(I was having fun imagining a great breakfast room or dining room in my head, for nobody in particular. I started with one piece and it just kind of went on from there. )
So I say to myself: Let's start by anchoring the room with a large antique cupboard. This 18th century Irish pine hutch from Berkshire Home & Antiques is especially nice.
It has hidden storage beneath, which is useful in a kitchen/breakfast room, but it also has the opportunity for display on the upper portion. If you already collect something, what a perfect place to show it off. If you don't, why not start now? I love ironstone, such as the collection below, but you could do anything: cookbooks, tea kettles, shells, even jelly moulds like the one shown here.....whatever you like.
ADD A TABLE AND TABLE SETTINGS....
Bleached/white washed oak table from Koost on Vintage and Modern.
Vintage 1920's Le Musset plates from Posh Chicago
A great place to get "hotel silver" is from estate/garage sales and consignment stores. The whole point to the charm of this setting is that it is usually unmatched and has some "wear" to it. So buy a few here and there and put it all together. I rather prefer unmatched sets of anything, because it looks like it has been amassed over time rather than bought in one purchase. I find that much more appealing and interesting. If you strike out at the estate sales, use Ebay ... and of course Paris Hotel Boutique always has a great selection of hotel silver.
Ikea is a great source for inexpensive dishtowels. I bought some dishtowels there last year that I use as napkins - they look like french grain sack towels. The ones above, named Iris, are $2.99 for 4. You can have them monogrammed if you want yourself and still get the same look as a vintage linen. Also, there is the Lenda towel below, that is $3.99 for 2. I think using a dish towel for a napkin is a great idea, especially when you are going for a rustic country look. For more on vintage towels, read my guest post on My Domicile Style here.
ADD SEATING....
20th century dining chairs from The Netherlands. Berkshire Home & Antiques/1st dibs
19th century Swedish kitchen sofa from Uptowner/1st dibs
I have always liked the idea of a banquette or bench in the breakfast room. I remember visiting my room-mate's family while in college. Her mom had this long 10 foot plank wood table with two long benches on either side. I have been a fan ever since. What I like about this one above is the hidden storage drawer underneath the seat. And the low back is nice also. I like mixing benches with chairs, and these look good together.
AND A GREAT LIGHT FIXTURE....
I sometimes put tiny shades on the lights inside lanterns, I think it adds just one more layer or dimension.
NOW, WHAT TO COOK?
Full Apron in Fog linen from Design Within Reach
Japanese designer Yumiko Sekine uses raw linen from Lithuania that only gets softer with each washing, on apron shown above.
You could buy this Italian Cookbook that is over 100 years old and has 2000 recipes....Look how thick it is!! This is just beautiful to look at, I don't even need to open it or read Italian to appreciate it! If you don't get this, here's three of my favorite Italian recipes.
BAKED FISH WITH PEPPERS, TOMATOES & GARBANZO BEANS
I first made this 15 years ago; I tore it out of a magazine in the doctor's waiting room. It is easy (I sometimes cook it in foil pouches instead) and very healthy.
1 1/2 pound tilapia or orange roughy fillets
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium yellow pepper, cut into 1/4 inch strips
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh garlic
1/4 cup dry white wine or 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 (15oz) can garbanzo beans, rinsed, drained (I use 1 can of cannelli beans)
1 (14 1/2oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place fish in single layer in baking dish. Brush fillets with 1 tablespoon oil. In 12 inch skillet, heat remaining oil; add yellow pepper, onion and garlic. Cook over med-high heat; stir in wine, beans and tomatoes. Spoon vegetables evenly over fish in baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. To serve, place fish on serving plate. Stir basil into vegetables. Arrange vegetables around fillets; spoon juices in baking dish over fish and vegetables. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 6 servings.
EASY CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
This is my go-to recipe for an easy dinner (I sometimes boil the chicken and store it in the freezer) and also for baby/bridal showers. It's easy and everyone loves it.
Cook about a 3 pound chicken and cut/tear meat from the bone.
Add:
1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 can mushroom soup
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 pound sharp grated cheese
Add Worcestershire sauce and garlic salt to season. Cook 8 ounce package of thin spaghetti according to directions on box. Add spaghetti to chicken mixture. Bake 40 minutes at 325 degrees. (Sometimes I cook a little larger chicken. Instead of 1/2 can of soup and 1/2 can of broth, I use the full can of each. You can also increase the thin spaghetti to 12 oz. This makes a large Pyrex.)
ITALIAN WEDDING CREAM CAKE
My sister-in-law baked this over 10 years ago and nothing comes close. It is moist and yummy! Don't count your calories on this one.
1/2 cup Crisco
1 stick butter (or 1/2 stick)
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups coconut
1 cup pecans
5 eggs, separated
Cream Crisco, butter and sugar; add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each; then add buttermilk, vanilla and dry ingredients. Beat well, stir in coconut and pecans, and fold in beaten egg whites. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes in (3) 8" or 9" pans. Ice when cool.
ICING:
1 stick (or 1/2 stick) butter, softened
1 8 ounce package cream cheese
1 box powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecans
Mix butter and cream cheese. Add sugar, vanilla and pecans. Beat until smooth. Frost cake!
(Photos used for recipes courtesy of, top to bottom: anverlaskin.files.wordpress.com, hanalynch.blogspot.com, foodnetwork.com)
