I’d do new benches. A rug. New lighting. Tile the the wall on top of the “new” benches. Really the whole wall...

Oooooh a builtin planter. That means you need a chrome & Formica dinette set. Preferably cracked ice but boomerang/skylark is okay.

Put the bench and table (if you get that too) in the corner against the pine wall and call it a game table.

@Fori LOVE that dinette table idea!

I think you can do better on light fixtures, too.

When was the place built and do you want to embrace the era? Nod to the era? Or take it completely out of the era? :P

I love the unique space. I would flip the bench seating so that it doesn’t but up to the brick planter. Since you have a lot of wood pieces you may want to consider painting the bench and the chairs and leaving just the table stained. I would also paint the trim molding around doors white like the base molding. Raise the draperies to just a couple of inches below ceiling and then add a colorful Roman shade, which can be operable or inoperable depending on whether or not you need the privacy. You could also add bench cushions to coordinate with the shade. Use tall greenery such as snake plant to add visual height to the planter and help block off view of doors. Add a centerpiece, such as a candle or plant, and you’ll have a beautiful space.

....I agree with Fori change out the light fixtures. Add a hanging fixture over the table.

Emily this is exactly the kind of advice i need!! Thoughts on a paint color for the walls?

I think I would 'cap' the planter - I don't think there's enough light to keep something thriving there for the long run

Hanging fixture would help - I would also flip the banquette

Instead of painting banquette/chair you could add fitted cushions to neutralize all the wood

This pic has become a fave

Flip and get a rectangular table so the bench is useful. As it is not it is a lot of bench for four at that table.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6095163/problem-solved-fake-flowers-of-course
Look through this thread for links to good quality fake plants. I grew up in a house with a planter box. Mom tried and tried to grow things in it to no avail. She finally gave up and put in fakes.

I like the idea of having a breakfast nook. Breakfast nooks can be a cozy and inviting space to eat and chat with family/friends. I would use furniture that makes the area appear more spacious. I would put a bench against the window and get two other chairs to compliment it. Paint the trim around the windows and the doors. Hang a simple valance curtain at the window instead of long curtains. I would cover the planter so that it’s just a brick wall. If you choose to use it as a planter put a short plant in it. The wall is high; therefor, a short plant would make the space look open. Here is a photo to give you ideas.

I think the existing bench makes the space look smaller...it's taller than the planter and the window sill. If you want a built-in, just put a bench along the far wall with storage underneath and then use chairs around the rest of the table. Add some color with the window treatments, pillows on the bench. Get a pendant fixture over the table..another opportunity to add color.

I don't think plants would add anything. If you want funky, however you define it, that's the place to go with it. You can put in a pane of frosted or textured glass

you can do floor to ceiling shelving for display...

Something more artful, maybe metal

Something with wood

At my old house, I had a similar situation, so we filled in the planter and put in a wooden screen floor to ceiling on one side. We used mirrors on the bottom of the other side, put things for display and added spot lighting above to shine down on the objects.

These are pics from a subsequent owner who left our screen in place.

I agree with Annie. No plants and bench too tall/bulky. Not inviting. You could probably sell it on FB Marketplace easily.

I also like her idea of the top of brick to ceiling open shelves for display. Like the photo, space out evenly and decent space between each shelf. Then don't clutter too much. As I said in the LR thread, fewer pieces, larger pieces make a bigger impact visually.

A round table is easier to get around when people are sitting in the chairs. A round pedestal table is easier than one with legs. I definitely would not do a square table. Round, oval or a short rectangle, but you don't want to encroach the living room space or the doorway to the kitchen.

If you want a built-in under the window, make it wall-to-wall, take it all the way to the left wall (corner section and brick half wall) and take in that wasted hole the current owners have (ETA: or you could stop the bench short of the "hole" and take the open shelves all the way to the outside wall - they would not be as deep in the "hole" area, but extending joins everything together visually). Then you could butt the table up to the brick wall (leaving enough space on kitchen wall for people to comfortably go to the bench. Table would be rectangle and parallel to the bench. Don't know how many you need to seat, but 2-3 on beach, and another 2 chairs facing the bench. On the other hand, for 4 people, I would do a round table to break up lines in the house, visual interest and easier to maneuver.

Another option, instead of building a built-in, buy a small-size loveseat or settee (check seat height) to use against the outside wall. More comfortable and it goes with you.

Went to find photos of my examples, and saw another option. Long table to window wall. Chairs on either side. Could seat up to 6. Everyone has view outside or into living room.

Loveseat or settee option

Table to wall option

Better to the wall photo, with just chairs.

Can we see the other side of the room?

Lets bring on the retro! With you liking things a little funky and a little retro is this in line with your vision?

A custom u shaped booth combined with a 50 s dinette table and chairs to bring that 50 diners look home?

Whatever the style you go with, the combination of a u shaped booth along with either a full table with chairs or a round table with chairs would look great in this space. pictures flanking the window and a great light overhead.

That nook is unsuccessfully mixing styles. The 60's style would have been a square table of some sort or rectangle. Possibly rectangle table against window with benches on either side as pictured in Allison's example. The alternative would be a round table with chairs all around. In that case, the chairs and table would have to take up minimum space to make it easy to move in and out of the back area. Lots of options depending on your taste. I'd keep at least some of the benches, they are lovely, but maybe reconfigure or pair with less obtrusive table, a pedestal table of any style would fit much better . . .

I have more questions. How will you use this space? Is this the go-to eating spot or is there any other eating area in the kitchen area?

I would top off the planter with stained wood and build a matching bench like this picture (but obviously flipped.) I would do a square table to mirror the window and use chairs on the other three sides. You will have extra breathing room in front of the window which will make the space feel more accessible. I would also suggest painting the door and window trim as it takes attention away from the rest of room.

The trend is to go light on the wall color, so I’d do a sample of something like BM white dove or pale oak. They have some warmth to them which will be needed with the rich tones in the flooring. And while not as trendy, I also like to go dark in small spaces and let the things like the planter, artwork and the painted finishes stand out. There are some dark blues and charcoals that I think would look nice so if you wanted to go that route play around with some samples such as SW Navel or BM wrought iron and see how they look.

I absolutely love the picture of Gizmo posted: that round table and the chairs that you wouldn't think would go but do, those lovely Roman curtains and that light blue on the walls, that chandelier lantern, it's all beautiful

bbstx

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. I grew up in a house with a planter box. Mom tried and tried to grow things in it to no avail. She finally gave up and put in fakes.

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I've been seeing where people are adding grow lights over those planters

As an aside, I've have a large schefflera aka umbrella tree plant my parents were given as a 50th wedding anniversary gift 25yrs ago.

It summers outside, but is a PITA finding a spot to overwinter as it's so big.

I tried a new spot

Last fall, I bought a 9watt LED growlight bulb and used it in a cheap clip-on utility fixture w/reflector. which I clipped/attached to a beam in my basement shining on the plant.

A timer kept the light on 14hrs evenings/overnight

. The plant wasn't near a window

Not only did the plant survive it's growing new leaves.

It also kept a Rosemary plant alive as well

I don't know about everywhere, but since recreational marijuana became legal in my state, and one is allowed to grow a small amount of it, grow lights and growing stands and indoor plant growing setups of all kinds and ilks are suddenly very common in retail stores, garden stores, etc. I use mine strictly for starting tomatoes, I swear . . . !

Lots of cool options here though. All just depends on your taste. I am the kind of person who usually needs an inspiration picture to figure out what I like. That's why I hang out here. So many creative types with such diverse inspirations!!