To give you an idea of my style, something like this is pleasing to me-straight lines, but not boring. The color may be a little dark and I'm not sure we have room for a square shape, but I like the chairs. http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=1894fac&DeptID=70752&CatID=70840&SO=0amp;SelDim=4294957900%7e&CatSel=4294953291%7cdining+collections&Ne=4294957900+586+838+580+8+18+904+949+833&x5view=1&shopperType=G&N=4294953291&Nao=0amp;PSO=0amp;CmCatId=70752:70840

If you have any other furniture in the room, it will be tight, If the table and chairs are all you have, 60" will work -- 72" would probably feel cramped. The 60" leaves you 3 feet all around -- that give 2 feet for sitting and a foot leeway -- tight for walking past, but if you position the chairs so none back straight to a wall, it will give a little more clearance. At 72", you would have more room for 8 at the table, but just 30" beyond the table. You need at least 18-24" for chair clearance when sitting and that doesn't leave much walking space -- if that is important. If you have doorways and open walls, on 2 or 3 walls, you might be able to fudge some. As cooks pointed out, the legs for your table make a big difference on sitting space. If the legs come to or near the edge, they will dictate chair placement and may prevent you from really using all that space. A pedestal will allow you to use more or that space -- just make sure it is really sturdy and/or you won't have people hanging, sitting, pushing or such on the edges of the table so that it strains that support. (with 8, I am guessing you have chiildrena dn at least some guys who will be guys - at least until they've broken a few things and finally been taught to be kinder, in the house)

In a casual island set up...you usually fix a plate...get your drink and sit down and eat...at a table you have serving dishes..that are usually lifted even passed from one diner to another...wine glasses ...drinking glasses ...water glasses ...etc...etc...way different dining setting....as to never moving the dining table...in most formal dining rooms whenever a large gathering takes place ...the tables are often moved around...to be used for buffet dining or to add extra seating...etc....and lastly...if you are hearing this sentiment often ...isn’t that the info you were asking for?...most importantly you have given us no view or idea of your living space...in some settings this may work...in most it will be impractical

We have a small sunroom off of our newly renovated kitchen that we want to put a dining table in. It’s 8 ft by 15 ft, with a 5 foot opening on one of the long sides( about two feet from the wall, to 7 ft. Bay window on one short side and windows lining the long wall across from the kitchen opening. Really want a dining table in this space. We are a family of four and will have island seating for four in the kitchen where majority of meals will be. Would like seating for 6 here for hosting. What would you do? Round table? Skinny rectangular table with bench? I need ideas. Thanks!