Kitchen work table

You've all seen the beautiful layouts in the home decorating magazines, with spacious kitchens with every modern convenience known. For most of us, these are just pretty pictures to dream about in a “someday” fashion. Given that these picture-perfect kitchens are usually bigger than some apartments, they have the room for the kitchen work table, typically much more glorious than the name would imply. The truth is, the kitchen work table has been around for hundreds of years, although much more homey and humble than their modern automated work center counterparts.

In many parts of Europe, rural farmhouses are equipped with large kitchen spaces, but not so large as to accommodate a separate table dedicated to kitchen work. The kitchen work table in this situation is a plain,large wood table that serves both as a food preparation area and for dining after the food is prepared. The table may also serve as a gathering spot for groups of women enjoying coffee in the afternoon and a nice visit, talking about recipes and just maybe a little gossip. Not much has changed over the last centuries in the concept of the kitchen work table.

Today's modern kitchen work table may be called an island work table, or island work center or some other such lofty name. Today's version of the kitchen work table is far grander in function and design than the old fashioned original, but people still use them for much the same purposes, to gather around and enjoy each others company while preparing food for the table.

The modern work table is not really a table, usually having cabinets surrounding the majority of the table surface for convenient storage of mixing bowls and tools, built-in features such as knife blocks, flour drawers, spice drawers and bread bins.

Surface features may include vegetable sinks, some with custom chopping boards that perfectly straddle the sink and just the right size to wash, chop, rinse and drain all your vegetables with ease.

Some modern work tables devote one side to casual meals, fitted with bar stools for family breakfasts or guests chatting as food is prepared.

The largest of the modern work tables may even have a pastry prep area, with a marble pastry board inset into the surface, slightly lower than the table surface. Still others may have a corner cubby set up with space for your computer, where you can sit and plan your meals.

You'll find these fabulous kitchen work tables at home improvement centers, with a pretty big price tag. You can also find DIY projects and plans for these kitchen work tables. Or, if your old fashioned at heart, you may just go for that nostalgic, plain wood table.

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