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Thursday, November 22nd, 2018
This Wesley Allen Dining Room Set has gone a long way from the early 1920s version of a breakfast nook furnishing.
Winter is fast approaching and so more and more people are prepping and setting indoor activities and hideaways. One of the most exciting ways to make indoors stay more fun is to have a breakfast nook.
Breakfast Nook in the ‘20s
The breakfast nooks were especially popular in the 1920s. Victorian homes were slowly falling out of style at that time because the bungalow homes took over and became the sudden craze.
The bungalow was one fine concept but some people found space to be problematic. Architects and builders slowly improvised when they created more intimate spaces in these smaller homes.
They then built benches to match the tables and pretty soon, housewives preferred the small table to clean up in the kitchen.
Dining Room vs. Breakfast Nook
The breakfast nook is known for its charming scale and how close it is to the kitchen. This is also a spot where families prefer to gather.
But what’s the huge difference between these two zones?
The dining room was specifically created as the area where the food for the family is supposed to be served and consumed. This is also often connected or adjacent to the kitchen.
A dining room has a table, chairs, and ample lighting so everyone can see what they are feasting on. History also records the dining room to be the gathering place for entertainment.
Modern dining rooms are often as big as bedrooms or a small living room. In medieval times, though, dining rooms were much larger and were typically known as Great Halls. One Great Hall can hold hundreds of guests at a time.
The breakfast nook, on the other hand, was also designed close to the kitchen. In fact, others took this closeness so seriously that they soon built the nook right inside the kitchen.
The breakfast nook is supposed to be a room that’s relaxing and comfortable. It is a space where the family can gather to enjoy their first meal for the day. This may also be used for non-formal lunches and dinners.
The typical breakfast nook has a smaller table than the dining table. It is also not designed to sit a lot of people.
Why a Breakfast Nook?
As its definition states, the breakfast nook should be a cozy area where the lightest meals can be served and enjoyed. More often than not, this zone has three walls although, nowadays, the modern designs have been planned to be more suitable for spaces that are contiguous (share the same border).
Don’t think that breakfast nooks are for breakfast alone. It can have other purposes, too. Back in the day, the kitchen is the heart of each home but now, the breakfast nook is giving it good competition.
What’s great about the breakfast nook is that it offers a non-formal setup. So it can be the setting for those casual cooking as well as dining activities. Here, in this setup, the cook is not separated from the rest of the family. And while everyone’s waiting for the food to be cooked, they can enjoy some snacks or a board game.
The breakfast nook has window on all its sides which show the outdoors. And with its smaller size, it is the best spot for those solitary activities that you have been planning (e.g. writing or reading).
The breakfast nook can also have benches that have storage. These can store kitchenware, kitchen appliances, board games, and craft supplies.
If you’re planning on setting up a breakfast nook soon, then you also have to plan on how to decorate it. This is a small zone to decorate so consider its use when you’re putting in the decorating details.
Tags: breakfast nook, designing the breakfast nook, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Furniture, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on An Inviting Breakfast Nook to Wake Up To
Monday, February 19th, 2018
Canadel Living Room Upholstered Seat Bench with backing.
Picture the scenario in your dining room during breakfast each day. It’s not a very pleasant sight, is it? There’s this need to concoct the morning coffee and then to dash off to the office to reach your scheduled time. This may be the reason why the breakfast nook came into existence in the first place.
When planned, the breakfast nook is situated in a kitchen alcove. It must be in a zone where you can easily reach the cupboards and the stove but it must not be so close that it no longer feels separate from the rest of the kitchen.
The Breakfast Nook Setup
Usually, one end of the breakfast table is placed against the wall. The other end is supported by one leg. Try your best to set up the breakfast nook by the window especially on the eastern part of your home so you get to have the best of the morning sunlight while you enjoy your first meal.
