Breakfast Nooks

Breakfast nooks are a fashionable and practical design feature for kitchens.

Breakfast nooks are typically cozy offsets found in the kitchen often located beneath a window or within the space of a bay window. The nook offers an informal family retreat that's big enough for a table and chairs or a built-in booth and table. It's the family hub of the kitchen for various activities such a family breakfast, an afternoon coffee break, snack times, and informal meals.

Breakfast nooks are often placed in a corner of the kitchen opposite the cooking and food preparation area. The nook is within convenient access of the kitchen so meals can be enjoyed as soon as prepared.

Many homes have some form of informal dining as part of the kitchen area, however many have foregone traditional breakfast nooks in lieu of [[keeping or gathering rooms that become part of the kitchen to afford your family plenty of space to be together during meal preparation. Children often use breakfast nooks as places to do homework while mom or dad prepares the evening meal. Bar areas and large adjoining family rooms provide more space for such activities, although many families still prefer to use intimate breakfast nooks.

There two basic configurations for breakfast nooks. The first is created by using a small table and chairs, typically large enough for 4-6 people. The other is a booth with a table.

Popular Styles:

• Colonial style with pine table and benches
• Farm house design with country kitchen design. Rectangular table with 4-6 chairs
• Soda-shop look with table and booth
• Square bistro table and stool-height chairs
• Banquette sets typically have under-the-seat storage and come in double seat or single and curved sectionals

If you have the space available, you can redesign your kitchen to include a warm, cozy breakfast nook. There are a few things you need to make sure you address when designing a nook.

• Traffic flow: You don't want to place your nook in the path of a doorway or high traffic area of your kitchen.
• If you want more light in your kitchen and have the space, consider added a bay window in the nook. You can use a window seat as part of the seating for the table and add chairs for additional seating.
• Space considerations need to be taken into account when reconfiguring your kitchen or deciding to dedicate a corner to a breakfast nook.
• Size. You may be limited by square footage and need to use a small round bistro table and chairs for your nook.

You'll want your nook to flow from the kitchen as though it was always a part of the original design. This may require installing new flooring throughout the kitchen area. You'll want the floor of the nook to match that of the kitchen in order t create a unified and one-room effect.

Carry the rest of your color scheme into your breakfast nook. Draperies should match are compliment the curtain found in the kitchen. Any wallpaper or wall treatment in the kitchen should expand to include the nook.

The overall effect of your new breakfast space is a visitor to feel as though it has always been part of your kitchen design. Color, motifs, style, patterns, and material choices can all tie your kitchen décor together.

One of the decisions you'll need to make upfront is whether or not to use a booth or banquette seating arrangement or a table with chairs. You may have little choice in the matter due to space considerations.

A booth can fit a smaller space. You have the choice of several styles.

• Traditional includes a table and two built-in seats with cushions usually width of a loveseat. Capable of seating four adults comfortably.
• U-Shape and circular allows for more seating capacity. You can use a round, oval or oblong table with either configuration.

If you opt for a table and chairs, you have greater flexibility with rearranging the space as opposed to a booth configuration. The square footage and shape of the space will dictate the necessary size and shape of your table.

Whichever style of seating is used for breakfast nooks, you'll discover the best choice for yours.

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