While breakfast nooks are perfect for casual meals with family, or a peaceful moment of solitude, they’re also functional. Whether you have an awkwardly sized corner or just empty space at the end of your kitchen which is too small for any other purpose, breakfast nooks are the perfect solution. This curated collection of the most stylish breakfast nooks to grace the pages of Home Beautiful proves the point: no matter the layout of your home or the style of your interior, breakfast nooks are right at home.

1. A galley kitchen with a breakfast nook

When Kate Bath from Blue Tea Kitchens & Bathrooms renovated the galley kitchen in this Sydney terrace home, she knew just what to do with the empty corner beside the hallway. “The corner space offered a nice, cosy nook,” shares Kate. The benefit of using this space was two-fold: it made use of an awkwardly sized area and fulfilled the owner’s request for a casual eating space. The built-in banquette, was upholstered in Thomas Maxwell ‘Langham Leather’ in Spruce, supplied by Warwick. The dark fabric complements the dark tones of the ‘Crescent’ wall lamp from Allied Maker, with a Black Walnut bracket.

2. Pretty in pink breakfast nooks

Interior designer Brooke Copp-Barton knew just how to solve the dilemma of an awkwardly sized space off the kitchen of this historic Arts & Crafts home in London. She had banquette seating upholstered in pink leather from Whistler Leather to line the small space, then placed a dining table custom-made by British designer Ed Keyser in the middle. And with that, a cheerful and cosy breakfast nook was born. Panelling is finished in the soft and sweet pink Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster, with flea market artworks displayed on top. Deep green extendable wall lights from Skinflint work well with the sloping ceiling. They also complement the green tones of the Birdie Fortescue cushions.

3. Sun-drenched breakfast nooks

For homeowner and founder of Heatherly Design, Georgie, making the most of space in her two-bedroom Melbourne apartment was an important, though difficult, task. “All you really need is a comfortable bed, a dining table to share with friends and a room with a view,” she says. Intended as a bolthole for Georgie, husband Will and their two adult children, the abode didn’t have to fulfill the role of a dream home. Still, it needed serious work to ensure comfortable (and stylish) living befitting a bespoke bedroom furniture queen.

As the tight layout couldn’t be altered, a dining nook with banquette seating was the ultimate space saver. Tan leather cushions from Heatherly Design adorn the built-in seat, also from Heatherly. The Sarah Ellison table, situated beneath a Klaylife pendant light, provides flexibility with its round design.

4. Breakfast nooks with antique charm

Homeowners Annabel and Thomas were waiting for council to approve their building plans when Alex Stritt of Stritt Design & Construction started work on a build right next door. Impressed with the construction, they asked Alex to create a Hamptons style in their weatherboard cottage once he’d finished the project. The kitchen, which features a generous island and a breakfast nook, is Annabel’s favourite area. “It’s just so practical and works so well,” she says. “It’s got this beautiful little kitchen nook. Every morning, I get up and make myself a coffee and then I sit in that nook in the kitchen and just look out of the window. I do that before everyone else in the house wakes up.”

Here, the breakfast nook didn’t just fill an awkward space or provide casual dining options. It created a space to enjoy a relaxing morning ritual. Stritt Design & Construction made the custom bench seat for this breakfast nook. They decorated it with cushions from The Classic Outfitter that fit the classic Hamptons blue and white colour palette. A French antique dining table, sourced from Melbourne’s Moonee Ponds Antiques adds charm and character while commanding the space. Alfresco Emporium chairs, complete with blue upholstery on the seat, perfectly match the deep timber tones and the Hamptons blue hues within the breakfast nook.

