After cabinetry, the primary furnishings in a kitchen are the pieces in the dining arrangement. A peninsula or an island used for casual meals calls out for barstools. If you have the space and inclination, a kitchen table is more comfortable for eating because you don’t have to climb up into the chair and you can face your dining companions. 

Let the style you’ve chosen for your kitchen guide you in picking an appropriate dining set. There is no rule that says you must buy a brand-new dinette set with matching table and chairs when you update a kitchen. If that’s what pleases you, by all means do it. But dining furniture creates an intimate space; it should speak volumes about who you are. What you already have may be ideal.

Banquettes, also known as booth seats, strike our fancy for the same reasons we choose a booth instead of a table at a restaurant: privacy, intimacy, camaraderie, even romance. Banquettes create an informal atmosphere and invite us to spread out (or squeeze together), put our elbows on the table, and just enjoy the meal. If carefully placed and designed, a banquette does even more, making the most of precious kitchen floor space, providing convenient storage above and below the seats, and saving time and energy in serving meals.

If you enjoy a furnished, unfitted look, consider limiting the number of built-in base and wall cabinets and substituting one-of-a-kind pieces, such as an old armoire or buffet for storing dishes, cookware, and foodstuffs. A piece can be retrofitted with either stationary or pullout shelving to make it more efficient and functional. Mix painted pieces with wood, metal, or laminate. Consider a freestanding bookshelf for your cookbook collection, and include a comfortable chair for reading, planning menus, or taking a rest.
 
Remember, however, that the kitchen, with its grease, steam, drips, and spills, is not an ideal place for upholstered furniture. If you want upholstery in the kitchen, use it sparingly, be sure fabrics have been treated to resist stains, and take care that the material is easy to clean. Machine-washable slipcovers for chairs are one option to consider.