If you're short on kitchen space, trying to save money on a remodel, or want a more open design, trading in a bulky island ...

A s a kitchen editor, I'm always on the pulse of what's hot and what's not. And recently, the traditional kitchen table has been making waves, offering a more sociable way to create an island.

and the options are usually either a kitchen table or a small bartop, or both. Interior designer Darlene Molnar has reimagined kitchen dining, though — and the two-tier kitchen island style — with a ...