5. Casual bistro-style dining

Interior designer Greg Natale knew that he wanted to include banquette seating in this family getaway on NSW’s Central Coast. But, as if often the case, the space itself dictated how he was able to incorporate this feature. The only available space in the kitchen was right up against the far side of the kitchen island. This placement could end up feeling far too close to a workspace to be truly relaxing and practical. To delineate the kitchen and breakfast nook zones, Greg installed a reeded glass upstand from Glo Rite Glass. This acts as both a room divider and also a splashback for the kitchen island. “That’s one of the areas that the clients use the most,” he shares. “More than the dining room!”

This breakfast nook, like the home itself, features a colour palette of crisp whites and deep blues befitting the coastal location. A lacquer finish in Porter’s Paints Dark Denim was used on the base of this banquette seating. The ceiling is light and bright, with VJ panelling and exposed beams drawing attention upwards. The upholstery on the banquette seating is Edelman Leather, introducing a grounding warm tone to the space, complemented by ‘Fouquet’ Maison Louis Drucker bistro chairs and an antique dining table from Restoration Hardware.

6. Breakfast nooks with cosy comforts

This breakfast nook is effortlessly welcoming. It’s made for leisurely get-togethers over food and wine (as indicated by the flourishing display of food and and tipples). The ‘Laurent’ dining table in Biscuit from Wisteria aids flowing conversation due to its round design. Seating is a hodgepodge of styles with the ‘Emery’ dining bench in Blue and White, ‘Emery’ dining chair in Blue and White and the ‘French’ dining chair, all fom Provincial Home Living. A pendant from Lighterior hangs above, freeing up the available table space for for plates and tea towels from H&M. A botanical motif brings this tableau to life, with the Cole & Son ‘Florencecourt’ wallpaper in Olive, sourced through Silk Interiors, and Vickie Liu’s delightful ‘Zen Gum Leaves’ artwork, from Bluethumb.

7. Compact yet colourful breakfast nooks

Set in London’s hustling and bustling north, this apartment has enough boisterous colour to brighten any grey English day. That’s thanks to interior designer Sean Symington of Sean Symington Design. While a total redecoration was on the table, the owner of the two-bedroom apartment was pleased with the bones of the home. As such, Sean had to work within the confines of the tight layout. The inclusion of a breakfast nook in this kitchen was one of the ways he made the most of every bit of space. As the homeowner lives alone and isn’t interested in hosting guests, Sean was able to focus on ensuring the nook was perfectly sized and placed for one person to enjoy.

With so many hues and patterns layered throughout the home, creating a common thread and sense of flow was pivotal. Sean did this by repeating tones, such as the terracotta walls in the kitchen, which also appear on the front door. The floor of this kitchen and breakfast nook was painted in a checkerboard pattern usin Farrow & Ball’s Mahogany and Pointing. The sink skirt and blind fabric is made from Pierre Frey ‘Greuze’, creating a flounce of florals beside the ‘Iconic Leopard’ Schumacher fabric which was used on the dining chairs. This was a cheeky nod to the homeowner’s South African heritage. The star feature is the celestial-inspired pendant light by Pooky.

8. Casual, coastal cool

Located in Vancouver, Canada, with views out to the ocean, a picturesque park and the mountains beyond, it seems like there’s nothing this idyllic abode doesn’t have. But the interior didn’t always match the grand exterior. Enter interior designer Kelly Deck of Kelly Deck Design. She introduced a nautical colour scheme to the interiors. No where is this more clear than in the breakfast nook. Situated just a few steps away from the kitchen and island, the breakfast nook benefits from blues, white and natural timber.

While the sizable table is rectangular, the curved edges of the tabletop and cylindrical legs help to soften it. Banquette seating benefits from large windows that let in an abundance of natural light. On the walls, blue and white pottery in the form of plates add a decorative touch. Charming lampshades are the final flourish.

9. Breakfast nooks with pretty patterns

Interior designer Ariel Okin‘s home is delightfully whimsical. It’s just as you’d expect from someone with a proclivity for layering textures, prints and colours in her interiors. “This house is a true relection of our family and how we live,” she shares. Located in Westchester, New York, the home is filled with colour and pattern, especially the breakfast nook. This space, photographed by Donna Dotan, makes the most of cool shades of blues and greens, paired with a crisp white.

