Banquettes

A banquette is simply an upholstered bench, but in the kitchen it becomes a whole lot more. Banquettes are often found in kitchens and other rooms as comfortable window seats. You may find one tucked inside the awkward space under a stairwell. In living rooms they can provide extra seating for guests along an underused wall.

In the kitchen, banquettes provide comfortable bench-style seating and can lend an element of style to the room. And for practical purposes, a modern kitchen banquette isn’t always upholstered either. As you’ll see in some of our examples, the style, shape, and optional upholstery of a kitchen banquette design can take the entire room in a new direction.



The banquette in this Case Design/Remodeling kitchen clears up space in the center of the room by moving the dining table into the corner. While chairs are awkward when placed up against the wall, a built-in bench becomes the perfect solution.

More often than not, a kitchen banquette is located beneath a set of windows because it makes good use of the space. A wall with windows doesn’t fit as much cabinetry and windows provide a nice view at mealtime.



In this kitchen a traditional table and chairs could have been placed in the same nook, but a built-in banquette fits the space so much better. Image courtesy of Kipnis Architecture and Planning
http://www.houzz.com/photos/29500/Breakfast-Nook-traditional-kitchen-chicago.

In the kitchen, a banquette is also called a breakfast nook, booth, storage bench, or window seat. This U-shaped booth design by Arkin Tilt Architects http://www.houzz.com/photos/727142/Urban-Farmhouse-Kitchen-eclectic-kitchen-san-francisco is the ultimate dining nook with its combination of hidden storage and open shelves.




Bench storage is common in a banquette, but storage that’s accessed from the top can become inconvenient if you have to move the cushions or the table’s in the way.

This banquette design by Venegas and Company http://www.houzz.com/photos/95751/West-Newton-Kitchen-kitchen-boston includes multiple storage drawers underneath. The dining nook takes advantage of the windows and vaulted ceiling to create a very open feeling space in the dining area.




One advantage of a banquette over a traditional table and chairs is that banquette seating can fit twice as many people. In this Rachel Reider Interiors http://www.houzz.com/photos/75321/Kitchen-traditional-kitchen-other-metros design, the curved bench helps fit more people around table while extending beyond the table to create plenty of extra seats for any occasion.






Whether you choose a bench-style banquette like this one:



Image courtesy of Kreiger and Assoicates Architects http://www.houzz.com/photos/726172/Interior-view-of-kitchen-with-custom-pot-rack-eclectic-kitchen-philadelphia.



Or a booth-style banquet like this one:



Image courtesy of Goforth Gill Architects http://www.houzz.com/photos/242154/Phinney-Residence-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-seattle.


A kitchen banquette is a welcomed and refreshing addition to any kitchen space.

Source:  Case Design/Remodeling Inc.