The latest addition to the breakfast nook is the high-backed seating. This provides convenience that was never before seen in any breakfast nook. When well-designed, these can be a lot more comfortable than regular chairs. The seats can also be benches that come with hinged lids and concealed storage spaces.
The Cheerful Breakfast Nook
Now that you already know the most cheerful part of your home, you need to set up the chairs and table right in that spot. Be sure to line them up right by the curtains covering the double windows. The cupboards should be high enough so that you won’t have to worry about hitting your head when you get up from a hearty breakfast.
Make your breakfast even comfier by having your electric toaster and a coffee percolator nearby. This is the simplest breakfast that you can prepare on any given day. The dishes and cups that are often used can be set close by, doing so will eliminate the rush that usually comes the setting of table during the morning.
If you have a home that can provide natural lighting for your breakfast nook during the day, then you are one of the blessed ones. This is mighty convenient as well as healthy for you because you will have an ample supply of Vitamin D while you enjoy your coffee and toast.
Breakfast Nook Elsewhere
If you are presented with the problem of minimal space, then you will need careful and professional planning. You may want to turn this issue to your advantage by making the nook look and feel cozier. You can up the level of intimacy in that area making it a more personal haven.
Canadel Living Room Upholstered Seat Bench
Breakfast Nook Measurements
If you have been thinking about how to use your available space for a breakfast nook, then you might want to measure if you have at least 24 inches width at your disposal. Going lower than this is less than ideal. Seating four people means having a table of 60 inches given you have two seated at each side.
The depth of the table or its length should have a minimum measurement of 42 inches. This is when you are ready to use both sides. If just one side is going to be used, then the recommended measurement is just 21 inches.
For benches, you can use a depth of 17.5 inches to about 20 inches. Measure from the seat’s front edge all the way to the upright part of the back. For instance, to have a seat on both sides of a table that measures 42 inches, then the minimum measurements are –
17.5” + 42” + 17.5” = 77”
This is the minimal space requirement. These dimensions still do not include the backs’ depth. These measurements vary depending on the usable space.
Tags: breakfast nook, designing the breakfast nook, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Dining Room Design, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Kitchen Design, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on Breakfast Nook Setup and Features
Saturday, May 20th, 2017
Hooker Furniture Dining Room Elixir Round Dining Table 42in
The breakfast nook is an awesome place to drink your orange juice in the morning and read the newspaper. This is also the spot where your family can eat those Saturday pancakes. All in all, the breakfast nook is the best place to begin your day.
The breakfast nook is a mixture of banquettes, booths, tables and chairs. These pieces can be curved or rectilinear. It can also be installed with dimmable light. If you want to add a little character, then add colorful throw pillows. These are perfect additions to the cozy spot where you can jump start your day.
The breakfast nook can also be your homework station. It can also be an intimate spot for those candlelight dinners that you will share with your loved one. You might want to rethink your kitchen layout now that you know the benefits of having a breakfast nook.
Here are some suggested ways to set up your breakfast nook –
The Separate Booth
Millwork can easily separate the design of your furniture especially when it is compared to the rest of the standard pieces. When you create a separate spot – a snug spot – you can create coffee and omelets outside of the kitchen.
The Three-Sided Booth
This means hurrying around the dining table as bigger groups gather. Just think of the setup in a restaurant – what you need is a tufted upholstery that will cozy up to a breezy space.
That Booth by the Bay
Windows on triple sides create a breezy space. This is necessary since you need a little prodding in order to wake up in the morning. If there is a need to add space in order to accommodate more people eating, then try a bay window as it is an affordable micro addition.
The Corner Banquette
A tucked-in banquette should be able to maximize seating for everyone. A round table should help in keeping things more open. A lot of banquettes are customized though there are versions that can be readily bought to be quickly enjoyed.
Wesley Allen Dining Room Table & Chairs DT319H30
Other Ideas
Before they hit the wall, make sure that you cut the countertops as this will save a corner for a table and two chairs. A room could also make use of a thick wall that could be the home for your recessed cabinet or shelves.
