I love your upgraded version. was going to suggest the same type of island.

glad you're moving the stove, that was going to be my other suggestion.

In 20 years I think we've used our dining table (in the dining room) 10 times. it's a ridiculous waste of space. we always eat at the island. always.

another option would be push everything towards the window, to an L and have the sink underneath the window. you could still do the island. but if you think you need a large dining table like that, then your plan looks good.

So, to be clear, you recommend having an uninterrupted island? You say you eat at your island, are you sitting side by side? is it awkward? Are you looking at a TV, or do you have some kind of nice view? To be clear, we are looking to build a new home, so this is NOT a renovation. This is a TOTALLY clean slate for a brand-new kitchen, so, I don't need these floor plans modified, just looking for feedback on what it’s like to eat a meal sitting side by side at an island.

I don't care for diner/counter like seating (all in a row) and even now on my island that was set up this way (3 seats in a row), I swing my chair 90 degrees on the end of the over hang so that I can see my husband and son when we eat at the island (which is almost always - we only use the dining table when we have people over and sometimes even then we just crowd in at the island). Next time I will make seating on at least two sides of the island (even if it is just one chair). My current island has nothing on it and I like it that way -- probably because I use it more like a table than a counter. I wouldn't put a sink or cook top in my table, so I like not having either in my island?

Rmsaustin - do you have an overhang on the end also? Or just swing around to the corner?

is it just you two?? what do you want to do, sit side by side or across? the only thing I've found sitting side by side, is make sure you have enough elbow room. other than that, it's a personal choice that only you can decide. If you like to sit and talk, then maybe you'd prefer face to face.

you could modify the end of the island so you have this

You'd still have what you have in the picture, but you could do the overhang at the end like this, which would give you the option to sit like what's shown in this picture. If you don't, you would have to put a chair there. it just gives you the option.

With the table right THERE, and tall right angle seating being uncomfortable, and even more uncomfortable as you age, just plan to eat meals at the table. The island is for perching during prep.

Beth H, those two pics are more like an upgraded version of what we have and I love how it looks. And it seems to function better than all in a row seating seems like it would be.

Beth H and yes, it’s just us two 99.99% of the time

I don't have an overhang on the end - I swing around the corner, but would definitely design an overhang into at least two sides of my next island. I would also increase the overhang to at least 15 inches -- right now I have about 13 1/2 inches and really would like a little more space -- I've been in my house for 7 years now, love my kitchen, love the layout, etc. If I were going to stay long term I'd consider changing the island to incorporate seating on two sides, however, we, too, are looking to downsize in the next year or two (hopefully sending our youngest off to college in the Fall...if there is college in the Fall).

So, anyone have feedback on a curved island? I’d like to NOT have a separate dining table. I know the room is there, but 99.99% of the time it’s just us two, so it’s seems superfluous. I’d rather a small nook. If I can get away with a functional island and a nook table, I’d like that. BUT I don’t want to regret it in 18 months. If I should have a proper dining table and a fun island to perch at, that’s ok too.

We recently did a kitchen reno at our house and changed the penninsula countertop from straight to a curve -- just so we can all see each other, for all the reasons you describe! I'm not sure how well that strategy would work on a long Island, because the curve would have to be so shallow to fit the length, but it worked out great for our penninsula. We used to eat 100% of our meals in the dining room (because there was no other option), but now eat mostly at our new penninsula. I'll try to attach a photo of it.

I should note that I have young kids, so am in a different situation than you are. My parents recently downsized, and their new home has a kitchen open to the dining room (similar to your floor plan), and they only eat at the dining room table. 1. Because those chairs are way more comfortable, and 2. Because they like to see each other, which is impossible to do at their straight island seating. (Only their grandchildren sit at the island.)

rmsaustin I hear you!!! Our current little island has stools with a small overhang which is fine fir a quick breakfast, but that’s it! We looked at renovating to meet our needs and the return sit there. I’m excited about building for the next chapter! Good luck to you and fingers crossed for the fall!!

Pittsburrito yes! I love your island and congrats on making your space for your family! I would def need to look at the size/angle/curve/size situation to see if it would work. I can envision a scenario where I can’t reach the center to wipe it clean! 😳😂👎

Oh pittSburrito - is your parents island bar height or counter height?

