Farmhouse-Fresh Breakfast Nook
It’s a style that’s comfortable and forgiving, where painted and rustic wood finishes only get better with wear. In this dining space, classic elements of the farmhouse look, such as a big, open-shelf hutch and a long communal-style table, invite a pile-up of pottery pieces—and plenty of friends and family to put them to use. Dishware that seems hand-thrown, textured linens, and fresh flowers hint at the rural life.
Keeping the lines clean and the color palette light give the look an updated feel. Bench seating is softened with striped toss-pillow cushions; a single French country armchair painted the same pale gray as the hutch adds a subtle bit of ornamentation. Whimsical farm-animal shapes—a judicious few—appear as accents.
Read on to learn how you can assemble your own casual, countrified breakfast spot with a little elbow grease and other thrifty alternatives to these antiques and one-of-a-kind finds.
Painted Hutch
To give this handcrafted pine piece an instantly aged finish, brush it with gray paint in a chalky matte sheen.
Hutch, about $454; Sawdust City LLC
Paint, $39 per quart; Annie Sloan
Dairy Decanters
Before cartons, milk and cream were stored and served in glass or ceramic vessels.
Bottle, about $19; Farmhouse Wares
Cow creamer, about$10; Fishs Eddy
French-Country Dining Chair
The homeowner’s is vintage, but this new perch, with a scalloped back and a rush seat, has the same feel.
About $338; Wayfair
Pulley Pendant
A funnel-shaped shade directs light over the table, and a counterweight system makes it height-adjustable.
About $230; Bellacor
Rustic Wood Beam
Reclaimed barn wood gives this decorative box beam a weathered quality.
About $260; Faux Wood Beams
Toss Pillows
Add comfort with cushions in patterns, such as gingham checks and ticking-like stripes.
Gingham, about $25; SPR Home
Striped, about $44, (down insert sold separately); Dash & Albert
Sturdy Stoneware
A pitcher of blooms and a nesting-hen dish liven up a harvest table.
Pitcher, about $20; Mast General Store
Hen, about $25; Bed Bath & Beyond
Robin’s-Egg-Blue Dishware
These porcelain pieces look delicate, but they’re dishwasher- and microwave-safe.
About $50 for a four-piece setting; Bed Bath & Beyond
Harvest Table and Bench
Stain in a golden oak hue will warm up the look of this unfinished birch set.
Table, about $279,
and bench, about $70; IKEA