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The search for furniture to outfit your small kitchen can be challenging. When considering the task, it’s good to remember that space is as important as design. There are many creative solutions for small spaces and the kitchen is no exception. Often the kitchen is considered the heart of the home; it’s where people gather to eat, visit and celebrate, so comfort and function are crucial factors to consider when shopping for your furniture. The options are endless, but a few simple pieces can get your space set-up for eat-in cooking and dining.

Limited space for seating is typically an issue in smaller kitchens, which is why considering a banquette might be one way to offer seats for diners. Banquettes can be positioned in a corner of the room which would allow the table to be pushed up against that corner, it will then open the room up for additional furniture if necessary. The bench seating can include storage under the seats if your cupboard space is limited.

Folding and moveable tables and chairs are great alternatives if there just isn’t enough room to have permanent furniture. They can also provide dining space for extra guests that you don’t normally entertain day to day. Putting tables and chairs on casters makes moving them in and out of the kitchen easy and hassle-free.

Bar stools and footrest stools can be added for higher table tops and bench style seating. They don’t take up a lot of space and can usually be stored under the countertop or table.

Sometimes small kitchens don’t allow room for much in the way of kitchen furniture, in which case a simple bar made from a slab of wood or metal would be perfect on a wall. It wouldn’t take up much room, could run flush with a wall and still give diners a place to enjoy a meal.

There is an assortment of alternatives to the traditional kitchen furniture available on the market, and once you measure the space and consider the functions of what goes on in your kitchen, it’s fun to add your own creative solutions that mirror your personal taste.

As the warm weather rolls in, your backyard will begin to show off its beauty with lovely flowers, full bushes and trees regaining their leaves. It is the perfect time to show off your yard by hosting a spring home party. It allows you to get out of the house, re-acquaint yourself with old and new neighbors, and have an entertaining time. Use these 3 simple and easy spring home party ideas to please your guests.

Giant Jenga Game

When it comes to outdoor fun, playing a board game that has been supersized can get your guests laughing all through the day. Consider creating a Giant Jenga game using large blocks of wood painted in fun colors. Then set the boards up on a flat surface and watch your guests stand in line to play.

Dance Instruction Party

Whether you are outside in the sun, or inside if a spring shower crops up that forces everyone inside, you can entertain your guests with a dance teaching party. Choose a dance that will get the bodies moving, such as salsa or the Macarena. You can hire a dance instructor to teach an hour group lesson.

Garden Masquerade Ball

This is fun entertainment when you are hosting an evening or night party. Invite your guests to dress up. You can even make it into a game where people have to guess who is behind the mask. You can offer a prize to the person who has the right number of guesses.

Always consider bringing the natural elements of your landscape into your spring home party. From fresh-cut flowers as people can make their own centerpieces and decorations to pool parties and the warm days, there are countless ways to invite family and friends over to your home this spring so they can have an entertaining time.

When it comes to kitchen renovations, many homeowners like an open concept to the room design. You want to bring in more light into the space or to be able to see into the living room and the dining room. You may also want to have a way to speak and entertain guests while cooking meals. Check out the following tips about renovating the kitchen to make it feel more open. 

Place in a Large Wall Opening 

You may decide to have a larger door opening leading from the kitchen. If the wall doesn’t have a door and it isn’t a load-bearing wall, you can cut out a large opening, much like an interior window without the glass, so you can see through it as you place a small counter piece into the opening. You can also do a large interior opening next to the door with a small half counter. 

Have See-Through Cabinets 

If you have upper cabinets above an island or counter space that are blocking the view into another room, consider placing in see-through cabinets. You still retain the cabinet space you need for dishes and other kitchen items, yet the front side and back side of the cabinet has glass doors. A see-through cabinet can also allow for more light to enter the kitchen. 

Improve Room Flow 

A reason that the kitchen area may feel small is that there are too many things taking up the available space. You can make it feel more open by adding shelving to hold pots, pans, small appliances and spices to free up counter space. You can purchase a smaller kitchen table if the existing one is too big for the room. You may also decide to place the refrigerator into a wall inset to have more floor space. 

Evaluate the kitchen to determine places where you can renovate it to create a more open room. Make it functional and beautiful for your meal-cooking needs. 

After winter, many people begin planning spring and summer home renovations. The kitchen is normally a room on the remodel to-do list, as you may be upgrading the appliances, placing in new flooring and counters, or making the room bigger. Once you have all the renovations completed, it’s time to decorate the space so it matches your design theme. Yet you may be wondering how to match your kitchen furniture into the theme as well. 

Match by Color 

Perhaps the easiest way for your furniture to match your design theme is by color. Look at the main colors and accent colors in the kitchen space. Then select furniture that has the same colors either on the cushions or in the materials. 

Match by Home Style 

Your home style can play a huge factor in helping to select the right kitchen furniture. If you have a nautical design theme, you may select kitchen furniture with a distressed appearance to make it look like it was weathered by the sea. If you have an industrial design with exposed brick, steel girders or wood rafters, you may select kitchen furniture — such as glass tables and metal chairs to go with the steel girder theme — that match this design. 