Table height is what is needed to sit and eat. Not counter height. With that support post right there, you really can’t have a table attached to the island. And the wasted space that you’re paying to build, and eternally heat and cool? The house doesn’t fit your brief to downsize. Or to just eat in the kitchen.

Your house plan needs to be smaller and better designed.

My parents' island is counter-height. Before our reno, ours was bar-height, which was completely useless. Definitely aim for counter-height or table height, instead.

Perhaps you could modify your island to include table/seating, like these?

https://www.houzz.com/photos/hacin-newton-tudor-contemporary-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~49448912

https://www.houzz.com/photos/virginia-beach-two-tone-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-phvw-vp~152583

https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-white-kitchen-in-ny-traditional-kitchen-new-york-phvw-vp~17548500

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/panoramic-view-of-this-large-kitchen-with-stainless-steel-traditional-kitchen-newark-phvw-vp~1877018

https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-woodshop-of-avon-traditional-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~369949

Of course, if you did that, you may not need the dining room that is right next to it in your floor plans (which is live_wire_oak's point).

Hi Suzanne I haven't read any of the comments and I will give you my opinion from a personal standpoint not a design one. My husband and I recently built a downsized home leaving our large family home behind. We converted our formal dining room space into an office as , like you, the space was just never used. That said we made sure we had a kitchen eating area that could house a table that sat 8. Sometimes I wish we had gone larger on our table. I had one custom Made to fit the space and didn't do one with extensions. This coming Thanksgiving will be a bit tight but we will make it work. We also have a large island. We use the island a lot. Currently with Covid as my husband has taken over the office space my work surface has spilled onto the island. However I would never forgo that dining table area. We do still eat there. If friends come over we play cards there. If the kids come for dinner we eat there. It is used several times a week still. We also eat at the island. We use both. However our favorite spot is our screened in porch area which is right off the dining area. We have another table that seats 6 there and weather permitting we eat our meals out there. Our island has a sink. Makes for easy clean up. If I could have I would have had my sink under a window with a bank of windows and left my island free from sink or cook top. That isnt a complaint just something if given the choice I would have done. Our new floorpan is very close to the second one you've shown. It is perfect for us.

Design Interior South, thanks very much for your comments. Very helpful. Your outdoor table, do you live somewhere warm?

Suzanne we are in NC.

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When my children were young, I had a small work-table in the kitchen and we ate every meal at the round DR table in the next room. After the kids left home we replaced the small work-table with a larger work-table-island (34" tall), with seating on the long side. I expected that the bench we use on the long side would just be for someone to sit while I work in the kitchen, or maybe just for grandkids having a snack. My adult DD, SIL, and grandkids now live with me, and the island is their preferred eating spot. I added a swing-out seat to each short side of the island, to seat a total of 5 (two kids and one adult on the bench--my DD sitting between the boys, to keep them separated ;). Another adult DD is staying here since the lockdown, so someone has to pull up a stool to the work side of the island--the stool is too high, and not so comfortable with no overhang, but it won't last forever.

The height of the island is a nice compromise--a good work height for me and OK for seating with the bench (custom made by my BIL). If you don't have a DW on the island, you might consider the lower height. As far as gazing into each other's eyes, I have lovely memories of traveling in a car with my late husband, and sitting beside him on the porch swing. Even at the table we didn't sit across from each other--I somehow always ended up to his right. I think seating at 90 degrees would be fine.

I always sit across. It makes conversation easier and generally provides more room for dishes and utensils. I hate sitting next to the person with whom I am talking. Stiff necks follow these types of conversations. When hubby and I fly coach, we usually sit across aisles so it's easier to talk rather than elbow to elbow.

Dh and I are old enough to find island seating uncomfortable but young enough to have twin sons still at home. I would have skipped island seats altogether but my married daughters talked me into two/three island seats for the grandkids.

our dining table is next to our island and we always use the table (unless we are using TV trays, lol).

I don’t know how old you are but planning for raised seating as you age may not be the best way to go.

DH and I built a downsize house last year. Large great room with dining area and an island in the kitchen with two seats. The island seats 2, in the picture the chairs are next to each other, but in real life one is on the end. We like to sit around the corner from each other.

When are college age sons are home for dinner we eat in the dining area, if it’s just dh and I we often just eat at the island.