12 Breakfast Nooks Cool Enough for a Dinner Party
Forget eating side-by-side at a breakfast bar or supping at a long dinner table – the cosy kitchen nook is a far more hip way to dine
Nothing brings a family or group of friends closer together than sharing a meal. It’s even better when they are comfortably rubbing shoulders as well. Kitchen nooks and dining alcoves are ideal for such intimacy, making the dining experience especially enjoyable. Here are 12 inspiring kitchen nook designs to install in your dream home.
2. Groovy baby
This spectacular dining banquette is sited in the middle of a living space in a renovated 1960s apartment in Melbourne. It is decorated by interior design company Mr. Mitchell within a stand-alone, all-white cube. “[This] allowed us to introduce the macramé screen, which is a fun reference to the retro era of the apartment,” says Mr. Mitchell director Andrew Mitchell.
The banquette is a real focal point of the property, providing an intimate place for family gatherings or a quiet place to read or work.
This spectacular dining banquette is sited in the middle of a living space in a renovated 1960s apartment in Melbourne. It is decorated by interior design company Mr. Mitchell within a stand-alone, all-white cube. “[This] allowed us to introduce the macramé screen, which is a fun reference to the retro era of the apartment,” says Mr. Mitchell director Andrew Mitchell.
The banquette is a real focal point of the property, providing an intimate place for family gatherings or a quiet place to read or work.
3. Norwegian wood
In this stylish country kitchen, designed by architect Christine Fikseaunet, a simple window seat with upholstered banquette cushion is partnered with a timber bench table to create a casual dining setting. With the addition of a small screen in the corner of the nook, it also allows for communal television viewing with family or friends.
In this stylish country kitchen, designed by architect Christine Fikseaunet, a simple window seat with upholstered banquette cushion is partnered with a timber bench table to create a casual dining setting. With the addition of a small screen in the corner of the nook, it also allows for communal television viewing with family or friends.
4. Table talk
This dining space has a timber alcove built up and over a table, creating an elegant dining space that looks just like a private dining booth in an upscale bistro. The mix of materials, from the timber panelling to the channelled upholstery and stone table, add sophistication to the alcove’s slick urban look.
This dining space has a timber alcove built up and over a table, creating an elegant dining space that looks just like a private dining booth in an upscale bistro. The mix of materials, from the timber panelling to the channelled upholstery and stone table, add sophistication to the alcove’s slick urban look.
5. Small but perfectly formed
This industrial-style dining arrangement is easy to copy –source a timber trestle table, some Eames-style chairs and slot the setting into a small area of your home, preferably with a window outlook. While not technically a nook as such, the tight space and surrounding brick and plaster walls imbue the space with a congenial atmosphere.
This industrial-style dining arrangement is easy to copy –source a timber trestle table, some Eames-style chairs and slot the setting into a small area of your home, preferably with a window outlook. While not technically a nook as such, the tight space and surrounding brick and plaster walls imbue the space with a congenial atmosphere.
6. Bright and breezy
This built-in banquette needs little more than a small table and a couple of light chairs in front of it to complete a fine-looking but functional kitchen nook. Note how the window bench seamlessly extends from the kitchen to create an ideal space between two big windows. The banquette can also double as storage with a hinged lid seat covered by cushions.
This built-in banquette needs little more than a small table and a couple of light chairs in front of it to complete a fine-looking but functional kitchen nook. Note how the window bench seamlessly extends from the kitchen to create an ideal space between two big windows. The banquette can also double as storage with a hinged lid seat covered by cushions.
7. Budget box
Make the most of a breakfast nook by installing a complete compartment that keeps diners out of the way of the cooking action in the kitchen. Additionally, those on a budget will benefit from copying the style of the boxed-in nook pictured here. Cheap timber can be used and painted white to keep the area bright. To add value, choose a more expensive tabletop and treat it with a good sealant oil to keep it looking good despite any wear and tear.
Make the most of a breakfast nook by installing a complete compartment that keeps diners out of the way of the cooking action in the kitchen. Additionally, those on a budget will benefit from copying the style of the boxed-in nook pictured here. Cheap timber can be used and painted white to keep the area bright. To add value, choose a more expensive tabletop and treat it with a good sealant oil to keep it looking good despite any wear and tear.
