Kitchen & Dining

This DIYer turned open shelves and an empty corner into a sunny and modern farmhouse-style breakfast nook and storage area.

The American kitchen is the hub of household activity. It’s where we make dinner on ordinary weeknights, and arrange appetizers and chat with our guests while we cook when hosting intimate or large get-togethers. It’s also where we plan vacations, help with homework, and, of course, eat throughout the day—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even the occasional coffee and crossword. Small wonder, then, that there are so many kitchen seating options, from traditional tables and chairs to space-saving stools that tuck beneath the counters. Here are 15 stylish eat-in kitchen ideas that make even the smallest kitchen a welcoming place to gather.

Country kitchens are one of the most cherished decorating styles in American homes—exuding a laid-back charm that gives guests the idea to pull up a chair and stay a while. More than any single design element, country kitchens are a sum of many parts. There are several flavors of the country kitchen style to pull ideas from when you’re designing your country kitchen: traditional, farmhouse, cottage, modern, English and French. They’re all punctuated by a sense of warmth and comfort – creating the kind of space where people want to gather and be together. Wood, textiles, and traditional metals are common elements in each. It’s the stains, patterns, and patinas of those elements that will define the character and level of formalness of the space.Here, a few of the characteristic ideas that define the country kitchen look, from paint colors to fabric patterns to faucet styles. Which ideas you choose to incorporate, and how you combine them, is what will personalize your country kitchen and make it your own.

Got some spare space in the kitchen? Consider adding a breakfast nook! These 15 photogenic options suit a range of kitchen styles and sizes—and they’re practically begging to be added to your online inspiration boards.