Rae- last year we remodeled our kitchen and the breakfast nook is a very small area. The counter height table (fairly small rectangle shape) made sense for the size area and kept a nice consistent look with the matching height of the counters. We have two counter height chairs with backs and we put cushions on the seats that match the curtains. This added comfort to the hard surface of the chairs. We find these chairs just as comfortable as the standard table height chairs. We are very happy that we chose a counter height table!

I have a counter height and kind of wish I didn't. I love the table, but due to its height it is a much bigger "presence" in the room. I also find I don't sit there much -- I guess it's just not as comfortable as I thought it would be. I've actually thought of cutting the legs down to regular height and replacing my chairs. DH, on the other hand, really likes the table... so, matter of opinion I suppose.

P.S... I've had this for about 2 years or so.

My first thought that I personally hate them was offset when I read your reason for considering one. It does make sense. I'm 5'2" and really don't like climbing up onto the chairs, but the guy next to me last time just strolled up and relaxed onto it (well over a foot taller). In spite of their fitness for the many tall people around these days, though, they're downright unfriendly to elderly, infirm, and short folks, which makes me wonder if they won't end up being just a passing fad. A lot people have a variety of family and friends they need to accommodate.

Here's ours...reason...we have a big dog!

I don't love it..nor do I hate it...I've had both heights and don't really have a preference. The benefit for us is the height to put food up higher than the dog's sight line (:-0) and to be able to interchange bar stools. We can pull stools from the table to the island and vice versa as needed.

Counter height stools are not difficult to get onto at all...regular bar height stools are and I always feel like a little kid in one...but counterheight is at a very convenient height. We have a couple of overweight friends and they actually prefer the higher stool since getting up and down from a chair height is uncomfortable for them.

I really value my table, at it's height of 30". I use it a lot for food prep, especially when I'm baking. The counters are just too high for some activities.

I'm 5'7" and I don't like climbing onto bar stools - counter height or higher. I do have counter height stools at the peninsula, but family rarely use them, seeming to prefer the table.

Thanks,

It is really good to hear varying opinions. slc2053, your table and chairs are VERY similar to the ones we have our eyes on.

It's just the two of us for 95% of the time. Kids have moved away from home, and most of our entertaining is done during the summer months and is outside on our patio furniture. Though... with my new kitchen, and once the rest of house becomes a 'deconstruction zone', I can forsee that that may change, I MAY learn to enjoy cooking and we might change our habits. :>)

We've only been in our new kitchen for a couple of weeks, but already everyone (both kids are home for Christmas) has been congregating around the peninsula, and that means two of us have been standing through meals, even though the table is just a few feet away! :>) DH loves his early morning breakfast there, and he's only 5'6" (same as me) and the counter height bar stool is obviously not a problem for him. My short DD is concerned, but the chairs do have a rung on them (and she is only home for 2-3 weeks a year).

Rosie, I hear you about the variety of people needing accommodation, but unfortunately there is only my Mom left, and she is such an infrequent visitor (she lives far away), that it is truly not a factor (and she has bar stools in her new kitchen too! :>)

I was actually surprised at how many counter height tables there were at the furniture stores ( we hit seven or eight yesterday), anyhow, thought I'd take a page out of Francy's book and do a mock-up of the counter height. I thought I was brilliant and was going to set the table up on plywood on top of the wooden frame we used to support cabinets we installed, until my more brilliant DS suggested putting it on top of the table instead! Then, I just used a piece of drywall I had floating around (oh, the advantages of renovations!)

Here's a pic of the mock-up. Darn, knew we should have positioned chandelier off-centre- oh well, can't have it perfect, I suppose!

{{!gwi}}

Hearing your responses got me thinking, I better make sure chandelier clears new table height. I first had 'table' a couple of inches higher, and Wow, what an impact on space that extra couple of inches makes!

Here's our tabletop at the end of our island. It rests on a little granite ledge or riser placed on the island near the end so it's actually a little higher than counter height, but our counter stools are great with it height-wise.

