchen table? I think it's because it is so low compared to the rest of the counters. A friend of mine bought a counter-height kitchen table and tall chairs to try and include the table area more in the overall kitchen scheme. I thought about that but I found a traditional round kitchen table that I really love so I am going with that.