topic Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS in Home

SMALLER DINING SPOTS

Oznell — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:24:28 GMT

Love the resourceful way people carve out pleasant spaces to eat in. Although I can admire very formal dining spaces, I'm often drawn to smaller, or more casual, seemingly improvised nooks of all kinds.

Judging from the words on the vintage poster, am guessing this might be in a small apartment kitchen in Stockholm, maybe. It's living small, with understated style!

Another cute kitchen spot. In both cases, having a window right there definitely adds to the ambiance. A wee round table, perfect for breakfast for one, and antique rush seated chairs, continue the bistro feeling.

This breakfast nook in coastal Newport has everything going for it, esp. the heavenly view...

Autumnal simplicity, love. Would just add a few cushions to chairs for comfort during those extended harvest meals...

Edited to add-- Belatedly putting this one in, as an example of making an eat-in kitchen a fun, integral spot. Designer William McClure mixes in fine wood furniture, and some unexpected touches, like the graphic, Bertoia-like chairs. Love that he painted his floor, and has an old school white stove!

This one below is my favorite, for several reasons. The mellow woods of the vintage furniture, the wainscoting that forms the back of the pillow-filled bench, the casual mix of art and mirrors, the striking vertical lines of the rustic pottery and spears of gladiolus, all contribute.

But wow, those radiant bars of light, broken into trapezoidal shapes, illuminating the whole scene in an almost cinematic way-- could not be more appealing!

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

sligo — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 12:54:18 GMT

@Oznell, LOVE ALL!! My fav. is the stone fireplace with the pumpkins!! THANK YOU !!

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

jlkz — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:24:59 GMT

@Oznell

Last picture: those shapes are parallelograms.

Pictures would be better hung on wall so that the shelf becomes useful: vases, plants, display glass, etc.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

We rescue cats — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:35:33 GMT

Love them all, but I think the one most relatable for me is the last one. I love the drama that the light is creating on the wallscape and would love to see it as it changes throughout the day!

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

millieshops — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:44:36 GMT

@Oznell One of the things I have learned from seeing homes of my friends in a decorator's magazine or in a real estate online listing is that what you see may not be how the owners use the space.

Sometimes they add or subtract furniture and decor before they film, and the last pictures I saw before my best friends house was sold used pictures of a totally emply garage that was the same as their own EXCEPT theirs was filled to the walls and in some parts to the ceiling.

I do like the pictures you often post even though I no longer trust them to tell me how the owners actually use the spaces.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

Iwantcoffee — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:45:42 GMT

This is my favorite, light and dark neutral with a pretty blue, and a print.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

CANDLEQUEEN — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 13:48:45 GMT

Love them all-they may be small, but they are inviting and warm.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

spiderw — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:58:07 GMT

All of these dining areas are very appealing. My favorite areas are those with the views, so very pretty and calming. I always prefer a table and chairs in the kitchen to islands, I find the look warm and comfortable. I also like the addition of art work, decor and plants if it is done to enhance not take over the kitchen.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

cheriere — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 16:09:36 GMT

@Oznell

Beautiful smaller eating spaces! However, I don't consider my faves to be all that small lol. I do love the Newport scene and the stone fireplace table setting.

I really like the last one you added too. A good friend of mine had an eating area very similar using a curved, padded bench style seat on one side. ❤️

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

AuntG — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 17:52:12 GMT

My last house had a dining room that was rarely used. This house has a large kitchen with a wooden farm table. I had it restored and got chairs crafted by the Amish. It's so convenient to have an eat-in kitchen.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

on the bay — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:22:05 GMT

I like the Newport one very much.

The others just seem too cramped or uncomfortable.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

Oznell — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 22:21:47 GMT

@We rescue cats, another light-lover, yay. Yes, to the myriad changes in light and shadow wrought during the day!

@CANDLEQUEEN , good point, that's what ties these very different spaces together, I think, the warmth.

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

DSD2 — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:23:00 GMT

Beautiful @Oznell So much light, so very bright...

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

ECBG — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:29:55 GMT

Love the gray! And the plants! The table under the window sill looks like they had to use it. A smaller table would be better.

Well done! Love the woven chairs and rug.

Love the windows and blue with white

Love- but you knew!!!

Don't care for the retro cabinets exposed dishes, or wire chairs.

Love the white and the pictures. Not a fan of bent wood chairs. Some pretty Windsors would be nice!

Re: SMALLER DINING SPOTS

wilma — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:56:03 GMT

The first one is very nice. I like the greenery. I also like the blue dining area. Very pretty.

The photo with the stone chimney & pumpkins looks a bit sparse to me. Maybe window treatments and a piece of artwork would help?

The table in the second photo is way too small for me. Doesn't look like 2 people could sit and eat comfortably.

I don't like the wire chairs in the white kitchen, but I could change those out. I'm not really a fan of all the loose pillows on the seating bench in the last photo.

I had a small dining space with a galley kitchen in one of my apartments. It worked for me by myself, and sat up to 4 people comfortably.

Have a Good Day!