This breakfast nook, which is positioned just off the kitchen, is where the family spends much of their time. “Kitchen banquettes are often some of the most-used spaces in the house, so making them really functional for families (with a wipeable table that’s still chic, for example) is going to get you a lot of longevity out of this space,” shares Ariel. Here, stripes of soft blue cover the banquette fabric while the table is decorated with a mix of tableware in varying shades of blue. Green is introduced into the space on the dining chair pads, pendant light and cushions.

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It worked, but times have changed and we’ve realised not everyone wants the same thing from their kitchen space. Just as some people love to entertain guests and others happily spend hours baking up a solitary storm, so too will their dream kitchens have quite different needs.

Enter the ‘zone’ method, a more versatile approach that allows a kitchen to be customised to suit the specific needs of each home chef. If you’re planning a kitchen layout, zoning is a practical way to go. Here are five different zones to consider, plus the top appliances and tricks to tailor them to your exact needs.

The cooking zone

One of the fundamentals of every great kitchen, the cooking zone usually comprises an oven, cooktop and microwave. You might stack them vertically with the oven sitting under the cooktop, or you may prefer to separate them so the oven can be mounted at a custom height. Either way, allow plenty of bench space around these appliances and keep frequently used cooking utensils stored within easy reach.

When planning your cooking zone, be realistic about the type of food you cook and how you like to prepare it. For example, if you enjoy chatting to other members of your household while you cook, consider positioning your cooking zone appliances in a kitchen island, instead of around the perimeter. The Westinghouse WHI955BD 90cm Induction Cooktop is ideal for this, as it heats up quickly but the safer induction surface doesn’t feel hot to the touch. Home chefs also love the cooktop’s cutting-edge BoilProtect feature, which detects rising bubbles in boiling water and automatically reduces to a low simmer to prevent boiling over (BoilProtect applies to stainless steel and enamelled pots filled with water only).

Alternatively, a freestanding cooker offers extra versatility and generally boasts a large cooking capacity that’s brilliant for bigger households. The Westinghouse WFEP9757DD 90cm Freestanding Electric Cooker combines a safe and efficient 5-zone induction cooktop with a spacious 125-litre oven complete with 10 innovative functions to take your cooking zone to the next level. These include an AirFry function to cook crispy, crunchy foods with less oil, and Roast +Steam for the juiciest roast dinner you’ll ever cook.

The baking zone

The right oven is also a centrepiece of this zone but if you take baking seriously, you’ll want to kit out the area with some specific features. Be sure to install additional powerpoints and extra bench space in your baking zone so you can use a mixer or food processor. Store other tools – such as measuring cups, whisks, rolling pins and baking pans – nearby so you can seamlessly transfer your mixture from bowl to pan to oven.

Speaking of the oven, Westinghouse is always happy to help bakers achieve their very best results. The new Westinghouse WVEP6918DD 60cm Pyrolytic Oven boasts 19 different cooking programs including a Bake +Steam function that gives bread, cakes, pastries and scones a crispier crust, fluffier centre and the perfect rise. 

The consumables zone

Having a well-organised space to store food keeps every kitchen running efficiently. Ideally, your fridge/freezer and pantry should be grouped together so you can easily move between the two when preparing food. Adding bench space nearby makes the consumables zone even more practical when you’re unpacking groceries.

The drinks zone

Ready to get creative? A drinks zone can be adapted to suit your beverage of choice. Ice on tap? No problem. The Westinghouse 564L French door fridge in matte charcoal black (WQE5650BA) has an automatic icemaker. If you’re a coffee devotee, set aside space to create your own barista-style hub, complete with espresso machine, bean grinder and an airtight container to keep your beans fresh. Position your favourite mug nearby so everything is exactly where it should be to brew the perfect cup.

