10 Reasons to Bring Back the Humble Kitchen Table
40 years ago, every new kitchen had a table in it. The kitchen table is where kids did homework and families sat for midweek meals. Times changed, how people live changed and somewhere along the line, the table evolved into the nearly ubiquitous kitchen island.
Kitchen islands provide additional storage space and they're a great way to position work zones close to where they're needed without crowding adjoining work zones. But at what cost? The easily-dismissed kitchen table has a role to play too. Whether fueled by nostalgia or by more families eating in during the week, kitchen tables offer a place to sit and socialize in ways no island can. I've been specifying kitchen tables wherever I can for the last few years and I'm hardly the only designer out there driving this kitchen table revival.
The design world offers very few blanket solutions for space planning. For some people an island fits how they live; for others, a table might work better. For still others, a cross between the two might be the best solution of all. However a space gets planned, that kitchen tables are being considered again reflects a broader trend of looking at homes as sanctuaries instead of showplaces.
Kitchen islands provide additional storage space and they're a great way to position work zones close to where they're needed without crowding adjoining work zones. But at what cost? The easily-dismissed kitchen table has a role to play too. Whether fueled by nostalgia or by more families eating in during the week, kitchen tables offer a place to sit and socialize in ways no island can. I've been specifying kitchen tables wherever I can for the last few years and I'm hardly the only designer out there driving this kitchen table revival.
The design world offers very few blanket solutions for space planning. For some people an island fits how they live; for others, a table might work better. For still others, a cross between the two might be the best solution of all. However a space gets planned, that kitchen tables are being considered again reflects a broader trend of looking at homes as sanctuaries instead of showplaces.
Even though kitchen tables have a traditional sense to them, that needn't dictate the style of the room where they end up. This modern kitchen gets a grounded and eclectic flourish from this exuberant combination of table and chairs.
This kitchen utilizes the utility of an island with a table close enough to indicate "this is where we eat." Placing a table this close to the kitchen keeps anybody sitting at that table part of the action going on in the kitchen.
This table's just begging to have bread or cookies made on it. Its proximity to the range and sink make it an automatic prep surface, yet with a quick clear and wipe it's ready for dinner.
Here's another kitchen with a table close enough to an island that I'd still call it a kitchen table. Having a low surface accessible from all sides is invaluable when it comes to doing things like cookie baking or puzzle making.
Here's a table-island hybrid. No two rooms and no two families are alike, and an island that morphs into a pub table may be just the thing for a household with older teens. Tables encourage face-to-face interaction instead of side-by-side interaction. That's a subtle but important distinction.
Here's another table that's close enough to the kitchen to function as a kitchen table. Its rough wood and Hans Wegner chairs are a soft counterpoint to the hard surfaces in the kitchen.
Between the upholstered bench on the back wall and the table in the center of the room, this is a kitchen that asks people to linger and socialize. Whether for card games or pizza parties, this is a table that's getting nearly constant use.
This final table is made from the same material as the cabinetry in the kitchen. The heavy oak top plays against the oak floors and helps this table do true double duty as an island. A table in a position like this lends itself to better conversations and easier meal preparation by multiple cooks. It sums up the expression "heart of the home" perfectly.