Say goodbye to stainless steel, kitchen style just got comfortable

When it comes to casual dining, the trend in recent years has been to create an island or countertop outpost, often with barstools or other like-minded seating options. It makes for a setup that's eminently practical. But what it offers in convenience, it tends to lack in character. Sitting atop a wooden perch with your back exposed isn't the sort of accommodation that will make you want to linger at the table.

For kicking back with a book, enjoying snacks with the family, or sipping a cup of tea while finishing the Sunday crossword puzzle, nothing beats a dining nook. A well-defined space that is at once cozy, inviting and functional, a dining nook offers the perfect antidote to our hurried lifestyles.

"Everyone I've presented the idea to loves them," says Patricia Gray, an interior designer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. "It's one of the most-used areas in the house."

Originally known as the breakfast nook, the dining nook traces its history back to the American Arts and Crafts movement around the turn of the 20th century, when families - as opposed to Victorian-era servants - started spending more time in the kitchen. While the breakfast nook traditionally was tucked into a turret, recess or odd space in the kitchen, a literal definition no longer need apply.

"Sometimes a nook or odd space in a house can seem like a problem, but these areas offer great opportunities and often add a lot of charm to a house. There are a ton of things you can do with a nook," explains Oma Ford, the senior deputy editor, home design, for "Better Homes and Gardens."

A bay window with bench seating is ideal for creating the right atmosphere. An L-shaped banquette can be used in an open-plan kitchen to devise an intimate setting. Modern-day translations even swap out the banquette altogether for a couch. (Just be sure it's the correct height: about 17 or 18 inches from the floor to the top of the cushion.)

"I love to see nooks as a frame for a neat piece of furniture. The nook highlights the piece, and you can usually tuck in a lot of storage without taking up floor space in the main part of a room," Ford says.

"Another great solution for a nook is to turn it into a sort of mini-room. If there's space, tuck in a comfy chair, a floor lamp, and a bookshelf or wall shelves to create a little reading room. Or line a nook with shelves and even cabinets for storage. Leave it open for display, or hang curtains to close off the nook and hide your newly created storage area.

"Near an entryway or in a kitchen, tuck in a secretary desk to create a kitchen office or a 'command central' drop zone by the door, Ford suggests.

"As much as we want our rooms more open, our bodies always yearn for spaces that are more human in size," says Joan Kohn, host, writer, and associate producer of Home & Garden Television's "Kitchen Design" and "Bed and Bath Design." "With a dining nook, essentially what you're creating is a room within a room."

Best seat in the house

Custom banquettes or bench seats are most typically used in dining nooks, though there are many prefabricated versions available. (Look for those that have storage beneath the bench or create your own with decorative bins if there's enough clearance.) If you have the floor space, you might also opt to have one or more armchairs along the table's outer perimeter. Proper measurements are especially important. You'll want to leave 6 inches between the seat back and the wall so no one hits their head when they lean back. You also should allow about 24 inches for bench width. One other important measurement: The table should hang an inch or two over the bench's edge, so you can reach the table comfortably.

"Traditional banquettes and window seats are another wonderful way to make use of a nook," Ford says. "Banquettes in the kitchen, family room, or even the dining room can be the perfect spot for craft projects, for kids to do homework, and of course for casual dining."

Just the right touch

Fabric is the best way to introduce personality into your breakfast nook. "A breakfast nook can be a real decorative focal point because you can add a lot of texture with the upholstery," says Jason Landau, owner of Amazing Spaces in Briarcliff, N.Y. Be bold by using plaids and prints on your bench or banquette, or use a solid-colored material accented with pillows in patterned fabrics. Throw pillows will make the space feel even more comfortable and welcoming, so pile on as many as you like. Washable microfiber, leather and vinyl are good material choices. You also might want to look at outdoor fabrics. Recent advances have given them a softer feel, while their high durability and stain resistance makes them ideal for heavy indoor use.

Mood lighting

An eye-catching chandelier or pendant lamp can make a style statement in your dining nook, while adding to the sense of closeness and intimacy. Gray suggests hanging it about 51/2 to 6 feet from the floor - just be sure it's high enough so when someone is standing next to table, they still can have eye contact with someone who is seated. Wall sconces are an attractive option, though they might not offer enough illumination for reading and other tasks. Floor lamps on one or both ends of a banquette can add whimsy or elegance depending on the style you choose.

If these walls could talk

Walls are another feature that can vary widely. Placement of a dining nook can incorporate one, two or three walls, or none at all. Kohn likes to use windows as a wall whenever possible. "Natural light is one of the biggest luxuries in any design," she says. Your nook can include bead-board, paneling, wallpaper, cork (great for hanging children's art) or even mirrors. "Any option you would consider for any other room in your house would be options for the wall treatment in your nook," she says. Cabinetry also works well alongside and above the seating.

<p class="News"><b>Nooks and crannies</b></p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">A dining or breakfast nook can easily be created in any kind of kitchen in any style of home. In fact, the seating possibilities are endless. (Though you should try to match the table shape to the bench or banquette so you can reach comfortably no matter where you are seated.) Here are some traditional, and not-so-traditional, configurations.</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• U-shaped banquette</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Curved banquette</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Curved banquette with outer chairs</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Straight banquette</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Straight banquette with outer chairs</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• L-shaped banquette</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• L-shaped banquette with outer chairs</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Pub table with benches</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Dinette</p> <p class="factboxtextbold12col">• Sofa (against wall) with table and outer chairs</p>