The Breakfast Nook Is A Room Worth Enjoying All Day

There are many special meals shared around a breakfast table because in any home, this table is a gathering place for family. It is the place the kids run to on a Monday morning for a quick bowl of cereal, and the setting of many syrup-filled Saturday mornings. Growing up, I have many memories over chocolate chip pancakes with my sisters at the square oak table in the breakfast room at our old house. Sure, we also ate sandwiches at this table and sometimes had dinner between school and soccer practice here, but in my memory, this table (and room, for that matter) will always be reserved for breakfast. But, why limit such a sacred space to a specific time of day? 

In designing the Southern Living Idea House 2023 in Tennessee, interior designer Laura Hodges of Laura Hodges Studio had the same question about the breakfast room—especially as her designs evolved, and the cozy enclave became one of her favorite spaces in the 5,600-square-foot home. 

Here, her tips for creating a special room, nook, or corner, in your own home. 

Mix Old And New 

Much like the table in my childhood memories, the antique breakfast table at the Idea House is the focal point of the room. This one is pine, not oak, and was sourced from an antiques dealer via Chairish. “It’s originally from the Cotswolds in England, so it was perfect,” Hodges tells Southern Living. The statement piece is surrounded by bentwood chairs from the 1960s. “[There’s] a lovely vintage moment happening here with a decidedly modern pendant from Regina Andrew,” she adds. 

Opt For Bench Seating 

While the two bentwood chairs are lovely, the built-in bench in the back will inevitably be the “dibs!” seating of choice at this table. There’s just something about a cushioned seat—this one is covered with recycled plastic fabric—and an assortment of pillows that says, “sit down and stay awhile.” 

Frame The Space

The walls of the breakfast room at the Idea House are covered in custom art from decorative painter Dee Lenehan of Lenehan Studios in Catonsville, Maryland. “This is meant to be a happy little surprise,” Hodges explains. The room sits off the butler’s pantry at the front of the house, with a doorway leading directly into the kitchen as well. While it’s not the first room you see upon stepping inside, if you turn your head, you'll get a preview. For this reason, Hodges wanted the room to mimic the natural views you’re greeted with upon entering the house.  “[When} you turn your head to the right and look through the butler’s pantry, you’re seeing this extension of the outside again, which is this hand painted mural that you’re literally seeing outside, which is this beautiful landscape,” she says. “It’s meant to be a softened version of a real landscape.” 

With this project, Hodges selected Sherwin Williams paint colors for the space, but let Lenehan dream up her own vision. “She had liberty to do whatever she felt was best with the composition,” Hodges adds. “It’s meant to frame the niche—so when you step into this room, you’re just enveloped by this moment. All four sides on every wall are beautiful to look at.”

Build What You Need

While the table is obviously the gathering place come mealtime, this is an entire room dedicated to breakfast and beyond. When envisioning what such a space might look like for your family, think about how you would use it and design with that in mind. For instance, in this space, built-in cabinets operate as an extension of the kitchen while also offering storage for serveware and a place to toast bread or pour a cup of coffee in the morning.

Consider The Light

This space is in the front of the house, which means it gets sun at night. While this isn't an issue at breakfast, Hodges came up with a solution to ensure that the room could be enjoyed all day long. The quick fix? Roman shades! "[The style] specifically works well because the window is set back in the niche, so you can lower it and have a little light filtration," she explains.

Between the room's hand-painted walls, antique pieces, modern upgrades, and expansive windows, Hodges's vision comes to life as the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening. "I wanted this space not only to feel like a breakfast room," she says. "But in the evening, you could easily stop into the butler's pantry and grab a bottle of wine. This space feels lounge-y, and there are beautiful views [to be enjoyed] through these windows."