I have a small eat-in area in my kitchen and I am looking for a smallish counter-height table. I love that when people are sitting in the kitchen visiting, they are closer to my eye level while I'm cooking. Also, you need a little less leg room than with a 30" table, so you can fit more people around a smaller table. I also like that in a small space, having a uniform horizontal surface seems to make the room more spacious.

We have a counter height breakfast table for the same reason you are thinking of one -- the counterheight stools at the island can come over to the table and vice versa! We found what we like at Room and Board in Chicago. They sell table bases in a variety of styles and heights and table tops in a variety of materials and shapes. We chose a 36 inch diameter butcherblock top on a small metal base. It matches the butcherblock insets in our soapstone.

Butcherblock insets in soapstone?????

Sorry to change the subject, but I know lots of folks would love to see that (there have prior discussions of them, but no photos). Could you post a picture in a different thread??

:-)

Francy

I'm going to echo Momj47 here. I'm just over 5'7, and I really dislike the counter height sets for comfort. I think they look cute in many kitchens, but I wouldn't buy one myself. My son and new daughter-in-law just bought a set from Sears for their apartment. I told them that they will probably wish for a standard dining set in about a year, but of course, it's their choice. Older people usually hate them, so that would be a consideration for me too.

Red

I like mine. I do wonder if I'll love it forever though. This height makes it easier for the cook to carry one a conversation with the non cook. Here is a picture.

Here is a link that might be useful:

I *think I will love mine forever. It was custom made and is solid maple stained and glazed to match my perimeter cabinets. We've had it ~6 months and are really happy with it so far, it's very comfortable for us. I also like that it's the same height as the island, so all the chairs are interchangeable.

{{!gwi}}

I don't like the high kitchen tables. I find that while I'm cooking everyone sits on the counter height bar stools around the island to chat, but they prefer to move to the standard height kitchen table to have a meal. If you don't have an island with stools it may be more comfortable to have a high table to make conversation with the cook easier. But a standard table is usually more comfortable, especially for the elderly.

I had the same worries about height also, and had a very similar thread going (long off the page now). My solution was to get a height adjustable table with stools that have a hydraulic lift. The legs are metal, but will fit just fine into my very modern kitchen.
I can't seem to find a pic the model I got, but it's similar to this, but with a T-shape instead of an X:
{{!gwi}}

At the rate my property and school taxes are increasing, I'll be lucky to still be living here when I'm elderly and worrying about the height of my tabletop/seating!

Right now the only time I b**ch about the seating height, is when I drop something while seated and can't just reach down to pick it up!

Ha Ha CatMom!

Never thought of that! :>)

WEll, DH and DS just took apart my old antique (made in 1867), so have already told DS he will inherit it when he's finished Military College and has a permanent residence. For now, it will get moved to my craft room, and IF we decide we can't stand the new counter height table and chairs, he can inherit them (he's over 6', so I'm sure he can accommodate the increased height), and we'll take back the old oak one (though that won't solve our space issue).

I was kinda thinking that sojay's solution is the absolute best, but design wise those options wouldn't really go well in my craftsman styled home, and $wise I'm guessing it would cost a fair amount- I've already got a tender tummy from this purchase- OH if I'd only known that the reno cost wasn't just the reno cost, but the cost of all the new stuff I wanna put in my new space!!!

So, we're off to pick up the new dining set- will post pics later- had to special order two more chairs, so we'll have to live with the ugly freebie bar stools for a couple more months!

New table set up-

Now, can hardly wait for new chairs to arrive!

Nice thing about this set; solid maple and Made in Canada, is that I can order all kinds of coordinating pieces, am already thinking about Mission style bookcases with inset doors and leaded glass for the LR!

Rae

Who makes your table? Ours (as you stated above is similar to yours_and is pictured earlier in your post) is from Canada as well...Company is Canadel...

Nice! The stools look like they'll go well with you cabs/granite, too!

slc2053 (It feels like I'm talking in a sci fi movie :>),

Our manufacturer is Woodworks. website is www.woodworks.ca

I just went on to their website, and was surprised to find out it is actually a local company- I live in the Fraser Valley.

