Challenging kitchen area, needs to be defined and wishfully cozy!

8 years ago

Here's the challenge: we have purchased a brand new condo with beautiful custom woodwork, that overlooks the water. Centerport, NY. Going for a relaxed beach look. That said, the kitchen is somewhat narrow (11') and we need to leave a "path" from the front door through the eating area into the kitchen and living room. We've finally received delivery of our kitchen table and chairs (waiting since May). The table and chairs are white and sage green, from Canadel furniture. There are five things that interrupt the full length of the kitchen, all on the same side. #1, the front door to outside. #2, the door to the garage. #3, a hallway to the powder room (that includes a pantry and coat closet). #4, the stairway upstairs. And #5, the door to the basement. Only numbers one and two above directly impact the eating area, which measures 14' long by 11' wide. The table is 48" round with an 18" leaf.
Don't entertain much, would mostly stay with round table. We selected the white/sage color (versus a glass table for example) to give us a start at defining the eating area. We have also ordered a long white (very skinny)
table with green crackled glass for the long wall that has the garage door.
WONDERING ABOUT a custom window seat with fabric that picks up the green (under the double window) but wondering if that would be too much, especially when the leaf is in. Someone suggested wallpaper on the non-door (refrigerator) wall - specifically a barn wood look with shades of blue and sage green. (Is wallpaper on one wall tacky? Fake wood-look tacky?) We have a large mirror in the living room so are afraid it would be too much to use
another mirror. Sisel rug? Round, or 8 X 10? We're also planning on putting a small TV on the refrigerator wall especially for grandchildren when they sleep over! All ideas would be very welcomed!!

Featured Answer

auntthelma

8 years ago

The path to the living room looks fine to me. You might want a small table or coat tree inside the door.

People don't mind walking around a round table. I love the table. Might have to paint mine.

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Comments (9)

Melissa Gallagher
8 years ago
A. I would not put a tv on the refrigerator wall in the kitchen. The kids don't need to be watching tv while they eat. They'll survive. (I'm assuming you have a tv somewhere else).

B. I would not do a window seat since you don't entertain and you are putting a table on the garage door wall.

C. I think fake wood wallpaper is ugly. I think another type of wallpaper on that wall would be really cool, though....

Just my opinions...
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jck910
8 years ago
Very pretty room. I agree no TV necessary. A window seat will take up too much room. I would a large piece of art for the large wall. Hopefully the console table is slim. I would get a rectangular rug and think about getting one that fills the area so you don't need a runner from the door. I would also do fabric roman shades style valances for some color both on the window and door.
PRO
Lumar Interiors
8 years ago
No TV necessary, and the table looks fine. The window seat is unnecessary.
katinparadise
8 years ago
I would add pretty roman shades to the windows, a lovely piece of artwork to the refrigerator wall, your console table decorated with a few choice accessories and a centerpiece to the table. I wouldn't worry about a window seat. An appropriately sized rug would interfere in the walk space but you could add a pretty mat inside the door. Look for something indoor outdoor from Frontgate or Dash and Albert. I would also lower the chandelier so it's 32-34" from the table top. I have Canadel dining room furniture and I love the quality. I bought it about 17 years ago and I hope that one of my kids will want it someday. Congratulations on your lovely new home!
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago
Decide on a window treatment. Roman Shades could work

Add a side board with a hutch if you need more storage space

Assemble some interesting plates on the wall next to the table

Select a decent, more present chandelier for the space.

No rug under the table, but you may require a runner as walk off from the door.
Maria Privat
8 years ago
How old are the grandkids? For as soon as they turn about 10 years old it becomes Very Important to them to watch their favorite show. So it might come in handy to actually have something they can watch it on. And that something you might not necessarily want in the living room, where you are trying to have a conversation or watch your own program. But preferably I'd have that TV in a room with a door in it, so I could shut out any noise from it.

I think you did a marvelous job with the small kitchen island. You have all the space you want and still everyone has room enough to walk there.

Personally I like a round rug under a round table, but it is no necessity. More important is that the rug is easy to clean, for your grandkids will spill more on it than you will like and it will not always be water either.

I'd wait till the side table arrives, before I'd make up my mind about a window seat, for it might clutter the place. But kids do love to sit in those, so I see your point.

Children find any place cozy that brings them attention and good food :)

Wallpaper on just one wall is no problem to me. Since you do not entertain much, I'd really not care if someone else thought my wallpaper is tacky. They won't see it, now will they? But maybe you yourself might start to wonder one day how the wood got so sage green.

If you still feel insecure about it, you could select a few and make a poll out of it. Do also state there for where it is and who is going to look at it.

Hope you have a wonderful time in your new house.
Jill Stranburg
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you to all for your ideas!! You've given us so much to think about. Loved the photos of lighting etc. I've never participated in this feature of Houzz...it's amazing!!
PRO
Jenn Gers Design
8 years ago
No faux wood wallpaper! However I LOVE wallpaper and think it would be an amazing statement on that wall, especially if you are putting a thin table along the opposite wall and I assume art work above.

Oh, and yes to getting a more modern and statement making chandelier.

Something modern and lite with some sage green -