7 Kitchen Seating Secrets

Kitchen seating… it’s one of those things you take for granted until it’s time to choose your own. And there’s a good chance that you know what I’m talking about if you’re reading this article! Well, have no fear! We put together a great article outlining your choices and guiding you toward what would meet your needs. Read on…

• Seating Style – As kitchens evolve into powerful, professional cooking centers and festive spots for entertaining, the notion of the traditional kitchen table is evolving as well. Innovative seating options are slowly becoming more the norm, making it entirely acceptable to lose the kitchen table all together. But what to put in its place?

• The Island – Everybody wants an island.  Everyone wants to congregate in the kitchen.  As the island becomes the centerpiece of the kitchen, it also becomes the social center as well. In addition to housing the cooktop, second sinks and additional storage, most islands incorporate some sort of seating area, from a bar-like row on a single-level island to an upper level dedicated to dining.  The eating area will often feature a hardwood top to give it a more dining-like air. The choice of height can affect its purpose as well.  A high top with stool-like seating often creates a more casual, grab-a-seat-and-munch feel, while a lower level closer to table height mimics the kitchen-table experience. Note, parents with young children should keep seating closer to the ground.

• Tweaking The Typical Table  – If you do opt for the tried-and-true route, don’t feel restricted to the same-old, same-old. Swap chairs for long benches, making seating closer and more casual.  Fans of vintage wares should scour antique fairs for weathered tables or purchase a hodge-podge of chairs.  Stain them all the same color to infuse a little unity.  Or, should the kitchen open into an adjacent living room, consider making the table more furniture-like, or something more befitting a dining room, with furniture feet and upholstered chairs.

• Additional Sitting Areas – Some homeowners aren’t concerned with eating at all, considering the social, not dining, aspect of seating.  Homeowners are still very interested in the open concept.  So long as the island has adequate seating for your family, and a separate area (like a dining room table) can handle Thanksgiving dinners with the in-laws, booting a table from the kitchen entirely isn’t as crazy as it sounds.

• Think Clever –Now let’s get clever. Want a comfortable-size table but hate the thought of sacrificing storage space? Try a nook with bench seating that opens to reveal deep storage for linens and less-used items. To make access a snap, included a drop-leaf table, making it easy to fold down the sides for extra clearance.  Are you eager to include extra seating but just don’t have the space?  We have another solution for homeowners dealing with cramped quarters.  Try fold-down panels that sit in a wall and lift and click into place to become a small seating niche.  A perfect seat to install near a telephone.

• Breakfast Nook – If you’re going to have a breakfast nook, don’t ignore it. Make it an inviting space your family will want to dine at, especially if you have island seating, which often steals all the thunder when the kids select a spot to have breakfast.  Light or stained wood wainscoting can separate the nook as its own special area, making it a warm and inviting space. Make sure there’s a strong light source overhead for adequate lighting, and, if possible, place near windows with cheery drapery for extra sunlight.  Padding, cushions or pillows (placed along bench seating) make for more comfortable seating—a good thing when you haven’t had that morning coffee yet! And, while rich cherry and hunter greens certainly create an elegant kitchen, sunny yellows and bright blues or a farm-fresh red-and-white check bring extra cheer.

• Standard Heights – Regardless of where and how your seating takes shape, there are several rules of thumb in terms of seat and table heights to keep things comfortable and ergonomic.  Your typical chair should have a seat height of about 17 inches, and is suitable for tables or lowered countertops at 28 inches in height.  Breakfast barstools are great for islands, but make sure it’s an island of the right size—a countertop at 35 inches is a good rule of thumb to follow.  High barstools with a 30-inch, versus 24-inch, seat base, fit the bill for raised, approximately 42-inch, worktops. These stools, however, aren’t ideal for very young children who could take a tumble.

And, when deciding how large your table can be, be sure to allot space for the table fully extended with its leaves.  It’s no good having a table that seats eight if you can’t open it.

As a Design+Build General Contractor, I offer my clients a one-stop shopping approach to all of their home remodeling projects. I work with my clients from initial conception of a project through its completion. Every aspect of the job is managed by me and my professional crew.  You will be included in every step of the design process until the final drawings are completed. No detail is left to chance.  General Contractor Specializing in Kitchen & Bathroom Design and Remodeling Throughout the Los Angeles area.

 

Written By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offer Steuer

President

OTM Designs & Remodeling, Inc.

For more information you may contact us via email at service@otm1designs.com or you may call us at 888-981-1415. Our website is www.otm1designs.com.