Building a Home Furniture Design Dilemma

Breakfast Nook Ideas

3 years ago

I’m trying to warm up / make our dining space more functional. A breakfast nook is ideal but concerned about spacing. Open to DIY with storage under benches or purchasing a couch set and going from there.

Featured Answer

mytwo cents

3 years ago

For ease of gettng in and out of the space, and because of the door on the right, the optimal seating arrangement for conversation and warmth is 2 facing the window, and 2 with their backs to the window. Is that enough?

To make it comfortable for those with their backs at the window, extending the seat past the table edge on both sides is best. Getting a sufficiently long armless settee with a back would accomplish this, and they also sell dining benches and banquettes with back that are armless. But look for ones that seat 3 or 4 for optimal ease of getting in or out.

A custom built banquette could be very lovely, and have storage underneath, and if made with a curve could give you seating for 3 on the banquette and 1 chair facing. But you'd have to deal with the windows plus it is lot more expensive than just buying a very nice upholstered piece.

You need something more like a settee than a sofa for dining.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

mytwo cents
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

From Williams and Sonoma in lots of fabrics, including leather which could be nice for clean up and durability

You should also check out if anyone locally makes custom furniture like settees. The costs are often very competitive and you have a much wider range of choices for fabrics. For dining, a dense or bold and colorful print is often a good choice, and can be really cheery and charming for a nook.
Related Professionals
Hays Architects & Building Designers · Cambridge Architects & Building Designers · Spring Architects & Building Designers · Pittsburgh Architects & Building Designers · Saint Joseph Design-Build Firms · Norfolk Design-Build Firms · Dodge City Design-Build Firms · Miami Home Builders · Petersburg Home Builders · Memphis Carpenters · Indianapolis Cabinets & Cabinetry · Amherstburg Cabinets & Cabinetry · Chicago Interior Designers & Decorators · Bakersfield Interior Designers & Decorators · Asheville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
kandrewspa
3 years ago
I can't tell from the pictures whether the table you have there now doesn't work because there isn't enough room to pull out the chairs. Have you been using it like this for a while? The windows look like they're too low on the wall for a built-in bench, so mytwo cents' idea about having a settee is good if the current setup doesn't work.
littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I’m not sure of the situation. Do you have another dining area and this one can be something else (instead of a table and chairs)? Or you just WANT a table and chairs here? Is traffic from the door impeded as currently furnished?

If you simply want warm-up ideas, put an area rug under the furnishings and drapes on the window.
Lyn Nielson
3 years ago
I would line up the existing chairs in front of the window (space them out to where you want the seating)

and position the table as well.

Do you like the way that looks?

I don't think you have enough space.
Michelle Albers
Original Author
3 years ago
The table and chairs are too big at the moment! I like the idea of just 2 on a bench and 2 chairs. The distance from the window to ground is 2.5ft. We do not currently use the table we sit at the bar or the porch.
mytwo cents
3 years ago
The Williams Sonoma bench I posted is 75" long. It would only look good centered on the windows, but it can be brought right to the wall on the left side. Then you would want a shorter oval or rectangular table in front of it. Ovals can be nice for maneuevering to the bench seat and also because they freqently have a pedestal base which is roomier for legs

A lot of people are just opposed to window-seat or banquette arrangements for their own reasons, but if it fits in your space I agree you might use the space more and it could look charming.