I learned to sew on my mother's Singer 15-91. It is set in a cabinet with a knee control option, which I love. She gave it to me before she passed away. It is 73 years old and sews like it is new. I have the Janome MC 6600P that is set into a table designed for the machine. My point is, I love having my machines set into a cabinet/table. For me it's just more comfortable from an ergonomic stand point. I also have a Singer Featherweight, which is my travel machine. It sews like my 15-91. Hope you have a sewing machine dealer close to your home so you can test drive a variety of machines. You don't want to get a really cheap machine - it will be difficult to operate and discourage you from learning more.
Also, if you go through a dealer sometimes they will help you up grade within a year if you save the box. My Janome dealer would give me a full value trade-in if I kept the box, and my Viking/Husqvarna dealer gave me a full year (and I bought the floor model).