Thanks everyone!! I googled the chairs, very helpful!! And tried some more painted picnic table googling. I'm just not finding "that one". Although I LOVE the idea of the game boards, and may give that a shot. I can't help but want to do something with flowers, or polka dots :) 4 little boys around, I kind of what a space that's about ME. Hope that doesn't sound selfish. But, everything is about sports, cowboys, and starwars around here. I'd love to be able to create a space that was less masculine. Even my living room/kitchen I try to keep neutral. And no, it's not in the sun. It's under my covered patio out my back door. For that reason, I'm hesitant to use it. As I know it would look better out in a yard, under a tree somewhere. But, we live in a newish cookie cutter house. Only tree is about 5 ft tall :) I just couldn't pass it up when it was given to us. And last summer we tried to sit out there on the wicker love seat and two chairs for dinner. Not too funy with plates balancing on our laps :) Although there won't be a LOT of meals out there, due to the heat and bugs by mid summer. Thanks again!

I have to laugh...I grew up in a family of 8 (6 kids, 2 adults). We had two benches, for the kids and my parents sat in chairs at the ends of the table. We never gave it a second thought. However, our benches were not against walls. When the middle person got up, they just turned on the bench and got out the "back" - no one ever had to get up for the middle person to move! I don't actually remember them being uncomfortable (or comfortable) - they were what we had. When we had friends over, they wanted to sit on the benches as well - more for the novelty, I suspect. My parents did eventually change out the benches for chairs when they got a new kitchen table (we had no DR table at the time), but I was in my mid teens and almost "out the door" (college), so I don't remember that much about the benches vs chairs back then. Fast forward to today - I'm not as limber as I once was, so I don't think I'd like that seating for adults. I do know, however, that I do not like booth seating at restaurants - I always opt for a table if it's an option. For me, it has more to do with how the tables with booths are generally fixed and are usually too high for me and much too close - plus there's usually not enough room for the legs of two people sitting across from each other in a booth. (While I'm 5'10", all my height is in my legs. My body length would need to be at least 3" or 4" longer to be in proportion with my legs!) I think banquettes can be usable - but they need to be designed carefully.

seagrass_gw I hope to be able to fit them in too. It's usually completely empty in the spring and summer, except for rain coats. It's also currently holding the dog's leash. The cord bugs me too. I'm going to create a hook and pull for it, with the pull being stored in one of the closets. But that will be another day. party_music50 There isn't any room for a bench. The hallway is literally only as wide as the front door. I'm planning on putting a runner down and artwork above the doorway to pull your eye up as part of the makeover. You are correct about putting the cabinets where the bench is. That cabinet area space is about 76" long and 26" deep. The actual space right there is squarish, with the doorway on the left going into the kitchen and another door around the corner going into the bathroom.

Hi, and thank you so much!! I already purchased the table--not really bc my heart was set on it or anything, but because my husband wanted a picnic table at the back of the yard & the pine one that the Home Depot sold was the only affordable one. Right now it's sitting at the back of the yard + I'm worried b/c we had a very light rain the day it arrived (just 2 days ago). However, we currently have a heat wave (I'm in San Francisco). I will go and put deck stain on it now so it has some color. After that, I'll buy one of the polyurethane products you suggested + I'll be sure to wait between coats. I do have one question though: It's just sitting on dirt. What can I use to elevate it? I can't really move it anywhere as it is crazy heavy. Should I buy some bricks and place it on that, or is there some easy thing you can think of that I can get at the Home Depot or Lowe's to sit it on? I'll also put a tarp over it for the winter months. Thank you so much!!