We also played with the idea of having a large dining table in the kitchen instead of an island - and keeping chairs on one or two sides so it mostly functions like an island with seating on one area and prep space in the other. worried we might need the cabinet space you get with an actual island though.
maybe for NE corner of kitchen...shelves for cookbooks etc. and a tucked away counter spot - could store something like kitchen aid mixer here? easily accessible but not out in the open if it's around the corner from pantry. also not opposed to that corner being an outside storage nook but we were having trouble fitting everything we needed inside when we were playing with ideas
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