there are some nights where dinner is served on the sofa, so rather than letting your dining table take over a minimal space, it’s a good idea to place it against a wall. Here, personal objects and a delicate wall mirror transform the table into a decorative console. And the ottoman tucks neatly under the table, making sure no space is wasted.
When this compact kitchen needed a makeover, award-winning design firm Minosa stepped in. The team came up with a clever idea that provides plenty of room for diners and cooks. The back of the island bench is trimmed, allowing room for the table to be placed right up against it. At the other end, the table can easily be extended, so up to 10 guests can be seated comfortably.
When designing this space, the owners understood that light was key in this long galley kitchen. During the build, they soon realised the breakfast bar could work from inside or out – a perfect option that can make a quick meal more picturesque or be used to keep an eye on the kids playing in the garden.
Don’t be afraid to mix and match colours, materials and styles of furniture for a dining room that’s packed with eclectic flair and personality. Transform a standard farmhouse table with a lick of dramatic navy paint and have the top covered in a sheet of hard-wearing steel. Pair with iconic Eames DSR chairs and you’ll have a look that will run and run…
As lifestyles change and space becomes more precious, there are times when a full dining set-up just isn’t required. Swap a traditional freestanding table and chairs for a smattering of high-level bar stools and let a breakfast bar or island unit become your tabletop. Such a casual perch is great for coffee and a quick snack or, with the lights dimmed, an intimate supper for two.
You can’t go wrong with a huge, scrubbed timber table for big family gatherings. This salvaged carpenter’s bench is the star of this open-plan room and looks effortlessly stylish with the midcentury, galvanised steel chairs and rattan seating. There is nothing fancy or precious about this table – the reclaimed wood simply gets better and better with use
An island tends to be a big commitment – a permanent fitted fixture you can’t easily undo, especially if it features a hob or sink. However, you can feel freer to experiment style-wise with a table – it’s easy to swap if you eventually change your mind. In this kitchen, a table painted in a bold pinky-mauve brings the whole room to life.
If your room is relatively narrow, or features multiple doorways, an island could easily be a hazard – somewhere to bang toes or block access. This tall, wooden table is a winning alternative. It provides an inviting breakfast bar area, the legroom underneath means stools can be tucked safely out of the way, and tonally it adds warmth to the tiles and units.
Whether you opt for the traditional wood or the more contemporary coloured versions, these chairs by Hans J Wegner must be allowed to shine. While they look perfectly lovely grouped around a table in a matching colour, their standout beauty will be lost in the camouflage. Instead, choose a simple dining table in a contrasting material or hue. Here, these orange-framed chairs look striking around the simple white table.
Magazine racks
If panelling a whole wall isn’t practical for your kitchen, consider whether you could accommodate banquette seating with a tongue and groove back like this.
storage has been incorporated in the form of a library wall, with a reading desk squeezed on to the landing.
Built-in benches don’t need to be big. This petite example works well as a low divide between the kitchen and eating areas,
Building into a fireplace makes use of an awkward space. Here, a simple bench has been constructed across a disused and modernised fireplace. Its clean lines complement the sleek kitchen and it is teamed with super-modern transparent chairs, for a fresh contrast.
A comfy, curvaceous booth utilises every inch of space in a bay window and creates a snug social hub for sitting and eating. Washable, faux suede is a good option for busy kitchens. You could also ask your builder or designer to create lift-up seats, so you have some clever, extra storage underneath.
An under-used corner of a kitchen can be transformed into the prettiest, sunniest spot for breakfast or tea. The base of this bench is designed to look the same as the kitchen cupboads in the adjoining space, for a coordinated feel.
An under-used corner of a kitchen can be transformed into the prettiest, sunniest spot for breakfast or tea. The base of this bench is designed to look the same as the kitchen cupboads in the adjoining space, for a coordinated feel.
Make your banquette stand out from the crowd by picking a vivid colour or patterned fabric. In a busy family kitchen, choose wipeable, child-friendly materials that can stand up to the stickiest hands and toughest treatment.
