Using non-traditional seating at a kitchen table
I have a plan to make the seating in the kitchen breakfast area comfortable and cozy.
Below are pictures of the empty breakfast area when we purchased our townhouse. The walls were covered in black grass-cloth wallpaper, which I had removed and redone with an eggshell black paint. All of the trim and doors are painted white. The custom wall cabinets are a pale beige that exactly matches a color in the floor. The floor is covered in marble tile. On the kitchen utility side there are no top cabinets. The lower cabinets are white with black honed granite counter tops. The black walls above the sink, surrounding a large window, are waiting for a 15 inch backsplash that will match the entire wall behind the range and refrigerator. The backsplash and wall will be beautified with multi white shades of 5 inch square dutch tiles.
16x16 Marble
5x5 Dutch tile samples in 14 shades of white from Holland
Hanging above the breakfast table is this antique milk glass and aged brass pendant light fixture. If you'd like to read its story go here.
The next two fuzzy pictures were taken the week we moved in after the paint job. The vignettes are victims of me just taking stuff out of boxes and sitting them somewhere. The items in this hutch, that is on the left side wall of the breakfast area, has changed quite a bit. Now it is filled with cookbooks and other thrift French items.
A bar cart sits on the right side wall of the breakfast area. It has been changed on top to include a vintage white rooster lamp that awaits its new shade. I am one of those quirky rooster collectors and you can read about that here. I am putting a huge distressed white framed mirror on this wall soon. Both the hutch and bar cart are painted an aged grey-green. I like to use certain green and turquoise shades as accent colors against black and neutrals.
my comfy-cozy plan
At first I decided to use my wicker chairs with an old 42 inch black leather-top table that was found at Austin Antique Mall. The table base is metal and was once a mossy green but has faded with age and a lot of rust. It stands only 28 inches high.
In 2011 when we lived separately, I followed the blogging craze that sought out these kooboo wicker chairs. I really liked how they looked paired with a another metal table I used at my old apartment. That is Cerise sitting on the Iosis tapestry pillow looking out the French patio door.
She always leaves a dent in the same pillow.
Since reuniting with hubby, he reminds me daily about these chairs being uncomfortable. Well, it is true about them not being cozy…sigh. They are just for sitting and looks, lol. I got them half price at Cost Plus World Market due to a sale sign being on the wrong chair. They will retire to the patio after I dose them with a water protective sealer.
Since I am a believer in recycling older furniture, I searched hard for two used small club chairs to redo and slipcover, but it is difficult to find them with perfect dimensions for sitting comfortably upright at an eating table. So I am considering to have two chairs made by Century Furniture.
Century Furniture - Belmont Chair
The chairs would be upholstered in Century's stock muslin with no welt cording, plus upgraded to having spring down cushions and feather blend throw pillows. They are larger than the wicker chairs but are not bulky, nor sit too deep. After the chairs are delivered I will call on the awesome Shabby Slips of Austin to make each a washable slipcover. I am thinking this plan will be perfect for adding comfort in the breakfast area and it allows the space on the table backside to remain uncluttered, so that we can continue having easy access into the wall cabinets.
I want this to be a cozy area for us to sit and keep each other company while we cook and enjoy our kitchen. I also desire a comfy space for using my computer while enjoying my morning coffee. The tufted ottoman will stay put. In the picture is looks big, but it isn't. The width is just 24 inches. The fabric is a thick woven flax color linen. Those brown legs are screaming at me to paint them, which is what should have been done BEFORE I had it reupholstered! But they will get a distressed coat of ASCP French Linen within the next few weekends.
I have been finding high-end/100 percent linen upholstery fabric on eBay at great prices. In fact, all of the fabric used on my redo projects has been eBay finds. Here is a closeup.
For the two chair slipcovers, maybe this Ralph Lauren Calvados Ticking - Flint. If not, being that the kitchen walls are painted black, white linen slipcovers would be fabulous too.
The area needs a little splash of color, so for sure the two throw pillows will be in this Ralph Lauren linen, Ladies Day Floral - Spectator. I just need to find the one yard needed at a huge discount because it is very expensive!
I have always kept a counter stool in a kitchen. It is perfect for when I am cooking holiday meals and I need to sit for a minute. Having three grown sons to cook for is fun, but can get exhausting on the day before Thanksgiving, lol. I recovered the seat of my old counter stool using a Lee Jofa heavy woven cotton stripe sample, which was bargain eBay find. This stool will sit at the end of the kitchen island after it is remodeled.
I wish this fabric wasn't discontinued. Black and white is always in style, especially in a woven stripe.
Other chairs I have thought about using...
Quatrine - Captain Chair
Quatrine - Morning Chair
Taylor Scott - Jillian Chair
Taylor Scott - Packard Chair
Hickory Chair - Jackson Skirted Wing Chair
This was my source for inspiration. My kitchen area is designed nothing like this gorgeous room, but I love the non-traditional seating idea for a breakfast area. These are two of Quatrine's Morning Chairs. I visited Quatrine in Dallas two weeks ago. They have beautiful slipcovered furniture.
Putting washable slipcovers on upholstered chairs in an eating area is ideal for keeping them clean and it allows the ability for seasonal changes. What do you think of the idea?
I am hoping it all works out to be a very comfortable and cozy setting that we can enjoy for many years.
Till next time
~
Life is too short to not live in comfort!
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