You can also design your breakfast nook around a bench. This will work best for dining tables that are rectangular in shape. Cushion up those corners using throw pillows. Doing this will make the nook a great reading spot, too.
An island can also be used as a banquette part. A kitchen table may also be used to replace an island. Yet you don’t have to compromise. If you choose to combine the island and the kitchen table, then what you achieve is a workstation and a layout that maintains their traditional looks.
Another idea to consider when setting up the perfect breakfast nook is to use stain-resistant fabric only. These can be treated or you can just invest in outdoor fabrics such as Sunbrella.
Vinyl is also a great material to use as it is easy to wipe and clean. Green can be fused with bamboo chairs, leaf print as well as pink accents. To make the place more interesting, mix prints on your seats.
You can also go curvy by using a circular pedestal table. Likewise, a curved banquette will also be able to offer a pleasant eat-in space. Think also of warm colors and chrome finishes. These autumnal colors will create a comfy nook.
If you love everything that’s traditional, then you can also set up a farmhouse style breakfast nook. This should feature whitewashed pieces, rustic textures and old-style.
Tags: breakfast corner, breakfast nook, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, setting up the breakfast nook
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on Breakfast Nook: The Building Block to Cozy Breakfasts
Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016
The Wesley Allen Dining Room Set 320 is compact enough for the breakfast nook you are envisioning.
One of the small yet endearing areas in many homes is that nook right by the kitchen – the breakfast nook. There are so many ways to make this space much more interesting. After all, it is important to make this area comfortable and inviting since the most important meal of the day can be served here –
Fill It with Light
Have the nook set up right by the wall where the largest windows are found. This is the best spot to grab a hearty meal or just a cup of coffee to jumpstart your day. A small, rectangular dining table should be appropriate whereas three small chairs or two small chairs and a bench could be used to complete the setup.
A Tiny Space
Small as it is, the breakfast nook can be a tiny banquet for those who know how to design it. Place a few chairs right by the window. See if it could sit three to four people. The breakfast nook can also have a special bench with some storage space within.
Talk of optimizing one’s living area.
How About a Breakfast Booth?
If you don’t mind borrowing a few square feet from any adjacent space to the kitchen, then you can create a more spacious breakfast nook. This special eating area will provide ample seating for three to four people so they could sit out of the cooking area while the food is being prepped.
A breakfast booth is the right place to add some kitchen storage, too.
Yes to Natural Light
Make sure that you use only minimal coverings for your windows. The breakfast nook should be bright and sunny especially during the morning when the family is gathered there to eat. See if you can magnify the light and airy look with soft, yellow cushions and table accessories.
See if you can have a go at the L-shaped breakfast nook layout. This is the best layout that offers the most number of extra places for people to sit.
You can make the nook even brighter and more beautiful if you use lighting highlights such as white walls. Add some colorful cushions to make the bright nook more interesting.
The Vintage Nook
A breakfast nook shouldn’t only be bright and sunny, it must also fit perfectly to the unused area in your kitchen. More often than not, this is that unutilized nook where only dust used to gather. Now, with the breakfast nook in place, you can have a bench that wraps around the corner and additional seating.
See if you could bring in some vintage furnishings to add a homier vibe to this new eating area.
The Modern Nook
If the vintage look isn’t your style, then you can always go for the modern design. Find a modern table and chair set, some pendant lighting, and some interesting wall décor. Paint the walls white in the kitchen and the nook in order to achieve visual cohesion.
No breakfast nook should be without this Maitland-Smith Accessories Shagreen Leather Inlaid Tray 2520-017.
It’s Okay to Mismatch
You can use mismatched chairs to create an eclectic look but one that’s still unified. Use the paint color as your base hue for the rest of the breakfast nook design elements.
Breakfast Nook = Comfort
Just like many other cozy eating areas, the breakfast nook must also take advantage of great outdoor views. The picturesque lawn or cute garden can provide the best backdrop to a simple breakfast nook. What could be more relaxing than to see the beauty of Mother Nature as you enjoy your first meal?
