If you’re tired of walking to the kitchen for the morning coffee, consider bringing that java source closer to your bedroom.
There are many ways to add breakfast bars, wine chillers or even a mini-kitchen to the master bedroom. Start with a few cabinets, a countertop, a small refrigerator and a coffee maker. You’ll quickly have a dose of comfort for your morning or evening routine.
“The master bedroom is becoming more of a nice retreat and that’s why it makes a lot of sense to add these,” said Court Airhart, president of Airhart Construction in West Chicago. “You wake up, walk into the bathroom to fill the coffee pot and you’ve got your cup of coffee before heading downstairs.”
Secondary kitchens can take many shapes, from small countertop areas that are considered breakfast bars to rows of fancy cabinetry and appliances that are called kitchenettes. These pampering stations can be placed almost anywhere, but are popular in the master bedroom, basement and home office.
When adding a breakfast bar in the master suite, look first for a transitional area between the bedroom and bathroom.
“We’ve had some people want them in the master bedroom where it’s out in the open, but some people are messier than others,” Airhart said.
In many floor plans, there is an alcove or short walkway leading from the bedroom to the bathroom. There might be room across from a closet for a 4-foot-long breakfast bar, for example. This type of layout allows some privacy and helps keep the sound of coffee brewing away from the bedroom area.
If the bedroom suite does not have a transitional hallway, you could install the breakfast bar in the bedroom and hide it behind sliding or folding doors. This type of design, which also works in a home office, makes it easy to close the doors and hide any mess.
The cost to add a breakfast bar starts around $1,500 for moderately-priced cabinets, countertop and a few small appliances, Airhart said. “You can also get a little crazy with it and get a built-in refrigerator that alone costs $900. Then the price goes up from there.”
More elaborate kitchenettes can grow to 7 feet wide by 12 feet long or more, taking into account the kitchen area plus a sitting area and space for a television. Kitchenettes often are in basements or finished third floors, as they can help create an entertainment space or a small apartment feeling.
“For those who like to entertain and have the budget and space, it makes for a great environment for entertaining and for the kids,” said Ross Friedman, president of Windward Builders in Lake Forest.
In that scenario, home owners often are spending $35,000 or so on a high-end, full-size refrigerator, a microwave, sink, dishwasher, cabinetry and a granite countertop, Friedman said. Many people use similar finishes as they have in the primary kitchen.
Other basement kitchenettes can be more modest and geared toward the kids. They might be outfitted with an oven or range, refrigerator, sink and microwave, and be located near a large recreation room. “A lot of my clients want some place for the kids to make pizza or popcorn,” said David Heigl, owner of Heigl Design Group Inc., a kitchen and bathroom design company in Lincolnshire.
Kitchenettes typically are built with fewer cabinets than a main kitchen, as there are fewer storage needs. The cost also is lower — $10,000 to $20,000 — if there are fewer appliances or the finishes are more modest, Heigl said.
Those who are considering a breakfast bar or kitchenette should plan it carefully with the builder or remodeling contractor. Since this project often involves plumbing, electrical and ventilation work, it should be planned during the design stage to make sure it fits with existing systems and the overall layout. “Otherwise you tend to compromise and run up costs and frustrations,” Friedman said.
These types of projects also should be discussed with the municipality to ensure they comply with zoning regulations. “Most often the local municipalities have code restrictions,” Friedman said. “Once you add a second kitchen, a strict interpretation of the code may throw the house into a multi-family setting.”
The municipality would want to review the plans and decide whether the kitchenette is allowed. The village might be concerned that a home owner was adding a rental apartment in their single-family home, for example. One way to eliminate objections from the municipality is to avoid adding a range or oven, Friedman said. Keeping the kitchenette small also makes the project fit with existing zoning laws.
Breakfast bars and kitchenettes can make daily life much more convenient. They also can be designed into almost any space. As you consider your routine, look around for a spot where a cappuccino maker, a wine chiller or a microwave oven could make life a little easier.
