Built-in seating gets you more out of your kitchen

Let’s not forget the ever-popular window seat as an option for additional kitchen seating. Though this is not designed for meals, a window seat provides a great hangout spot for children or friends of the cook. It is also a wonderful spot for browsing through recipe books or visiting while the cookies bake. Again, drawers under the window seat provide convenient additional storage. A window seat can be added to the exterior of the home, often under the overhang of the existing roof, so it actually adds square footage to the room. Make sure the depth of the seat is at least 24 inches — 36 inches is even more conducive to comfortable lounging.

Additional kitchen seating may not even need to be built in. One of my favorite kitchens has a love seat at the far end under the windows overlooking their lovely backyard. This is a favorite spot for one or two family members or friends to gather, sip tea, read the paper and relax.

As you expect more and more from your kitchen area, you'll need more creativity and vision to make it all work. Alternative dining styles may be one way to get more function out of your existing space.

Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer are the Principal Architects and co-founders of a residential architectural firm focused on life-changing remodeling designs at RenovationDesignGroup.com. Send comments or questions to ask@RenovationDesignGroup.com