You may decide to simple match your furniture to the materials in the kitchen space. So if you have walnut cabinets and counters, you can go with the same walnut shade with your furniture. You may also match your kitchen furniture materials with your appliances. If you have steel appliances, you can select steel furniture that matches the same color. 

There are many ways to match your kitchen furniture to your design theme. Select the best way based on how the kitchen is designed, the materials that are used, and the colors that are throughout the space. 

Having enough stools to please everyone that is sitting at your dining table is a must, especially if you plan to host a lot of dinner parties for coworkers and friends. Yet having stools that are too tall can cause people to feel uncomfortable. Their legs can become wedged in the tight space and scrape against the bottom of the table surface. Also, it can be hard to move the stool back from the table when standing up if there isn’t enough space as the stool could be too wide. 

Sizing the Stools for Dining Tables 

Dining tables come at a range of heights, from 28 inches to 31 inches. Most people are comfortable when there is about 9 inches to 12 inches of space between their legs and the table top. This measurement can vary depending on the size of the person sitting at the table, as children may need a higher stool. In addition, the thickness of the tabletop and the table curtain can also impact the size of the stool. 

Dining stool heights can average from 17 inches to 20 inches high (counter and bar stools can be from 24 inches to 30 inches from the seat of the stool to the floor. So if the dining table is 28 inches, you want a stool that is around 18 inches. 

When measuring the tables and stools, remember to take the measurements from under the table to the top of the stool’s seat. Take into consideration the table’s apron, if it has one, and any padding that the stool might have that can change the measurement. 

Whether you decide on a round or square stool seat, keep in mind that the width and depth of the seat will also impact the number of stools you have at the table. The best way to decide on a stool is to sit in it and see how comfortable it feels. Then you can be rest assured that you are getting the right one for your needs. 

When you have guests or extended family over at your home, you want them to have an entertaining experience. Not only do you want to have games for them to play and music to dance to, you want to provide the perfect seating to relax, have a drink, and eat a meal. Pub tables can be used in your home for entertainment purposes. Here are several things you can do with your pub tables. 

Home Theater and Entertainment Room 

Pub tables are the perfect addition to a large home theater room, entertainment room or game room. You can provide places where people can sit and watch sports games on the large television screen or add addition seating and table space by the home bar. People can also sit at the pub table with their drinks while waiting for their turn to play at the pool table or the dart board game. 

Indoor Outdoor Spaces 

If you have a covered porch area or other outdoor living space, a pub table can be a great addition to the area. You can place it by the outdoor kitchen to provide a seating and an eating area. When the sun sets, you can light a fire in the fire pit and watch the flames while laughing and talking with your guests. 

Kitchen Nooks 

If you have a breakfast nook in your kitchen, a pub table can be the perfect size to fit into the space versus having a larger kitchen table. This layout is ideal for couples who are downsizing when the adult kids have moved out as they are looking for a smaller home. 

Open Floor Plans 

When you have an open floor plan between the kitchen, dining room space and living room, a pub table can be the perfect furniture to define eating spaces. You can have a small pub table next to your kitchen island to have extra meal prep space. You can also set up the pub table as an extra place for the kids to study as they have the right amount of room for books and study material without cluttering up the living room. 

There are a wide range of uses for pub tables, including turning them into end tables in the living room, a side table in the entryway to hold your keys or purse, or as a home office desk. Look at your home and consider the places where a pub table could be an exciting new addition to the space. 

After a time, the dining room design can feel stale and boring. Even worse, your family may begin to ignore the room to eat their meals at the kitchen prep table, in the living room or in their bedrooms. Revitalize the dining room and give it an updated look that can make everyone want to stick around to enjoy the meal. 

Declutter 

One of the main problems could be that the dining room lost its function as it now may have turned into a study room or home office. If you have other dedicated spaces for these activities, it might be time to just declutter and move out stuff that doesn’t have to be in the dining room. Make the room more organized and suitable for dining. 

Improve the Look 

There are a wide range of things that you can do to improve the dining room’s appearance. Paint the walls, change the flooring, add area rugs and place in accent pieces. Accessories such as table runners, centerpieces and candles can change the dining room mood to make it fun or romantic just by switching out items. Don’t forget to add something to the walls, such as shelving for knickknacks or pictures that can be visually appealing. 

Upgrade Dining Room Furniture 

Your existing dining room furniture may need to be upgraded. It could be showing its age with discolored table surfaces, scratched chair legs and ripped upholstery on seats. Obtaining a new dining room set may also be appealing since your family may have grown since the last time you purchased furniture. You can have the right amount of eating places for daily dining as well as during the large family get-togethers. 

Add a Bar Area 

A home bar in the dining room area could be the perfect addition to provide a more relaxing space when you are having parties and dinner guests. Your spouse can fix drinks right at the bar instead of having guests go into the kitchen where you are busy trying to cook meals. A home bar with stools can increase seating and become the new conversation piece in your dining room area. 

Don’t let your dining room become the forgotten space in your house. You can give it a simple makeover with new dining room furniture, a home bar, and other accessories to make it a room that everyone will love to eat in. 

