Most Marina side apartments in False Creek, Vancouver have a very small space adjacent to the kitchen called a ‘breakfast nook’. Some point along the way, these nooks lost their usefulness. Busy lifestyles have replaced leisurely mornings of coffee and newspapers and the fate of these breakfast nooks has been diverse – sewing rooms, storage spaces and offices moved in!

For this renovation project, we had to rethink the space, and design it according to the needs of our clients – two very busy professionals with young children ages four and seven. Their breakfast nook became an office space with two little desks and a storage unit in an effort to compensate for their home’s lack of kitchen storage and counter space.

Our clients desperately needed a multifunctional room with adequate storage! Our solution? We created a breakfast nook with custom made banquette seating and lots of clever storage. This not only solved our clients’ problem, but it defined this previously disorganized space.

The tall pantry has a pull-out shelf in the middle that acts as counter space and has a power outlet that allows for a toaster or rice cooker. Two doors painted the same charcoal grey are pocketed on each side and can be closed when the pantry is not in use.

The transformation turned a cluttered space into a comfortable and intimate seating area. A small round tulip table was carefully chosen for style, functionality and scale. Their active children can now sit around the table in the evenings after school, do their drawings, have a snack and chat with their parents while they are preparing dinner.

We installed open shelving that was designed to store the dishes needed for each meal – casually stacked, and within the reach! The kids can help set the table and participate in the fun of preparing a meal. A chalk wall in the breakfast nook ( behind the fireplace) is a fun touch that posts the dinner menu and motivates the kids to suggest upcoming meal ideas! Sunday pancakes? Taco Tuesdays?

Although space had plenty of natural light and beautiful views of the marina, there was a partition wall and sliding door that separated the nook from the living area making it look even smaller. Eliminating the wall and door created an open, airy space with no obstructed view. A healthy home means a better you.

Check out the Before photos below: