Breakfast in the "burbs!"

We return to the "burbs" to check out a breakfast area that has organically evolved over the past six years.

The breakfast area in our current house is narrow and long and--like most breakfast areas--adjoins the kitchen.  Originally, the walls were painted in a neutral khacki.

When the house was being built, we asked the builder to install a real brick wall using the same bricks that were being used on the outside of the house.

Because the builder could not get an adequate amount of the first choice brick we ordered, we ended up with really cool reclaimed bricks in Georgetown pattern.The reclaimed bricks came from Alley Cassetty Brick Company. 

The brick wall in the breakfast area now became the focal point for the room--giving it more depth and an urban feel (...pretty cool for a suburban bungalow!).

My husband selected and ordered a mission style light that was installed above the table.

Next, I set out to find just the right color red paint for the walls.  After many bad attempts, I finally found a color that would not detract from the brick.  I selected Ralph Lauren Thoroughbred collection, Hunting Coat Red. 

Because of the narrowness of the breakfast area, I had to find a rectangular table and chairs.  I found a set at a local furniture company that was only $199.  The mission style dining set in dark ash seemed sturdy and well built for such a slo

But, after a year I thought I  needed more color!  So, I purchased four red leather pullman chairs from Pottery Barn--each costing twice as much as the original breakfast set...but they look great and added just the color needed to make things ... spicy!

Red leather pullman (above). 
For the floor - Crate and Barrel's Jupiter carpet for additional color (below).

Later I found placemats at Pier One that reflected the same circular pattern on the rug.  The plate in the center was thrown my by husband and it resembles the Japanese pattern called mishama.

I also added a small buffet to hold cookbooks and pottery.  The buffet is the same mission style as the table.  The wall color here looks much more pink than in "real life," but you can see how crazy any type of red paint can be by this picture!

And...the finished room...

We use several different types of dinnerware including red stoneware--no longer available from Pier One, PB White, and Sausilito in natural (Pottery Barn).

...and there you have it... breakfast in the "burbs!"