Grab a flat white and a slice of sourdough: bistro kitchen design is booming
Think about your favourite brunch spot. Aside from jammy yolks and a moreish house roast, what is it that keeps you coming back? My local caff doesn’t have an expanse of designer tiles or aesthetically pleasing expensive armchairs; instead, the appeal is in the atmosphere. I return again and again to bask in its unhurried, Sunday-morning glow. Rather than a strict formula to follow, it’s this feeling that the bistro kitchen trend channels.
That being said, we’re here to provide the cheat sheet. There are a few things that will reliably emulate the café look: open shelving, wall-mounted lights, floaty curtains and (of course) a round table with curved wooden chairs tucked beneath. But, as always, there’s an endless library of ways to make the look your own.
Look to French and Italian interiors if you’re longing to recreate the warm embrace of a holiday home in the countryside. Trawl antique markets for livedin pieces that won’t feel too crisp for that rustic aesthetic. Starting with the table will make everything easier. Wood should be your top choice, and round is traditional, but your space might suit something more angular.
By deploying a few smart choices, an awkward nook can be transformed into a dining space with oodles of character. Internal and external windows can be softened with muslin curtains, while woven seats should entice you to sit for a spell.
Curtains can be integrated into the main body of the bistro kitchen as well, helping to create that softer, fluid feel of a bistro. Use cotton or linen to hide away any appliances that don’t suit your scheme (bonus points for gingham or ticking stripes) or layer them above a deep windowsill stacked with cushions. Harsh overhead lighting is forbidden.
The point is to create somewhere you could lounge for hours, one hand curled around a hot drink, the other busy turning the pages of your favourite mag, so layer your lighting accordingly. Adjustable wall lights are ideal, as are rechargeable table lamps. Stick to a palette of neutrals (enamel, cotton, brass) and bring in colour elsewhere. Might we suggest wall-to-wall pink? It’s beautifully demonstrated by Earthborn (below).
Open shelving will tie everything together. It’s here that your home bistro reveals its heart. Roast your own coffee beans? Show them off in timeless glass jars. Always got something simmering? Use those well-loved pots as functional decor. Baker? Thrift some cute baskets, pile with oven-fresh pastries and invite your pals over to peruse. Beachcomber? Decorate piles of vintage books with shells or shards of sea glass. Best of all, visit local coffee shops to pinch ideas from their displays – we’ll call it research.
If those examples lean too close to clutter for your liking, take comfort in knowing that the bistro trend can be beautifully pared back. All the elements are waiting for you. With dark wood, wall lights, a round table and café chair, even an element of open shelving, no one could accuse your space of being busy. This just goes to show that this trend is what you make it.
Find the right Scottish designer or supplier to bring your own bistro kitchen to life below.
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