If cocktails are more your speed, set up a dedicated cart or cabinet to house your preferred spirits plus a set of bar tools such as a shaker, strainer and muddler. Give this zone extra flair by adding your favourite decorative cocktail glasses.  

The cleaning zone

Just as important as your cooking areas, a well-planned cleaning zone allows you to scrape and stack dirty dishes with ease. Ideally it will be ordered from left to right, moving from garbage and food waste bins to the sink and then on to the dishwasher. Fast wash cycles make for entertaining or high-rotation use dishes is made easy with the Westinghouse Freestanding Dishwasher in Dark Stainless (WSF6608KXA).

One appliance you don’t need to worry about scrubbing clean is your oven, thanks to the pyrolytic self-cleaning function in Westinghouse’s new Kitchen range of electric ovens. Simply tap the button and leave the oven to heat to an incredibly high temperature, turning grease and splashes into ash that is easily wiped away.

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When designing a kitchen island, it’s important to think about how you’ll use it on a day-to-day basis.

3 kitchen island design tips:

• Keep seating localised in one area, so everyone can have access to the island without getting in the way. 
• When entertaining, set up plates and cutlery at one end and food at the other to create an instant self-serve buffet, perfect for feeding a crowd. 
• Maximise storage on all sides. Drawers on the kitchen side and open shelving where it faces the living room to display objects and cookbooks.

Here are 20 homes with glorious kitchen islands that elevate the entire room to new heights, without compromising on functionality.

Hamptons style kitchen islands

1. All white Hamptons kitchen island

Bespoke joinery makes this kitchen island an absolute winner. The owners selected the shade ‘Alabaster’ by Resene to create a clean, white space that will always look current. A trio of pendant lights from Emac & Lawton add texture and overhead task lighting. On the other side of the island, four wicker cafe bar stools (not pictured) add a touch of warmth.

2. Tonal grey Hamptons island

Grey is a versatile shade that can bring depth and interest to a predominantly white kitchen. Here, the kitchen island has been painted in a soft shade of grey which both echoes the veins in the Carrara Bianco marble splashback tiles and allows the all-white accessories to pop. To allow the ‘Goodman’ pendant lights from The Montauk Lighting Co. to be the hero, kitchen hardware on the upper cabinets has been kept to a minimum.

3. Entertainer’s extra-large Hamptons island

Interior designer Delilah is also a keen entertainer, so not only is her Hamptons style kitchen extremely beautiful to look at, it’s highly functional too. The extra-large central island features bespoke joinery and is topped with marble from CDK Stone. A pair of elegant ‘Darlana’ lanterns from Visual Comfort brings tie in the stainless steel elements including a Sub Zero fridge and a La Cornue oven.

4. Island that maximises space for food preparation

When it comes to kitchen islands, there are roughly two design camps: those that believe an island should be packed with as much functionality as possible (i.e. fitted with a sink or even a stove) and those who believe it should be left as a complete, uncut slab that maximises space for food preparation and casual dining. In this kitchen, the island’s Caesarstone bench in ‘Frosty carrina’ is entirely unadulterated, paired with shaker cabinets in Dulux Natural White and enamel T-pull handles. 

5. Minimalist Hamptons kitchen island

Hamptons style and minimalism rarely go hand-in-hand, but this kitchen somehow marries the two brilliantly. A dual-tone colour palette emphasises the veining in the natural stone from SNB Stone. The central island is painted in Dulux Domino, which has the effect of grounding the otherwise fresh, white kitchen.

6. Hamptons island with natural stone benchtop

Interior designer Melinda Hartwright selected natural Carrara marble for her kitchen benchtops, but says the material is “hard to maintain. I’d probably use engineered stone next time.” Despite its undeniable beauty, marble is prone to stains and scratches and demands special care when cleaning. Here, the Hamptons style island has been kept simple with all attention being drawn towards the ‘Majorca sky blue gloss’ tiles from Teranova Tiles surrounded by cabinetry in Dulux Vivid White. 

