Casual Dining Ideas

Southern Living, Jun 2004 by Mercer, Amy Bickers

Make the most of those small eating areas off the kitchen.

Despite its name, the breakfast room is home to so many more activities than just the morning meal. The space also functions as the children's homework zone, a bill-paying center, crafts area, and a location for brunch, lunch, supper, and after-school snacks.

With so much taking place in such a typically small space, it's hard to inject style into the mix. Luckily, we found a couple of homes that offer family-friendly inspiration for adding flair to this area.

Seaside Memories

You don't have to call in the carpenter to create great bench seating in your breakfast room. Proof of that is found in the Isle of Palms, South Carolina, home of Steve and Susan Herlong. The freestanding bench in their dining nook adds seating along two sides of the kitchen table.

The bench is a wonderful fit for the ocean-inspired decor in the small area. Fixed antique shutters create the effect of a wall and hide a stairway to the master bedroom. The weathered shutters look as though they came from a salty beachfront retreat. A collection of seashells and displayed photographs from past travels complete the inviting look.

Stylish Storage

Cottages offer charm galore, but they rarely provide ample storage, especially in kitchens and bedrooms. For an easy and practical fix, Lexington, Kentucky, homeowners Brad and Hydee Hawkins added double-duty seating to the breakfast area in their 1920s home with an understated banquette.

The L-shaped, built-in bench, topped with cushions and throw pillows for comfortable seating, is positioned along two adjacent walls. The seat tops lift up to reveal storage space beneath.

Let these inspirational ideas guide you to create more seating in a small breakfast room. AMY BICKERS MERCER

BUILD A BENCH

At your favorite restaurant, do you prefer a table in the center of the room or a cozy booth in a hidden corner? If you can't always claim a booth seat at your local diner, you can always go home to one. Banquettes are a popular and practical solution for seating in a small kitchen.

If you're not an expert carpenter, that's okay. Instead of built-in furniture, use a freestanding bench to create the same look. There are several Southern Living project plans for benches that can be built in a weekend. For more information visit southernliving.com, and click on "Marketplace."