A good friend of ours has only island seating in her family. They have three boys and entertaining is strained in her home, even her own family around the "table" doesn't fit very well as the boys get older. She seems happy with it, but it's something I would never suggest. In my old house, which had a small but very well laid out kitchen, the open wall had cabinets with a table level counter coming out of it like a T. It wasn't big, but it was big enough for our family of 5 to eat there, the kids sat there for their snacks and it was even really nice for rolling out dough. Maybe something like that could work? Have to laugh at the Olympics mention buehl, I don't usually watch much TV, but I've been glued and seen the very same ad. I've also seen pet food ads with nice kitchens- that bacon strips dog may be pretty uncouth, but he has a stylin' kitchen!

I painted the top of my round pine kitchen table, and it has held up beautifully! Lots of heavy duty use by messy grandchildren and DH and I, and no problems with the paint holding up. That was four years ago, and it still looks as good as the day I did it. I used regular latex satin finish paint, and applied it with a good brush.

Holly-Kay - Thanks I think I am leaning to the black for sure. You can purchase the chairs and table separately, or as a set. I haven't read the reviews for the chairs, but for the table alone they were really good. Island - I have 4 parsons type chairs with slip covers. I think the fabric of the slipcovers will soften the look vs. wood chairs. Plus I already have them so no money out of pocket there. And for when I add the leaf and extend the table I will use this bench for additional seating for 2 (cushion to be added and top will be upholstered).

I did. My husband built the kitchen table about 45 years ago. Table is pine and had held up well. The chairs however were beyond staining. I picked up 4 quarts of latex paint in colors that I liked. Painted them then put transfers on the seats. Guess I’m a little quirky it’s the kitchen and I don’t like matchy matchy. Also my kitchen design falls somewhere between country and crab shack. Go for it, it’s only paint and if you don’t like it just paint them again. Please excuse my pics, some were at night others during the day.