Teresa asks:
Hello AT, I am looking for an affordable but good quality mid size kitchen island that could store 2 counter stools underneath. Anyone have any ideas?
Hi Teresa, have you looked at the Somerset Kitchen Island by Crate&Barrel? ($499) It has a lot of features built in that make it quite efficient. Not only does it have the butcher block top, but it also has a 10" drop-down leaf, for added work surface. The extension also makes a perfect place to put two stools underneath. It also has drawers, a cabinet (that has doors), casters, and even a towel rack. Does anyone else have any other recommendations?
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Something to look for if you like repurposing and modern is what's comonly called a bank table. In the good old days of the 70's modern banks generally had a dearth of furniture in their spartan international style lobbies, save for the ubiquitous bank tables. This is where you filled out your deposit slip.
Bank lobbies today rarely show such good taste so these tables pop up and go cheap because there is frankly not an awful lot you can do with a 39" tall table. But these make a fabulous kitchen island especially for tall people. Plenty of height for stools and they generally have a simple bolt-down top that's easily replaced with a slab of granite (as is mine) or a butcher block. I got mine in the dumpster next to a B of A.
http://kayingleside.com/banktable.jpg