.
If you don't need plumbing or electrical in your island, you can have a movable island like this:




Other designs allow for seating, include cabinet doors, whatever you want.

Have your cake and eat it, too!

Are you looking for a work surface, or a rest-your-elbows-on-it-with-a-mug-of-coffee-in-your-hand surface? If the first, go for the island and bar stools, they do offer better ergonomics if you're paring veggies, mixing batter, etc.

If the second, go for the table. Bar stools are cursed uncomfortable and the older you get, the more uncomfortable they get.

helpfully,
Bright

I say barstools, I mean with a back.

I've lived with several and know all too well the joy of looking at all the filthy pots and pans while trying to enjoy dinner and guests without thinking too much about all the work ahead of me. I also dislike being interrupted by non cooks who want me to drop everything and find something for them. It sucks.

"Kitchen as theater" leaves me cold, too. There is no surer guarantee of losing everything on the floor than trying to show off in front of guests.

The only open kitchen/island plan I can stand is one where the island has a wall with a narrow shelf on it facing the rest of the room. That hides the mess in the kitchen but allows guests to park a drink while they talk to me.

I also prefer a table rather than an island in a closed kitchen. Not only is it more comfortable for informal meals, it also provides a lower work surface for things like kneading bread, meaning superior ergonomics for most women. It does need to be a funky harvest table, though, not fine furniture. It's going to work for a living.

by hand, it's nice to sit down for a few minutes.

and it's so fast that I just keep standing up.

About the only thing I sit down for is putting out 200 or so jiao tze by hand, probably because the people who taught me how to do them did them sitting down.

I often hate it. When I'm having a big holiday or company dinner I DON'T want an audience while cooking and that's always what happens! Plus even though my kitchen is "open" the actual working part is too small for more than 1 person so offers of "help" while well-meaning just get in my way. Things I did not think about when we bought the house. First world problems I guess.
Since I hate having an audience while cooking, I try to do everything well ahead of time before people arrive. I think my ideal kitchen was the house I grew up in which had a separate kitchen with a pass-thru "hole" to the dining room.

but in my completely closed kitchens, I'll call for help and send them out to the dining area with stuff on trays. That works, too.

The first thing my mother did with the pass through in their last house was block it off.

Now you know where I get this stuff.

I don't mind in the initial stages...chopping stuff, etc. But there is nothing worse than having everything ready and having people see it all before you plate it. That is such a brilliant comment you make " First world problems" - I have never heard anyone say that and it is so true.

and use those granite topped islands to set out the supermarket party platters and the blender for the drinks.

I love the occasional show with the European transplant who hates the open plan kitchens.

My own house was built in 1946 and when I finally bite the bullet and get the kitchen done, it will remain closed and the only way I would possibly ever do granite is with the 12x12 tiles. My appliances will be white as will the cabinets.

Our new house was built in the late forties as well and will need a kitchen reno (in a few years when we can afford it) and it will definitely feature a door. Preferably a lovely swinging one that's easy to push through with a full hands and then closes all the mess off behind you.


As for shows, some of my favorites are the crass Americans moving to Europe and complaining about the small apartments. mr beac and I have been known to shout at the screen "You get to live in Italy, you morons! The piazza is your 'open space'!"

You don't want to wait an hour for a damned tub to fill up in the tropics, you want to jump under that low pressure showerhead and cool the hell off.

Even with swimming poos and beachfront property, these morons want a BATHTUB dammit! and will turn down gorgeous house after gorgeous house to get one.

Small apartments are great. Not only do they eliminate the collection of too much stuff, they teach you to figure out novel storage solutions, like going up the walls.

ETA: Why do I suspect "apple white" is all that unsold "almond" crap from the 80s?

Oh, and my 1946 kitchen is in desperate need of a reno. It will not feature granite nor stainless steel nor a knocked down wall. It will keep the door I put up when I moved in.

it's a 60's kitchen that used to have a set of upper and lower cabinets that separated the kitchen from the eat in part. What did they call that area?