There is just no substitute for feeling and seeing wood in person. The attention to detail on each piece is quite impressive. Even the underside of the table is stained. Many of the pieces we looked at elsewhere were not. They wanted us to wait to pick up until today so that they could touch up any marks on the furniture and felt all the legs- little details that make a difference!

Here is a link that might be useful: Woodworks website

raehelen--do you know if they make cherry tables? It listed oak or maple, but I know sometimes sites don't list all options. How are their prices?

Cat-mom, I will try and find out for you. Stores will be closed now (6:00pm on Sunday). I am guessing that they won't.

I think their prices are very competitive for the quality of work. Of course, Asian imports are about 1/3 of the price. Each dealer will be different- I don't think you could buy directly from them_ I couldn't even find a yellow pages listing for Woodworks. The table and 4 chairs were listed as reg price $3500 CAD (which would be ~ the same for you), The Oak Market (local store that sold them) had them priced at $2700, and then had a Boxing Day special of $1999 for the floor model. The chairs are reg $389 (at The Oak Market), so they may have a manufacturer's list price of more. I think that is perhaps a little less than the Canadel price which is another very popular Made in Canada line.

These are pieces that I can envision being handed down for generations. Extremely well-made in solid Maple, chairs look like they are hand-made, edges are bevelled, hardware like the locks under the table are of high quality... and the chairs/chair backs are very comfortable.

Even though they may not be available in cherry, they are available in a variety of different stains...

Thanks raehelen. Even though I need to start planning the bathrooms, we also need LR and DR furniture, so I'm looking around to see what's out there in case I have more $ at my disposal than expected!

We have a counter-height set and we truly do love it. We don't have an island or a peninsula in our kitchen, and it also provides extra workspace when we need it.

Ours seats 8. We keep 6 chairs around it most days though, but do keep 2 extra in the closet in case we have company.

It truly is the gathering spot of our home. When we had a regular table it wasn't like that so much.

I have the same table as snookums, but with different chair backs. It's very large, and we keep the leaf out most of the time, so it's (I think) 48" square. I like the heft of the table, but in our case I still think it is visually heavy in the room. Of course, it is in the nook in front of a bay of windows, so perhaps that is why I feel that way.

I'm planning counter height seating, too, but I am still stuck on what my kids (2 and 4) will use for seats. At a regular table, they use Stokke seats, which are really perfect. The seats are adjustable, but unfortunately can't be adjusted all the way up to work for counter height.

Francy, what sort of seat does your 3 year use?

OK,

My 'Baby' is 21 years old, so perhaps I shouldn't comment, but aren't High Chairs the original counter height chair? I would guess that in a children's furniture store you would have lots of choices...

I was looking for wooden chairs with no tray - the kind with adjustable seat/footrest that scoots right up to the table. Unfortunately they generally are only for regular tables. I've found only one exception (see link) but was hoping to find something better looking.

Here is a link that might be useful: child chair

Ikea sells a variety of child chairs - I'm not sure if any of them are adjustable though. (like high chairs but with no tray) I used to have a nice one from Ikea that cost me a whopping $30 and got years of use.

Al's Woodcraft also sells them unfinished, so many other unfinished furniture stores may also sell them too.

my mom's house has a large counter high table (seats 6) and it's invaluable. She doesn't have an island in her small kitchen so a lot of food prep happens on the table and during buffet's the food sits there and it is at a comfortable height. She uses two chairs with backs so those are comfortable for sitting which her and my dad use daily, and 4 bar stools (which I don't find comfortable at all)but since I don't live there i don't mind. I'd definitely want a stool with a back. When we're over there we eat most of our meals there, despite the dining room just a few feet away. it's also great for any kind of crafting or activities or cards.

From a designers standpoint, it makes everyone at eye level w who is prepping in the kitchen and doesn’t segregate anyone - everyone in the area feels like they are part of the action.

I am short and a senior and I think the chairs are much easier to get in and out of because they are higher and it is hard on my knees for the lower standard height chairs (and I am not overweight)... so it eliminates the difficulty of getting in and out of the chairs.