walkr:
I've struggled with this problem since moving in four-plus years ago. I was excited to find and buy a nice glass-top table along with chairs shortly after getting here.
My dream was to be able to seat six for a meal, at one end of the lanai, and six for drinks and conversation at the other end. Unfortunately, the lanai is really just too narrow to set up a dining table. I do use the table, set slightly catty-whompus (that is, sidewise) but it's still really only good for four.
I wanted six because I often have my brother, sister-in-law, niece, her husband and his mother over. But, I've found it easier to have them eat in my "dining area," instead.
I'm still sort of looking for a less chunky table and chairs, but am not convinced that I'll find them.
Bottom-line advice: measure any piece of furniture you're thinking of adding to your lanai. Measure the space it will go into. Then, do it at least twice more! Think long and hard about how much space there will be in which to move around!
Then, don't worry too much about it! I've found that folks are so much more casual here that our old concepts of "proper," "suitable," "appropriate," and such are worthless!
Welcome to Paradise!
SWR