At some point, the owners removed the upper cabinets and left an awkward peninsula of cabinets sticking out into the kitchen. We eventually removed most of the lower cabinets and added a bench seat across that "room" and that's where the big table is now so it feels like it's in the kitchen. We turned the old farmhouse table into an island which we use every day because nothing is where it's supposed to be. The stove is clear across the room from the sink. The fridge is in an awkward spot on an opposite wall. The island fills the hole and houses cookbooks, trash can, cutting boards. I've always thought a small sink on the wall near the stove would be pretty sweet but there's no water over there.

It's true, though, that people do love to gather in a kitchen. People always want to sit around the big table!

My house was built during the era of eat-in kitchens so I don't have a "dining room". It's a real pain during the holidays when there are too many people to fit in this little house. No matter what we do friends and family members who visit end up in the kitchen.

I live in a house built in the 1960's and have a long narrow "One Butt Kitchen". That said, when I am busy cooking and I am a serious foodie, I don't want anyone else in the kitchen with me. I once lived in a house that had a big country kitchen and we had a long table at one end. I really liked that, not so much for the cooking, but the table became a place for friends to sit down for a cup of coffee. Lots of homework was done on that table and many, many games of hearts were played there.

bar can never replace, huh. Maybe it's just that's it's attached to such good memories for many of us. Well, maybe not the homework - but Hearts around the table sounds great ! Family meals, thanksgiving, cards and games, dying easter eggs, preparing meals ! Think you made me decide for sure ... kitchen table over island.

A kitchen table is made for memories. Did you ever play SPOONS at the table? I laugh myself silly just remembering many games at our cousin's house.

kitchen table which I know she has had at least 25 years. It still looks fine. Amazing how durable formica was/is. Her counter space is limited so everything from carving roasts to making cakes to whipping mash potatoes - everything is done on that table. When we were little they had one that had black paper covering underneath. We would get under there and write with chalk on it and make believe we were TV weather girls.

Hmm. Just saw this:

Spoons is a card game. Fun for everybody, especially kids.

<IMG SRC=>

http://capitalspiceblog.com/cooking-at-home/happy-thanksgiving/


Directions:
http://www.meldinggames.com/playing-spoons.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Play-Spoons-%28Card-Game%29

people in my family !!! thanks !

Bet you'd enjoy Perudo on your family table too

I had a large island that "separated" the kitchen from the family room. It had my stove top built into it. I could be on one side cooking, while my guests/family were on the other side. They were out of my way, but I could still be in the mix.

I had bar stools around it, so others could sit and we could eat there as well.

My boat is set up in a somewhat similar way. My cooking area is very small and accommodates only me, but everyone else is right there, basically in the same room.

The mess? Fuggidaboutit. Cooking is messy and that is part of it's appeal, imo

and saw yours. It made me miss NOLA and it struck me that it's all about where you are and
having people you like around. I love NOLA so much...a hotplate in a studio sounds good!
I would move back there in a flash if my husband wasn't so tied to his job and contacts where we are.
My goal is to save up for a small FQ condo one day.. If I win the lottery...a home uptown or GD.
What about you? Do you want to move back??

My oldest son just proposed and they will start having my grand babies soon after that.

So..... I think I have about a 2 year window to find the perfect place. I am hoping that I can either time share it with some other displaced new orleaneans that I know or rent it out when I'm not there.

I definitely want to spend the next phase of my life in NOLA at least part time.

Would love to meet you there sometime. Will definitely be going back next spring for the big wedding. New daughter in law (who I love) is the only daughter of fireman and is, therefore, entitled to be married in the cathedral.

How cool is that?!!

I have looked at SO many condo/apt rentals over the years I feel I know exactly what would appeal to a vacation renter. Wish I had acted on a newly renovated studio I saw for sale one time on Burgundy in the lower Quarter - It was basically one large room with brick and hardwood and a huge street gallery for $199k. I know it would have rented constantly. Someone told me the place to buy is the Marigny and Bywater - the next boom area once they extend the trolley down from the FQ.