8. Light play
This small dining nook has been designed by Kimball Starr Interior Design in San Francisco. Starr says her clients wanted the area off the kitchen to be used as an activity nook for playing board games with friends, so she added a touch of grown-up glamour with impressive geometric pendants and a custom banquette upholstered in a playful fabric.
This small dining nook has been designed by Kimball Starr Interior Design in San Francisco. Starr says her clients wanted the area off the kitchen to be used as an activity nook for playing board games with friends, so she added a touch of grown-up glamour with impressive geometric pendants and a custom banquette upholstered in a playful fabric.
9. Retro kitchen-diner
This small eating nook would work well in a house with mid-century aspirations. It’s plain and simple but is well decorated with a set of shelves that also act as a divider.
The wall map adds a classroom sensibility to the room, which is perfect for after-dinner party lessons in historical geography, or a trip down memory lane when such maps were common in schools. Decorating the area with fun travel posters from far away places can also encourage the exchange of personal travel stories and tips for future adventures.
This small eating nook would work well in a house with mid-century aspirations. It’s plain and simple but is well decorated with a set of shelves that also act as a divider.
The wall map adds a classroom sensibility to the room, which is perfect for after-dinner party lessons in historical geography, or a trip down memory lane when such maps were common in schools. Decorating the area with fun travel posters from far away places can also encourage the exchange of personal travel stories and tips for future adventures.
10. Lime fresh
In this charming nook, children’s colourful artwork has been framed and hung to personalise the space. This is a great idea for families, especially when a kitchen nook is also used as a homework and craft centre.
Installing a small U-shaped nook is a clever way to divide up space in a kitchen with a generous expanse of floor. Take advantage of the extra room and install a nook big enough to accommodate plenty of dinner party guests.
In this charming nook, children’s colourful artwork has been framed and hung to personalise the space. This is a great idea for families, especially when a kitchen nook is also used as a homework and craft centre.
Installing a small U-shaped nook is a clever way to divide up space in a kitchen with a generous expanse of floor. Take advantage of the extra room and install a nook big enough to accommodate plenty of dinner party guests.
11. Corner nook
Custom joinery and banquette seating can create a sophisticated corner nook in the kitchen. In this L-shaped arrangement, the timber grain of the built-in banquette is matched to the kitchen benchtops and complemented by a white table and cabinets. To add colour and interest, it is decorated with a variety of flea-market finds.
Custom joinery and banquette seating can create a sophisticated corner nook in the kitchen. In this L-shaped arrangement, the timber grain of the built-in banquette is matched to the kitchen benchtops and complemented by a white table and cabinets. To add colour and interest, it is decorated with a variety of flea-market finds.
12. Colour up
In an all-white kitchen, introduce colour and texture with bold and cheerfully patterned upholstery. Brighten up the nook with glass pendants, a colourful table setting and freshly picked flowers. Note how the pull-out drawers under the benches provide extra storage – a perfect place in which to keep all your board, card and trivia games for after-dinner fun.
Find an interior designer on Houzz to design your breakfast corner
Tell us:
Do you have a dining nook at your house? Share your images in the Comments section or let us know what kind of nook you’d like to install.
In an all-white kitchen, introduce colour and texture with bold and cheerfully patterned upholstery. Brighten up the nook with glass pendants, a colourful table setting and freshly picked flowers. Note how the pull-out drawers under the benches provide extra storage – a perfect place in which to keep all your board, card and trivia games for after-dinner fun.
Find an interior designer on Houzz to design your breakfast corner
Tell us:
Do you have a dining nook at your house? Share your images in the Comments section or let us know what kind of nook you’d like to install.
Sponsored
In keeping with the warm minimalist elements featured elsewhere in this Californian Ranch house, this nook had cedar ceilings, sheetrock walls and exposed timber framing and structural steel windows installed. The site for the house is edged with mature evergreen trees and opens to a field with views out to the Pacific Ocean. With its panoramic-sized window and glorious outlook to a countryside vista, this sleek dine-in nook is a super stylish way to eat at home.
See more of this house