While some use their kitchens purely for cooking, all good kitchens should feature some seating of some kind. Be it a banquette or a breakfast nook with two chairs, a kitchen that features seating feels instantly more inviting and cozy than one without.
While some restrict seating to the dining room, if you're tight on footage or want to add some character to your somewhat clinical cooking space, adding a chair of some description will make your kitchen feel intentional and considered.
Choosing the right seating style can be tricky, but when I spotted Martha Stewart's vintage-style dining chairs (available at Wayfair), I instantly envisioned them in a bistro kitchen. Perfect for creating a cozy, communal feel, tuck them under an island or in a corner; they'll quietly bring warmth into a cooking space.
Reminiscent of a bistro chair, Martha's design will blend gracefully into any space, be it a breakfast nook or an outdoor patio. If you're looking to create that coveted French look, scatter them in your kitchen for a homage to authentic bistros that grace the streets of Paris.
Despite being an outdoor furniture idea, I'm convinced Martha's bistro-style dining chairs are perfect for dining inside too. They have such character and a nostalgic charm, and will transform any cooking space into the ultimate Parisian-style eating room.
The perfect way to welcome the return of kitchen eat-in areas, Martha's dining chairs will blend into any kitchen style.
To create a truly French-inspired space, Helen Parker, Creative Director of deVOL Kitchens, suggests, 'A fitted bench seat can offer a lovely café vibe to your room and gives much more comfortable seating (and storage options). It also creates more than just a seating area, a dedicated area that becomes a separate vignette and feels welcoming, comfy, and cocoon-like.'
Add Martha's chairs to a nook in your kitchen and style accordingly. Helen suggests, 'Create an intimate corner, drape vintage lace in your window or simply add a touch of Parisian café culture to your home with gloriously simple aged brass café curtain rails.' Bring in farmhouse kitchen decor like copper cookware and vintage lighting for the ultimate French-inspired cooking space with Martha's retro seating at the center.
A French kitchen essential, these copper pudding molds will bring character and charm to your cooking space. Hang them on a wall for a nostalgic nod to past interiors.
To go full-on French bistro, add these cafe curtains to a window for a whimsical flourish that allows light to trickle through whilst you enjoy your morning coffee.
No vintage kitchen look is complete without charming pendant lighting. This rustic stoneware lamp would look best above Martha's bistro chairs, creating ambience and warmth.
A classic choice, the Emery curtains will integrate into any kitchen, of any style. Pair them with rustic cookware for the ultimate homage to the past.
Fitted with a chic gold handle, this French-style frying pan is the perfect piece to hang from a pot rack. Pair it with some small pants for the ultimate vintage focal point.
Vintage in style, this stoneware pot will hold your kitchen utensils and give your kitchen a farmhouse charm.
Martha's bistro dining chair is classically charming. A familiar style with tons of nostalgia, it'll bring warmth and welcome into your kitchen and create that highly-coveted French bistro feel.
