kitchen nook -- small table size?

6 years ago

One of my dreams for this planned remodel is to relocate my
kitchen eating nook so I have a view of my backyard. My lot is narrow and deep,
so this leaves few options on the width.
I’m wondering if this new eating nook is going to have enough usable
space. The width of the double French
doors is 6’; the side wall is 7’, the most we can bump it out. My thought is a square extendable table with
two chairs and to choose a style that doesn’t look super heavy. I have a 1940s bungalow and am considering
off-white painted shaker/mission cabinets on the wall and a wood island. (open
to opinions on that. The layout is being tweaked too) FWIW, in my dining room
(a separate room) I have a quarter sawn oak dining table and sideboard. So the
house hints at craftsman but isn’t a slave to the style and I don’t want things
too dark.

The most common use of this space would be for two people
eating. The most important use of this
space (IMO, LOL) is for me to use it as a work surface; i.e. set up my laptop
and have a view of my backyard. When I
host, I was thinking I could extend the table and push the long side against the window for a buffet (and relocate the chairs).

What do you think? Will this work? What size square table
would be good? 36” that extends to 48”?

I’d considered a round pedestal table and bench (or
banquette) against the 7’ window, but since I want to use it for work space, I
think a square table would be better than round. Also, for some reason,
whenever I sit at pedestal I’m always clocking my legs against the table legs. (maybe
that’s just me).

Thanks for all your thoughts and design wisdom.

Featured Answer

sheloveslayouts

6 years ago

g_w I've read through twice today and for some reason I'm not totally understanding the space you're working with. Where do these doorways lead to and what is the length of the blue line?

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Comments (10)

girl_wonder
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for looking at this and sorry it's confusing. I don't see a blue line. Where is that?

To describe the doorsways: starting at the cabinets across from the island, the line on the lower left is the window side of the nook. The doors on the horizontal line below that is the pair of french doors (6') leading to the back yard. The door to the right (on the other side of the wall) would lead to the master bedroom suite. Moving up, the kitchen will be across from my office. This drawing shows a wide opening, but there will be pocket doors. Above that is the pantry, with a door. Not sure if I'm describing this well. Let me know. Thanks again for considering this.

So the nook will be in the lower left-hand corner of the diagram, with a window on the side (the 7' wall) and the french doors leading the the back yard (6' feet wide).
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sheloveslayouts
6 years ago
Oh, man! I meant to attach this. Der.
girl_wonder
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
That helps. Blue line is about 8.5 feet. Red circle, window 7 feet. Orange circle double french doors 6 feet. Yellow circle, 2' 6" door to master suite. Green circle, 5' doorway to office (with pair of pocket doors).
sheloveslayouts
6 years ago
Is the layout of the space--kitchen/windows/doors-- all set? Have you thought about swapping the locations of the backdoor and window?
cawaps
6 years ago
I've got a kitchen nook in 67" x 30", so your space looks generous to me. I have a 41" x 30" pedestal table with bench seating because there's no room to pull out a chair. My set-up does overlap the adjacent doors slightly, one all the time, and one when someone sits at that end of the table. But it works. You have enough room for chairs.
girl_wonder
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Benje, nothing is set. We haven't applied for permits yet and are looking for ways to scale back the project to save money. That said, the french doors lead to the back yard which has the best view. If the doors were on the side, they would lead to a narrow side part of my yard, paved with concrete, and a view of my neighbor's house. My lot is narrow and deep, which is major constraint. But I hear what you are saying on having the table oriented that way.

Cawaps, thanks for your info. So you have your table right in front of the doors? Would you mind posting a photo? I've googled for pics and there aren't a lot like this with such a narrow space.
emilyam819
6 years ago
I’m not sure about the table, but if you can switch the sink and stove, you’ll have much better flow. Fridge to sink to stove.
girl_wonder
Original Author
6 years ago
Emily thanks. Interesting. I'd have to move the dishwasher too so it seems like the oven will need to be right next to the nook. I'd been hoping to have the area by the nook be open and light, when you walk into the room from the dining room. Maybe this plan isn't going to work at all. Thanks for your comments.
girl_wonder
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks everyone. Just met with my proposed contractor and the cost of doing this bump out is what's driving up the cost. So I'm back to square one. Thanks for the feedback. I heart Houzz.