Find some low comfortable benches to keep everything looking casual.
Looking sleek and chic does not mean you have to forego comfort. You can still feel relaxed in an ambience where a white table, a small chandelier, and some interesting fabrics create a fashionable look. Hang some mirrors strategically to open up this part of your dining area.
Tags: breakfast area, breakfast corner, breakfast nook, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Monday, June 20th, 2016
1586-75203-GLD3 Shangri-La Gilded Dining Table Base: This two-seater setup is perfect for that nook in your home. Don’t forget to decorate with vases and framed art.
Any room that lacks space either for seating or cupboards needs a little inspiration. Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination, a smart storage space, a smaller sofa, and the problem is solved. Add a spotlight to the underside of a shelf and you’ve just created a reading nook. So, here’s the thing, you have a space problem and every home has an unused nook to spare – got the solution?
Breakfast Nook
If you don’t have ample room for dining table and chairs, that tiny space right where the walls meet could serve as a cute breakfast nook. This is especially if you don’t mind dining cozily. Use a bench if you want to fit in more people to that area. Chairs take up more area than one long bench so consider ditching them when you want to use the tiny corner.
Reading Nook
The reading nook need not look intentional. You can incorporate a small library just by having a tiny desk paired with a stylish chair and have them placed in a corner. Have a small pile of books at that desk, and that’s it. Your home library doesn’t have to comprise of a huge bookshelf. Just grab one book, read, finish reading, then put it right back to the pile.
Office Nook
A small space is perfect for working niches. Most people just have their laptops these days so these won’t even require more than 30 inches of space. A little closet can be easily transformed into your dream office nook.
Laundry Nook
How much space do you think you need to move freely in a laundry space? Just 30 inches by 30 inches! Just have the stackable type of washer and dryer and you should be able to transform the tiny nook into a laundry area. Handle the spills by having it diverted towards the bathroom.
Play Pen
As a kid, didn’t you just love having your tiny play spot? Having kids of your own now, that nook could be a nice spot to hide kids’ mess. The world of possibilities just seems endless with that tiny nook. You can now store all the kids’ toys there, their storybooks, etc.
Pet’s Nook
Your pet would surely love his own nook, too. This could serve as a retreat spot where his mess could be contained. Set up your pet’s tiny bed in that corner and you just might get the extra blessing of having an unscratched sofa.
An Entertainment Corner
If you want an entertainment spot but do not want the TV to be the focal point in the room, then just set up that tiny nook to become the TV’s home. That dedicated nook will be used for TV viewing only while you can have the rest of your home for socializing.
Resting Nook
Who says you can’t sleep in that tiny corner? Set up a sofa bed and this is the perfect spot for all your guest sleepovers. You would be surprised at the stylishness that sofa beds can offer. You can also have two sofa beds pushed together to create an instant double bed. This part of your home could also be utilized as a reading corner during most days of the year. Just prop the sofa bed and what a relaxing reading time you’d have. The linens could be hidden neatly inside a trunk during the day.
Kid’s Bedroom
Believe it or not, you can actually fit a loft bed into a nook, one that preferably has a drawer so that bed linens can be concealed. Put a little color and a small partition and your kid will surely love you for ‘em!
BLOG 1. 1586-85005-GLD1 Harlequin Four-Drawer Accent Chest 1586-75410D-GLD6 Swanson Upholstered Metal Side Chair
Tags: bedroom for kids, breakfast area, breakfast corner, breakfast nook, designing a kid's room, designing nook, designing nooks, designing the breakfast nook, entertainment center, entertainment room, kids' play room, kids' playroom, laundry area, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nook, nook design, setting up the breakfast nook, tips, unused nook
Posted in Interior Design 101, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
Saturday, January 30th, 2016
Winners Only Dining Room 42 Inch Farmhouse Round Table With 2-8 Inch Drop Leaves 54242F. This two-seater table should look perfect on that tiny space that you’ve allocated for your breakfast nook.
