My kitchen counter space is sort of taken up with several small appliances: toaster oven, blender, wood cutting board, clay pottery, microwave, radio, huge designer serving platter-dishes,
And other types of stuff. If I need working space to roll pie dough or that type of creative process, then I clear off my cherry wood bistro table in the dining area..... to do that kind of thing.
My kitchen is not overly big and it sort of shares a marital relationship to the dining area.