What Is A Stove Cove & Should You Have One In Your Kitchen?

As interest in adding historical touches to your space grows, we're seeing a resurgence of antique design features from bygone days that were made redundant by modern living and design. Anxiety about an uncertain future and a desire to make homes cozier to counterbalance growing isolation and homogenization may be pushing new generations to look toward the past for design inspiration. That's why elements like the stove cove are making a comeback in modern kitchens.

Stove coves go by many different names — stove orrange alcoves, cook nooks, stove nooks — but they originated when homeowners and interior designers alike began incorporating obsolete chimney breasts into kitchen layouts instead of tearing them down. Much like their original function of housing open fireplaces and, later, wood and coal-burning stoves, one of the most popular solutions for these nooks is to repurpose them to accommodate cooktops and range cookers. The added vintage charm and architectural interest made stove coves so popular that it has now become a trend to build these little nooks from scratch. 

Whether they're part of the original layout or intentionally added for flair, stove coves are particular structures that could enhance your kitchen design. For starters, they isolate the cooktop by surrounding it with thick walls, cabinetry, or panels. Though these partitions once served to guide smoke toward the chimney and fireproof the room, they can be a nuisance if you're looking to maximize your kitchen countertop space. Narrow, antique chimney breasts won't leave much space between the partitions and the cooktop, which isn't very practical. New stove coves, however, have evolved to include more counter space in the margins. In certain designs, the walls are converted into neat little cupboards or hidden storage nooks, perfect for cooking oils, spices, and your best-loved utensils. For an extra vintage touch, you can utilize the wall above the cooktop to hang a handy pot rack.

When it comes to design, the possibilities of the stove cove are unmatched. Their inclusion makes your space look unique, evoking a simpler time, and, when relevant, highlighting the property's rich history. Completed with stunning tile or stone backsplashes, they provide a frame for retro-style equipment, creating a design focal point that can rival even the beloved kitchen island. For the rustic-style absolutists, stove coves are also an effective way to hide the sterile, cold stainless steel of vent hoods and exhaust fans. 

So, whether or not this trend is right for your kitchen ultimately comes down to your priorities. Even if stove coves provide surprisingly convenient opportunities for extra storage, style definitely seems to override function in this instance.

So you've decided you want a stove cove. The next steps depend on your personal style and the overall look and space of your kitchen. If you're integrating your range cove into an existing chimney breast, your design possibilities will be significantly fewer than if you're creating a nook from scratch. When that's the case, embrace the historic beauty of the construction by preserving its original masonry if possible. You can lean into the country kitchen feel by utilizing exposed brick, for example, or you can play into its fireplace origins with a gorgeous wood or stone mantelpiece that you can embellish with greenery or your favorite ceramics.

With newly built alcoves, there's a lot more freedom for the dimensions, side construction, built-in storage, and style. For a more traditional, rustic look, you can mimic the characteristics of an authentic chimney breast by using natural materials, like clay brick, wood, and stone, and opting for an arched top wall for softer lines. Vintage-inspired range cookers work best for this design. Alternatively, straight, sharp lines will make your stove cove look immediately more modern. Play up the contemporary feel by keeping the backsplash minimal, exposing the hood, and choosing sleek, modern appliances. For the best of both worlds, contrasting tile or stone backsplashes that make a statement are a popular design choice for all types of stove coves.