A feast with family in the dining room is always special, but we love informal gatherings—coffee and croissants in the morning, yogurt and fruit in the afternoon—just as much. Setting a full table for those quick bites and easy meals isn’t all that necessary, but it’s ideal to have a great space to fit the mood.
We dove into the NJ HOME archives and curated the following collection of eating nooks that have everything for a small gathering, from custom benches and booth-style seating to rustic tables and ample lighting. Perhaps you’ll find a style that will inspire you to create your own nook.
When designing her own Livingston home, Michal Rubin of MR Interiors upholstered a custom-built breakfast bench in Sunbrella fabric. For this breakfast nook, “stain-resistant, it’s a must with young children,” she says.
For empty nesters living along the Navasink River in Rumson, a relaxing space for light bites and conversation was a must. Designer Jessica Fischer, principal at JFD Creative in Rumson, came through with a built-in banquette featuring a custom-made removable cushion. The seating is upholstered in cozy performance fabric by Rowe Furniture.
Knowing the heavy pedestrian traffic of a Manasquan beach house, Christina Kim of the eponymous interior design firm designed an informal eating area that “serves so many friends, kids and family” and is “also chic.” She surrounded an Ethnicraft oak table with Laura Davidson rattan chairs and a Timber Talent banquette, which features “channel back upholstery that really elevates the room.”
Brooke Hills Sperling of Columbia Brooke Hills Design was in design heaven when she moved into her Upper Saddle River home. She selected a mostly black-and-white theme for the spaces, including the informal eating area, which she filled with a Restoration Hardware table and chairs, Ryan Pillows banquette cushions and Hicks Pendants lights play to the home’s color scheme.
Designer Yana Bouchkanets of Ridgewood-based MIF Design and Construction gave Woodcliff Lake homeowners a perfect sun-infused way to start the day. The breakfast nook features a tulip oval table by Homethreads, wood-and-woven chairs and a custom storage bench.
When redoing a Westfield home for a family with five kids, Freeman Hall Design’s Judy Sturdevant created an eating nook with a three-sided banquette and oval table to maximize seating. A pair of Four Hands teak chairs offer comfortable textural interest and the Serena and Lily pendant radiates a cheery glow.
For inspiration and more great homes by New Jersey interior designers, check out the latest stories from NJ HOME.