Kitchen banquettes can be customized to integrate seamlessly into a layout, add hidden storage and do what they’ve always done best: provide an intimate spot to gather and connect. Here are seven ideas for adding kitchen seating banquette-style.
By Sara Diekelmann, Midwest Living
Happy feet
If space is tight, opt for a pedestal table that leaves plenty of leg room. It’s a smart choice for this luxe corner banquette. While chairs require more clearance, the bench, upholstered in durable faux leather, sits flush against the wall.
Tip: Plan for a 36-inch walkway between table edges and any work surfaces, like an island. If chairs are at the table, widen the space to 44 inches.
Double duty
A built-in storage wall elevates this traditional-style banquette from breakfast nook to multipurpose corner. Drawers built into bench seats stow linens. Mixing dark and light finishes creates elegant contrast.
Out of the way
A bumped-out alcove keeps a banquette away from a kitchen’s workspace. The U-shape configuration works well when there isn’t enough space around a table to slide chairs in and out.
Family nook
To encourage family dinners, a Des Moines family removed a kitchen desk and awkward peninsula in their 1911 home to create a cozy breakfast nook.
Great entertainer
If you host lots of guests, consider one long window seat. Pairing a big farm table with a crisp white bench and Windsor chairs offers flexibility in an eclectic setting.
Family matters
This L-shape design and expandable table fills the bill for family dinners. Bonus: The flip-top bench provides hidden storage.
Mixed materials
Ornate wood pedestals support a vinyl-clad banquette in the eating nook of Chicago architect Elissa Morgante's kitchen. "I definitely recommend diversity of materials," she says. "It makes keeping a kitchen fresh and interesting easier."
Match maker
For streamlined style, design a banquette that echoes the kitchen’s cabinetry. A mod corner unit and upper storage mimic the slab cabinet door style. The banquette’s end drawers wear the same hefty hardware. Leather cushions are sleek and easy to clean.