But, seems our conversations "talking about" doing it and going in on something like this never seem to ever transcend to actually "doing something". But, you have reminded me - you have to come up with a plan to make things happen, huh.

To be married in St Louis cathedral sounds like a dream come true. May have told you before, but my husband and I got married in the park at Jax Sq. in front of the cathedral. Hired a second line band (highly recommended !!) and we paraded down to the Voodoo Garden behind the House of Blues for a reception. (highly recommended too). Hired a zydeco band. It all turned out so perfect. This was three days after 9-11....that period when everyone was numb and no one could even imagine that Bush could have squandered all the overwhelming outpouring of support that other countries had for us.

I think my son's marriage is going to be my big incentive.

No, I didn't know about your wedding in Jackson Square. Sounds like it was a blast. My son also plans a second line to the reception.

I am responsible for the rehearsal dinner and am starting to mull ideas around. I am thinking maybe something in the pavilion in city park, but leaving all my options open.

I was on a balcony in the quarter a few days after 9/11 and have very clear memories of how it all felt. Perhaps I even saw you.

I saw a wonderful butcher block table for the incredible price of $140. I have long kicked myself for not buying it. So I guess my answer would be an island.

The future Mrs. Pball and I have discussed this quite a bit for when we finally leave NYC and get a home we can design; we both like the idea of a restaurant-style open kitchen - the kitchen and dining room are separate, with a pass; the pass has a step-up in the middle to hide the prep space on the kitchen side from the dining counter on the other side. Also a table in the dining room for larger or more formal meals. Stove/oven/fridge go on the far wall (mostly for convenience routing the exhaust hood - anything less than a proper vent-to-exterior is ludicrous).

Course, we're both "pros" so the mess isn't really an issue...we don't make any In all seriousness, clean means organized, which you have to be to serve 300 people a night.


Example (and yes, we both want all stainless steel as well. Super-easy cleanup.):

I may have to rethink the stainless counters and splash guards..

envisioning a lot of light when we build a new house and this looks pretty dark (but sexy)

I have to tell you though...in my house now, I ordered a large piece of custom cut high quality stainless and we glued it on the wall behind the cooktop and below the vent. I absolutely love it. It is very easy to clean and I found some stainless cleaner that makes it shines like a mirror. Wonder how counters would do...but I am definately going to consider them because they look so cool

We put granite in (only for the resale value) which I have always hated (I usually hate what EVERYONE has). And I have to say they are pretty indestructible for hot pans and occasional cutting on. But, you NEVER see them in commercial kitchens - usually wood and stainless.

Like Tyler's kitchen too - looks like stainless?

I will still have room for a table but I am also putting in a large island on casters so I can roll it around as I need it. It will provide storage space as well as some additional eating/stool space. I'm having it constructed out of Ikea cabinets and putting it on heavy casters. Pictures in January....

So my kitchen is attached to a dining area and will be able to be closed off to the living room by a barn door on a rail. The dining area will have a pool table that doubles as a dining table....Well that's the SO's dream... If there is money left over at that point I will indulge him.

a pool table that I am sure I would lose a fortune on if I tried to sell it. And, how many times, does one really use a big dining table? I have been collecting photos for years of rooms I love.

this one was at the Mansion on Delaware in Buffalo. Each morning, they would bring out a wooden "box" type cover that fit over the pool table. They would put a table cloth over it and use it for breakfast buffet. thought this was so clever. But, wondering....would it be hard to find chairs of the right height?




Love the idea of the barn door. I like an open kitchen (at times) but like cooking in privacy at other times. Also, worry about banging around in kitchen - when someone is trying to watch TV or talk. I can just envision the TV blasting to cover kitchen noise.

I have only begun to briefly look at tables. I told the SO if we can fit it into the budget and find one that will fit into the general design of the house I am willing to design a space around it. He is starting to look. I think you can pretty much find chairs at varying heights now a days but I'll let him know he needs to factor that into the budget as well. If we can't make it work he'll just have to hang at the pool hall....He really enjoys the game and I would love for him to have one at home as well. No longer having a family room cuts down on common space.