7. Hamptons meets farmhouse kitchen island

Before renovations, this kitchen felt small and poky. Opening up the ceiling, custom cabinetry by The Kitchen Maker and applying a neutral, natural colour palette have made it feel spacious and luxurious. The generous kitchen island is now a central feature of the home, painted in a deep shade of warm grey.

8. Hamptons style kitchen island with a French provincial twist

The Sydney home of Dusty Luxe founder Jackie combines her love of French provincial style with a timeless Hamptons aesthetic. The kitchen is no exception, with a simple, square island bench topped with marble. The clean white cabinetry is an ideal backdrop to the statement pieces in the room such as the ‘Petal’ pendant from Urban Lighting, traditional range hood cover and Bianca Carrara ‘Cabochon’ floor tiles.

Coastal style kitchen islands

9. Coastal style peninsula island

During renovations of this Gold Coast apartment, walls that once encased this u-shaped apartment kitchen were removed, giving the peninsula island a newfound prominence. Extending the benchtop with brackets and adding a trio of comfy bar stools means the space can now be used as a breakfast bar. VJ panelling and a fresh coat of white paint add to the relaxed, coastal vibe.

10. Coastal Hamptons style kitchen island

“We basically live in the kitchen,” says the owner of this refreshed 1920s family home. The large marble island bench is perfect for cooking, family life and entertaining. While the kitchen’s bones are quintessentially Hamptons, four Thonet bar stools imbue the kitchen with an airy, coastal atmosphere.

11. Coastal meets country kitchen island

A timeless colour palette of Dulux Natural White and polished concrete floors allow the timber central island in this coastal-meets-country kitchen to shine. Skylights overhead mean the island is always well-illuminated during the day, while at night, shadows cast by statement basket pendant lights create drama.

12. Simple coastal styling

Simple, earthy accessories imbue this clean, white kitchen in a Gold Coast home with a seaside resort quality. ‘Scandinavian’ bar stools from Replica Furniture and brushed brass tapware from ABI interiors add warmth to the central island, which is painted in the Dulux Lexicon Quarter.

Modern kitchen island benches

13. Glamorous modern farmhouse island

An island topped with Super White Quartzite adds a touch of glam to this modern farmhouse kitchen in a newly built home in the Gold Coast hinterland. With seating for up to six, the island allows the cook to mingle and meal prep during gatherings. “This is a great home for entertaining,” says owner Leanne.

14. Modern family-friendly kitchen island

This modern, open-plan kitchen was designed for a family of seven in mind. The central island, dubbed ‘snack central’ is the heart of the space, with enough bar stools for the entire family. Because the island needed to withstand plenty of wear and tear, the owners opted for Smartstone Statuario Venato rather than natural marble. “It looks like the real thing, but I don’t have to worry about staining from beetroot or wine,” says homeowner Victoria.

Double kitchen island benches

15. Hamptons kitchen with double islands

What’s more luxurious than a kitchen island bench? Two of them! This kitchen is an entertainer’s paradise, with two Hamptons style islands painted in Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. Each island is topped with Laminam Arabescato porcelain slabs from Embassy Stone. “There’s space for everyone to get involved in Christmas lunch preparations,” says homeowner Kirsty. 

16. Modern farmhouse kitchen with two islands

In this home – which belongs to a pair of keen cooks with an extended family that also loves to cook – double islands are not just a luxury, but a necessity. “We can have my mum, my sister, my husband and myself, all in the kitchen, all doing different things and no-one’s getting in anyone’s way,” says Louise. The central island was handmade in oak by Reid Brothers, while the second island, which also doubles as a casual dining space, is topped with Super White Dolomite marble. 