The spare bedroom is warmed by a soft raspberry and coral scheme. The antique chest of drawers was another of Voûte’s canny buys, costing just £80 online and not requiring any renovation. Walls painted in Matchstick, Farrow & Ball. Bed, Ikea. Lamp, Vaughan. Bed linen, The White Company.
‘I sourced plain, untreated wooden cabinets and then the builders painted them, so it’s a hand-painted kitchen. Suddenly, the quality leaps!’
Fridge colour duck egg blue
If you have an old piece of furniture you’re not sure how to use, turn it into something new for a unique design. With the addition of a length of worktop, this vintage oak chest of drawers has started a second life as a kitchen island.
A bolt of beautiful fabric can hide a multitude of sins. Here, a utility room can be accessed often and easily, but can quickly be hidden away thanks to a simple curtain rail and some favourite fabric.
The ceiling height is about 3m in this room and we built up to about 2.75m,’ explains Sofia. ‘This makes the most of that very tall ceiling and also means the kitchen looks well proportioned.’
If your kitchen is open-plan to a living or dining area, you could use the adjoining space to add zingy colour to contrast with the white. In this room, the deep tomato red of the distant walls is echoed in the accessories in the kitchen.
If you prefer to show off clear glassware and white china, amp things up by painting the inside of your glass-front cabinets, like this wall unit backed with cool turquoise.
If you’re considering painting all of the cabinets a colour, try doing just the lower cabinets first. It’s a nice way to anchor the room in colour, yet keeps that airy, crisp white vibe.
This adds a wonderful big block of colour and is really easy to do. Choose heritage colours for a country kitchen, or more vivid tones for a modern look.
This kitchen has a burst of bright colour on its ‘fifth wall’, the ceiling. The effect is cheerful and sunny, while the white cabinetry, trim and floors maintain the light feel in the modestly sized space.
Trimming this window in cheerful apple green has turned it into a strong focal point that draws the eye.
Remember that the air next to a window will be cooler in winter and hotter in summer than your average indoor temperature, so move your plants around accordingly. To much dry air is hard on most herbs, so if we have a heatwave this summer, treat your herbs to a weekly shower in the sink to refresh them. Use a watering can with a fine rose, but be careful not to totally drench the soil. You could also use a mist spray, which will humidify the air and refresh the plant without watering it too heavily.
Indoor herbs prefer the same temperatures as most people do – around 18C to 22C – so if you feel comfortable, they probably do, too. At night, temperatures near a window may drop to between 12C and 15C, but most herbs like that, too. Just be sure the foliage doesn’t touch the glass to protect it from getting nipped by cold.
If you are picking leaves from your herb regularly to eat, boost and support its growth by feeding it with a houseplant food every month.
Drenching herbs with water can kill them, so instead sit the pot on a saucer of water and let it suck up what it needs. You can tell this has happened when the surface of the soil is moist, but not wet. Let the soil dry out before repeating and do not let the herb sit in water for any length of time as this will rot the roots.
Herbs need plenty of natural light to thrive. If you can, position them in a sunny spot, such as a windowsill, where they can grab up to four hours of direct sunlight daily. South-facing windows are best; north-facing windows are not bright enough. This clever design of rails and hanging pots keeps herbs and other houseplants off the surfaces, but ensures they get plenty of light.
Colours
very simple
source an old bucket from a vintage store or reclamation yard instead. When plumbed in, it becomes a quirky and fully functional alternative to trad white ceramic.
A white backdrop contrasts well with dark wooden furniture, but have too much natural timber and you can loose the clean effect of the walls. This vintage table works brilliantly, as it’s complemented by stools that keep the rustic mood but are cast in fresh white. The overall look is coherent but not too heavy on the dark wood.
The look
Not only do you love rustic ‘just swept the flagstones’ brushes, you hang them from Shaker pegs. High shelves and pegs are making a comeback in contemporary kitchens and they bring with them a homespun feel that’s hard to say no to.
Drawers for storage
You can buy wall-mounted versions, or install one on a pull-out rack below a wall unit, as has been done here.
Q