Pub tables can be one of the most functional tables to use in your home. With their different height, they can be used for a wide variety of things, and with the holiday season upon us, they’re great for parties, and casual small dinners. While they come in varying heights, and many different shapes and sizes, they provide a wide variety of functionality in your home.

Decorative

If you’re looking for the perfect table to feature photos on, so that they’ll be at eye line height, a pub table works wonders. While they’re great for showing off family photos, decorations, or even small stacks of books, they can also prove to be a great work space. If your dining room table always seems to be crowded with mail, bills and books, moving them to a smaller pub table might force you to keep them more organized.  A pub table can double as a great small workspace, with enough room for a laptop and some books.

A pub table can also be great to include in the living room, as a smaller alternative to a dining room table. Depending on your space, you might not have room for a formal dining room table. A pub table can seat around four people and is a nice casual way to have a dining area. If you’re looking for a small table for excess people it functions well.

Kitchen Dining

If you’re living in a smaller place and don’t have room for a full table in the kitchen, let alone a formal dining room, a pub table can be a great solution for space. While it’s still a table you can eat at, it’s a much smaller size, and fits well in most spaces.

Try investing in a pub table instead of a dining room table, if you’re scrapped for space, and use it for multiple purposes, like a desk, and an eating space.

Holiday Gatherings

With the holidays here, a pub table can be a great addition for extra dining space, or even a great table to gather food on at a holiday party. Set it up as an additional table for the kids at the holiday feast, or use it as a place to put appetizers or a makeshift bar during a party. Pub tables are so versatile that you can use them one way for the holidays, and then incorporate them into your home in an entirely different way next month.

If you’re hosting a holiday dinner or party this year, and you don’t own a traditional dining room table, there’s no need to panic. There are many other ways to use dining room furniture, bar stools, kitchen tables and more, to serve a meal and appetizers. If you’re looking to invest in a new dining room table, we’re here to break down the best styles.

Breakfast Bars and Barstools

Keep in mind that at the holidays, not all meals are sit-down. Some gatherings subsist entirely on appetizers and small plates. If you have a breakfast bar, why not turn it into a buffet table. If you don’t have a large dining room table to place food on, try using your kitchen or breakfast bar.

Pull some barstools up to a breakfast bar for some additional seating options if you need overflow.

Multiple Tables

We’ve all had many a gathering where there weren’t enough seats for everyone. Pulling tables together always works. Finding pub tables, utilizing your breakfast bar or any other tables will work too.

Dining Room Table Options

If you’re looking to invest in a dining room table, perhaps now is the perfect time. If you want to be conscious of the space in your house, you could always find a table with leaves, and add all the leaves during the holidays so that you have a bigger table. These tables are best for flexible spaces. You can take the leaves out and store them, and utilize a smaller table for the rest of the year.

If you’re looking for a traditional dining room table, you can find them in many shapes and sizes so that you can seat a wide variety of people. If you’re looking for an alternative seating option, try using benches instead of chairs at your dining room table. Benches can seat more people if they have to.

If you’re looking to get a table but don’t have the space for a larger dining room table, take a look at bistro tables. Smaller, and typically round, they won’t seat a crowd, but they could seat up to 4 people, and function as a great serving table.

When it comes down to it, at the Holidays, anything goes. People can eat on their laps, have small plates or do a formal sit-down dinner. No matter the occasion, if you’re looking for new dining room furniture, check out what’s available at California Stools, Bars and Dinettes.

When it comes to picking out new chairs for your dining room table there are a few things you need to consider. If you’re planning to use them with an existing dining room table, or you’re getting a new table separately it’s important to make sure the chairs match, not in color but functionality.

Check the height

It’s important to measure how high your existing or separate table is. When it comes to picking out chairs for your table, you want to make sure that your chairs fit under your table. While it’s important to find dining room chairs that fit under the table, it’s also important to find chairs that have a functional chair seat height. You want to make sure that your family or dinner guests can fit in their seats under the table, and also be high enough to reach food, but not low enough that they feel like they’re sitting a bucket.

Check the width

If you want a certain number of chairs to fit around your dining room table, you’ll need to measure the width of your seats. You want to make sure that guests can fit around the table, but not be completely wedged in. You want to make sure that they have room to pull their chairs in and out from the table.

Make it comfy

A new trend popping up for dining room chairs is to have a higher couch or love seat as part of the seating. If you’re looking to create more of an informal breakfast nook, a love seat is a great way to go. Back a table up to the love seat and put two or three chairs on the other side of the table, and you’ll have the best of both worlds.

Benches

Benches are a great way to add comfort and more seating to your dining room table. There are a couple different ways you can organize them. Trying a bench on one side of the table is a great way to try it out. If you’re ready to commit to benches, try adding benches at the ends of the tables, or only on the sides. The key to styling benches with dining room tables, is to have chairs in with them.

Styles

A great new trend in dining room tables is experimenting with different colored chairs. Try finding a wide variety of colors that fit with your dining room. Another great way to try this is to choose from a smaller palate and try two to three colors.

If you’re looking for an even bigger change up, try using different styles of chairs together, old fashioned, modern, farmhouse. Sometimes the clash of styles goes great together. Try mixing and matching different chairs for an updated and modern look in your dining room.