Built-in seating is back as a way to make a kitchen cozier or deal with an informal dining corner.
Whether you call it a banquette or a booth, built-in table seating has returned as a popular way to maximize space in kitchen corners, breakfast areas, or small dining rooms. No matter what the style of the room, a built in – basically a cushion-covered bench – can be tweaked to coordinate with the basic scheme and accommodate tables of different shapes and sizes. They also can be great, affordable DIY ventures.
The base of a corner unit is made to match the paneling on the walls of a kitchen by Chicago designer Kara Mann [top]. While the handsome pendant light upstages the area, cushions line the bench, which seats at least three at the iconic round Saarinen pedestal dining table. Wainscoting serves as the informal back against which accent pillows are placed. Fortunately, the windows are high enough so the sills don’t intrude into the seating area – one structural aspect to consider carefully.
In a small apartment, the banquette corner is created by placing one leg of the seating space at a right angle to a wall so the back forms a low room divider and an artificial nook high enough to support back cushions.
A fully-upholstered banquette – including the back – also can float in a space the way a sectional does. This cocoa-colored beauty also includes accent pillows with a lively mid-century style print plus Arne Jacobsen Ant chairs, in white, as pull-ups.
Thick seat cushions and matching back cushions upholstered in a small-scale country print helps lend a French provincial feel to this banquette, which also features a rustic rectangular farm table and scroll-back upholstered chairs. Along the window wall the back is built well above the level of the sills and while it’s not enough to block light or air this configuration does make for a tricky space back there – especially if toddlers are in residence.
With the long, rectangular table this area can easily seat six and it makes great use of a very pretty corner with wonderful views. While the cushion is relatively thin, nearly a dozen back pillows allow for infinite adjustments.
Don’t miss Allison’s post on Formal Banquettes.
Built in benches are so cool! I have wanted this for my breakfast nook for a while now….
to me, nothing says MONEY like a built in banquet. love it. i know you can diy it affordably. something about it says luxury to me.
i love that second photo, of the small banquette. i’ve had it saved for a while…not that i can do anything similar in my kitchen, but it’s still the cutest thing! great collection!
Builtin banquettes say comfy and practical to me. I particularly love the first and the last you’ve shown. Although, in my house, I know where all those loose pillows would be…NEVER on the bench! lol
Lovely… It’s great how this lends itself perfectly to both traditional and contemporary styles. My favorites are the first and the last. That Saarinen table seems perfect for this purpose!
I agree, rhome about the pillows.Must say some of the bench pillows look a little thin. I tend to like thick on bottom and fixed and cushy in back vs individual but it depends on the size, I suppose. When I was really small my Dad had a red leather upholstered booth built into the corner of our kitchen. I used to climb on it and walk across. Always loved banquettes and booths ever since.
I really like the first and last ones, personally. And yes, Ivette that Saarinen table really seems perfect, old lady that she is! LOL
Does anyone know who makes the pendant/chandelier from picture #1? It’s amazing, and I’ve been searching for a light to go over my poor dark breakfast table for 3 months!
mid-reno, I don’t have the manufacturer, so sorry. But that’s a designer room in Chicago, if I remember correctly. Thought it might be Hubbardton Forge but no. Need to do a little more looking.
mid-reno, I was looking through a new Shades of Light catalog this morning and there is a similar fixture – same basic shape and the swooping arms on the top. It doesn’t have the vertical iron bands and it’s a tad smaller. Urban Loft Shade Chandelier.
DD2 has their Loft Shade Chandelier which does have vertical bands but is taller. It’s posted here in My Daughter’s Dining Room Redo.
I love the look of the banquettes. I’ve been wanting it for a while just don’t know where or who to call? My kitchen is small and my table takes up to much room. Can you please advise me where to shop or who to call thank you.
Maria, there may be some pre-made banquettes for sale somewhere though it’s a tough thing to find because it would need to fit your space exactly. Depending on style, you’d need an upholsterer or carpenter to built it. Usually chair seats are 17-17-1/8″ high but with banquettes you may need to go an inch lower and add the height of the seat pillow. The nice thing is you can figure out the height of the table and adjust. Also, it’s important to know the style you want before you go. Back and bottom cushions? Upholstered or loose? Best to find a photo of one in a style you like and have it priced out.