A Place For Everything & Everything In Its Place

  table & bench 
  Originally uploaded by emira.

We're three strips of quarter round away from finishing the kitchen now. (With the exception of our Ikea drawer fronts which still have not arrived, but that's out of my hands and so off my to-do list). Last week, while I ran out of any sort of steam on this project and instead focused on making use of the kitchen and just ignoring the unpainted bits here and there, Martin managed to grab some more resolve from somewhere down deep to start and finish a built-in bench and table combo.

Part of our inspiration, however round-about, for our kitchen reno was the combined kitchens of Martin's cousins in Denmark. Between their city flat and their gorgeous country cabin they had managed to create very efficient kitchens with little in the way of fuss or clutter. Those Danes I tell ya, they're the masters of simple efficiency. Their city flat had a very small kitchen but one that was very usable for four adults to prepare meals in and share a meal or drink in. Part of what made the room work as a very simple built in table/bench system that created a layout that had the table tucked in a corner and required no room on one side for chairs to move in and out (due to the bench set up). While our kitchen had room for our 50s table, it kind of  "just fit" and when we added the leaf into it for guests it meant we could seat 4 adult comfortably and squeeze in 6 for a dinner party with little breathing room. Given that we don't have a diningroom and won't be getting one without some major renos, this has left us a bit cramped for entertaining which is a shame as I love to have folks over for dinner. And so, we began to draw up plans for a built in system of our own.

And, Martin, fabulous and fearless woodworker that he is, made it all happen in short order. The best part? The table, which is attached the wall on one side and uses some bent plywood legs we picked up at Ikea on the other end, can still accommodate a leaf to expand it for dinner guests. Without the leaf it's 4.5" long (longer than our old table) and being tucked against the wall it leaves much more room for moving through the kitchen. With the leaf (which still needs to be milled) it will be 6 ft long allowing for hopefully a dinner party of 7. Only one more than we could seat before, but hopefully it will be a bit more comfortable and less elbow to elbow to wall as it were. The way that Martin came up with the leaf system is simple genius, and will write up a little "how-to" with his help this week for those who are interested in doing this as well. It's deceptively simple.

Oh, and did I say the leaf was the best part? It is definitely a contender. But for a kitchen gadget whore like myself the storage in the bench could win out. The bench will be holding things like my extra stock pots, juicer and appliances that don't get used every day allowing me to use the regular kitchen drawers and shelving for more everyday items. With all this storage I'm able to keep the counter tops quite clutter free which pleases me to no end.

We've yet to have much time to sit at this table to enjoy it together, but we're now close enough to being done that I think some kind of small celebration is in order to Christen the new kitchen.

Comments

[dana]

Oh yes. A party with more champagne, I think. Congratulations on the useability of your kitchen.

[lsaspacy]

What an inspiration you guys are. Great kitchen redo!

[Anne]

Your kitchen is looking lovely. I am envious of your storage and the simple clean lines. Enjoy!

[chris]

I've really enjoyed watching (lurkingly) your kitchen renovation . . . and that storage bench is pure genius! I may have to "borrow" that idea for when we replace our breakfast nook table and seating . . . 'cause more storage is ALWAYS a good thing! :)

[sam]

Well I just came back from a lovely evening dining at this very table. Not only are the simple lines pretty, it's dam comfy on the hind quarters too. Very nice.