Kick Back in Comfort in Your Own Kitchen Lounge
Keep the cook company or just relax solo in a kitchen hangout with all the comforts of a lounge
Tiffany Carboni
October 29, 2013
Houzz Contributor. I am a home design writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Houzz Contributor. I am a home design writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area.... More
Have you ever sipped cocktails with friends in a bar lounge and thought, "This would be a sweet setup in my own kitchen"? Your pipe dream can be a reality (minus the crowds of rowdy strangers) with the help of these inspiring looks.
Gather 'round the fireplace. This modern-meets-retro space has the ultimate people-gathering tools: a fireplace and loads of comfortable seating.
The predominantly white space, designed by Baan Design, features shots of vivid color with midcentury modern–inspired armless sofas, dining chairs and a thick-pile gray rug that place guests near the 1960s fireplace.
The predominantly white space, designed by Baan Design, features shots of vivid color with midcentury modern–inspired armless sofas, dining chairs and a thick-pile gray rug that place guests near the 1960s fireplace.
Rock on. The rock wall of this basement kitchen in Oslo, Norway, has a lair-like tone. While the kitchen's work side is all white, the lounging side has an inviting dark gray sectional and a rug that begs bare feet to nestle into it.
See more of this 200-year-old mansion
See more of this 200-year-old mansion
Choose a cohesive color palette. Charcoal painted kitchen cabinets create a furniture-like effect that complements the neutral pieces in this 6- by 15-foot space. The entire room is painted in Benjamin Moore's Cloud White. The media credenza and dining table, both from Design House, share the same blonde wood that helps to highlight the room's surrounding blue accents, while the Calligaris L'eau chairs don't try to compete with any of it.
Blur the lines between kitchen and living area. This French country kitchen has a warm, library-like atmosphere that disguises its utilitarian purpose. The designer seamlessly carried over the kitchen's dark green details and elegant lighting fixtures to the hearth's lounging side — or maybe it's vice versa. It's hard to tell where one space ends and the next begins.
See more of this home
See more of this home
This kitchen's den-like feeling mirrors the rest of the relaxing ambience in this Bahamian house. The kitchen walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Simply Irresistible. A love seat, a wicker barrel chair and nesting tables purchased in nearby Nassau plus throw pillows and art pull the look together.
"The homeowners have told me it's their favorite spot in the mornings to have a cup of coffee, and in the evenings for a glass of wine while dinner is in the oven," says project designer Linda Banks.
See more of this Paradise Island home
"The homeowners have told me it's their favorite spot in the mornings to have a cup of coffee, and in the evenings for a glass of wine while dinner is in the oven," says project designer Linda Banks.
See more of this Paradise Island home
Add a twist to the banquette. This custom banquette was made to look more like a sofa. Low cabinets flank both sides for convenient table space. The lamp casts a warm glow onto the rich flooring, which is finished with a blend of Duraseal's Antique Brown and Coffee Brown. It's enough to make you wonder how the kitchen made its way into this ubercomfy space.
Warning: Do not add a TV to a setup like this, as you might find yourself asleep in the kitchen after hours.
Warning: Do not add a TV to a setup like this, as you might find yourself asleep in the kitchen after hours.
Here a long banquette with a custom table lets the chef and guests interact without getting in one another's way. Similar stools in two sizes keep the look of the breakfast bar and lounge area consistent.
The measurements of this kitchen mean the curved bar and table are close (3½ feet at the narrowest point) to make the most of the space while still offering a comfortable walkway.
The measurements of this kitchen mean the curved bar and table are close (3½ feet at the narrowest point) to make the most of the space while still offering a comfortable walkway.
This spacious banquette fits cozily around a custom coffee — or should we say cocktail? — table.
To borrow this inviting look, upholster benches in a high-quality microfiber, also known by the trade name Ultrasuede. Worried about messes? Don't be with this type of soft, luxurious-feeling fabric. No matter how much your glamorous friends spill, this upholstery is durable and easy to clean. Add throw pillows and blankets for more comfort and a homey feel.
To borrow this inviting look, upholster benches in a high-quality microfiber, also known by the trade name Ultrasuede. Worried about messes? Don't be with this type of soft, luxurious-feeling fabric. No matter how much your glamorous friends spill, this upholstery is durable and easy to clean. Add throw pillows and blankets for more comfort and a homey feel.
Glam up the banquette with tufted details. Turn an everyday banquette bench into one that deserves VIP status. This bench, covered in high-quality vinyl from Architex's Authentec collection, is further enhanced with a tufted back. The elegance of the dark fabric, custom table and sleek chairs is punctuated by the walls, painted in Benjamin Moore's Gloucester Sage.
If you're inspired by this look, also check out vinyl selections from Designtex and Brentano Fabrics.
Houzzers: Let's see your lounge-like kitchen!
If you're inspired by this look, also check out vinyl selections from Designtex and Brentano Fabrics.
Houzzers: Let's see your lounge-like kitchen!
A.I.S Renovation is a leading contractor in the central Ohio area. Since 1989, we have been committed to client's... Read More
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Why not just have an open living area with bar seating?
Qofmiwok I think the goal here is not ‘bar’ seating, which may conjure up counter stools or low chairs gathered around a small round or rectangular table for the purpose of enjoying cocktails but rather truly residential chairs (wingbacks or deep seating in a traditional or modern design) which do not gather around a dining/drinking table but that sit facing an object (buffet, breakfront, fireplace, low table for puzzles or games or a TV wall) or open toward the kitchen within earshot of the cook during meal prep that provides a space for catching up on Instagram, etc., i .e. not the lounge concept, not as it relates to 50’s/60’s bar culture but a more international idea of communal living near the hearth. At least, that’s what these images bring to mind to me.
@Resource Art & Design But the point is if you have an open kitchen, your living room is just as "in" your kitchen as these shots. Unless you have a giant house or want a living room separate from your kitchen too, I don't get it. One big open space is the same as this.