Okay, admit it. You are one of those who run out of the door the moment you finish taking a sip or two of your orange juice. Whether you are this fast-paced person or a laidback one who loves to spend weekend gatherings with her family, then you know how important dining areas are. But the dining room can sometimes have an aura of formality, one that you might not want all days of the week. Casual dining begins with the breakfast nook.
The breakfast nook is an ideal place to spend your simple weekend gatherings as a family, also a quiet corner as you finish your bowl of oatmeal in the morning. It’s time to relax over your morning food.
The breakfast nook can come in any style that you want but there are simple guidelines to follow.
Seating and Table Guidelines
Unlike dining spaces which are more formal, you have to find a seat for your cozy nook before you shop for the right table. Traditionally, the nook is built in a corner right where two walls converge. L-shaped layouts work best.
Choose from a series of cabinetry, cushions, and seats. Carefully consider what you would place as a window seat, bench or settee.
Other choices for the nook are the regular dining chairs that can be placed against the window or a wall. Pedestal tables can effectively save space and you won’t have to worry about bumping on your loved ones’ knees as you enjoy your morning meal.
There is no one particular design that fits all types of breakfast nook. In fact, the table that you eventually pick should fit your preference on seats, the size of your family, and what shape you would want for your cozy corner.
Whitewashed pieces are great when you want to achieve a cottage appeal.
Canadel Dining Room Upholstered Seat Bench BEN89025TD-24. Choose your seating piece well since you only have a limited space to work with.
Lighting Tips
Don’t even think about mounting a light fixture onto the ceiling. Find pendant light or a small chandelier that comfortably hangs at 30 to 34 inches above the table.
Traditional spaces can use smaller chandeliers that are made of metal or wood. If you really favor the farmhouse look, then find painted or tole chandelier. Metal flowers can have a classic effect.
For a more modern look, use pendant lighting with barrel shade or an art glass.
Flooring Options
Kitchens are often installed with hardwood flooring. This is because of the heavy foot traffic that is expected in this area most days of the week. You can soften the tough look of hardwood by placing a rug that is the same size as your breakfast nook table and seats. This rug defines the area while providing your feet with a comfortable feeling as you eat your breakfast and enjoy reading the newspaper.
Find a rug that can be easily spot cleaned. You can also buy a patterned or colorful rug that can hide visible stains.
Window Treatment Selections
Even when the breakfast nook’s windows are already shady, it is still pays to have an added amount of privacy by installing minimal window treatment. Such can add color, texture, pattern and warmth to your nook.
Woven shades can filter light while not totally blocking the natural light that comes in. Add patterns by having valances, cornice boards or faux shades. Should the windows face the street, then you should find a window treatment that lets in light while not having the diners feel uncomfortable because of passersby staring at them.
Maitland-Smith Kitchen Brass Paper Towel Holder, Rooster Décor 1254-262
You will also need to adjust the window treatment if your breakfast nook sits in the east. Make sure that it can protect your eyes from the glare of the morning sun. Consider louvered shutters, fabric shades or plain blinds.
Accessorizing the Nook
Say no to fussy pieces since you are just decorating a small area. Say yes to some throw pillows, bench, tie-on chair pads, tissue holder, and other simple yet decorative pieces. Personalize the area by bringing photographs and artwork.
Now that you’ve created the breakfast nook, an intimate spot, let’s hope you enjoy more cheerful mornings and create happy family memories in this area.
Tags: art, art decor, artwork, breakfast area, breakfast nook, cabinets, chair, designing nook, dining chair, dining nook, dining room bench, dining table, general lighting, guidelines, home lighting, interior lighting, lighting fixture, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, nook, settee, table, tips, unused nook
Posted in Accessories, Dining Room Design, Furniture, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
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