Breakfast Nook to Coffee/Tea/Bar/Pantry?

last month

last modified: last month

My entry-kitchen-dining area is pretty strange. Marked on the layout "breakfast nook" is what this has traditionally been. But as you can see we just put freestanding cabinets because we need (or think we need) more storage and a spot for coffee and such. We're considering swapping the freestanding furniture for cabinets and counter top where the short cabinet is and shallow pantry where the freestanding cabinets are. However, I cannot shake the feeling that this is a bad use of space. But we don't need a breakfast nook at all. The dining room is right next to the kitchen.

I need different thoughts and ideas. I thought about banquettes which would look good with a table but it doesn't solve my coffee and storage dilemma - just the awkward excess space part. We would rather not do anything that requires refinishing the floors or ceilings, but that's about my only preference at this point.

As far as style, we're mostly contemporary with a touch of organic textures and global patterns. I like contrast so the black-white-wood thing appeals to me but we want lots of art on the walls for color.

The fountain on the floor is for the cat. Willing to move well, everything that's not nailed down. Just need a spot for the old fuzzy buddy.

Layout (revised measurements):

From Kitchen View

From Entry:

Featured Answer

kandrewspa

last month

I would straighten out the closet to create more of a real entry. Line up the closet with the fireplace. See if you will have to fill in flooring gaps before starting so you're prepared if you need to be. Definitely put cabinets along the wall in the eating area since that's what you need. Because there is a slider there I don't see anything wrong with leaving that space open. Friends of ours had a kitchen like this. They never put a table in front of the slider. They were in and out of that door frequently and had an adjacent dining room like you do, so it made more sense to leave it open. Do what works for you. If the next people who own the house wanted to put a small table there they still could.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

rebasheba
last month
If you installed full-depth (or even extra depth) cabinets, you would be able to put away the appliances currently on the wheeled cart, and have your coffee gear on that counter. Is it working for you to have the coffee set up over there -- away from water and fridge?

To be honest I would be looking to redo the closet situation and go from there.
Shiny Spork thanked rebasheba
Shiny Spork
Original Author
last month
I know the closet setup is a little strange too. How would you tackle that?
Related Professionals
Cusseta Interior Designers & Decorators · Norwalk Furniture & Accessories · Carlsbad Furniture & Accessories · Bay Shore General Contractors · Haysville General Contractors · Jefferson Valley-Yorktown General Contractors · Leominster General Contractors · Murrysville General Contractors · Norman General Contractors · Frankfort Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Beaverton Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Fort Myers Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Linton Hall Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Country Club Cabinets & Cabinetry · Lake Nona Tile and Stone Contractors
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last month
IMO rip out the closet and then see how the space works , what else is behind that odd angled closet . The whole layout is odd so IMO a rework of that are is a must. maybe even the clset facing the door to create an enty closed off from the kitchen .
Shiny Spork thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Shiny Spork
Original Author
last month
There’s nothing behind the closet - it’s just an exterior wall. But I’m getting the impression that I can’t ignore or work with the existing closet if I want to make a meaningful change to the storage and flow of the area.
amystoller
last month
I agree the closet is awkward, but before you rip it out, think about what you store in there now, and what you would like to store in there in an ideal world. Do you have other places that would accommodate some of the current contents in a way you could be happy with? Would you be okay with hooks on the wall and a storage bench instead of a coat closet? I can't provide a solution, but one thing I've learned from renovating my own home is that asking enough of the right questions can really help you come up with answers that you like. Good luck!
Shiny Spork thanked amystoller
mcarroll16
last month
I agree with kandrewspa. It's worth it to rework the closet. Here's a quick draft. I'm not sure if this works--your diagram shows a 60" wide door, the door in your picture does not look that wide. But I think this could be adapted to fit a shorter wall.
- Move sidelight to the closet side of the wall. Can be right in the corner, with a moveable bench in front, or start where the bench ends, depending on the actual width of that wall.
- Have a bench with shoe storage underneath, maybe coat hooks above. This bench helps make the gap between doorway and closet protrusion look visually logical.
- Make the closet as long as you need. I would make part of it a utility/cleaning closet with broom and vacuum storage. Include a power outlet so you can keep a cordless stick vac charged.
Shiny Spork thanked mcarroll16
Shiny Spork
Original Author
last month
last modified: last month
Hmm, you're right that the door isn't likely to be 60". I will remeasure.

Edit: 59" included my sidelight so I ended up counting it twice. The picture has been updated with the fix.