Curved kitchen islands

17. Curved marble kitchen island

It took three months to build this crescent-shaped island for a newly built home on the Gold Coast. “It took eight men to carry in the benchtop,” says interior designer and stylist Dominee. It is clad with Super White Dolomite marble tiles, while the benchtop is a CDK Stone benchtop with integrated sinks. Designing the kitchen may have been a massive undertaking, but the end result speaks for itself. “People will walk around the island and run their hand around it. It’s one of those things that they just want to touch,” says Dominee.

18. Mid-century inspired kitchen island bench

Curves are subtly repeated throughout this restored heritage home in Sydney, all the way from the arched entrance hallway to the rounded kitchen island bench. The island bench is filled with so much detail that styling it without overwhelming it became the real challenge. In the end, lighting was kept simple and bar stools low key. 

19. Curved coastal kitchen bench

The original kitchen in this coastal home needed a complete overhaul. So, after reconfiguring the floor plan and adding an upper-level extension, the kitchen was transformed into a space fit for a family of five. On one end of the island bench is a butler’s pantry, and on the other, a powder room. The island is clad in kit kat tiles from Tile Cloud, one of owner Megan’s favourite design features. 

20. Sleek curved kitchen centrepiece

Couple Kellie and Scott visited their home frequently during renovations, and one decision they made after seeing their design in the flesh was to upsize the kitchen island. “Often it’s not quite until you’re physically in the space that you get a true sense of the size,” says Kellie. The island is clad in two-pac timber and topped with a blend of Hebel and micro-cement render.

The post 20 glorious kitchen islands that steal the show appeared first on Home Beautiful.

While many of us have our own ideas about what we like and how we want things to look, there are a few mistakes many people make when designing a kitchen.

Here’s a list of 7 common kitchen design fails to avoid.

Mistake 1: Not thinking about the backsplash early

The right backsplash can really make a kitchen pop.

Think about it early on in the design phase so you can decide if you’re going for a statement material, an experimental finish or tiles, and if you want it to be tall, short or cover the entire wall.

Mistake 2: Too much colour

Having a colourful kitchen isn’t a bad thing, but it can date quickly. You’re better to go with neutral permanent fixtures, cabinetry and appliances, then inject colour via lighting, stools, art and accessories.

These can be changed out and updated easily and without great cost.

Mistake 3: Choosing the wrong benchtop

Marble and natural stone are luxurious and gorgeous options for kitchen benchtops, but let’s be honest, who has time to clean up every spill as soon as it happens to stop it staining a marble bench top?

On top of that, natural stone will quickly show signs of wear and tear if it often has bowls, plates, pots and pans sitting on top of it. Try laminate, granite or engineered quartz materials instead.

Mistake 4: Not allowing enough space

If you’re installing a new kitchen it’s important to allow enough room between drawers, doors and appliances to cater to handles and knobs, as well as how much space you need to open a fridge or dishwasher drawer.

Ideally, you want enough space that every drawer and door could be open without any one hitting the other.

Mistake 5: Not extending cabinetry to the ceiling

Leaving a gap between the top of your cabinetry and the ceiling not only creates a space that gathers dust and dirt, but it can make you ceiling feel lower and the room more cramped.

For a more polished look that won’t create dust-catching nooks, extend your cabinetry all the way to the ceiling.

Mistake 6: Poor lighting design

Kitchens need excellent lighting for cooking and cleaning, so don’t skimp on it. If you’re going for a pendant light, bigger is better.

If your kitchen doesn’t have a window (like some apartments) or is poorly lit, invest in some bright LED downlights or strip task lighting.

Mistake 7: Going overboard with open shelving

While open shelving is a wonderful opportunity to showcase a beloved stoneware collection or colour-coordinated teaware, it isn’t particularly practical when it comes to the everyday use of the kitchen.

A good kitchen has an even mix of concealed and open shelving and storage, so all the things that are used often then hastily stuffed back away (often in a mess) can be hidden behind doors, while the things that are used for special occasions and easily kept tidy are left on display.

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