Furniture and Finishes Friday- Kitchen Banquettes

2/7/2020

Kitchens are a place where people tend to congregate. No matter how big or small the kitchen is, there is something about them that brings people together. Naturally they are a great place to consider adding a functional seating solution. Banquettes are a multi-functional design solution, as they provide additional seating and storage. They also add an additional design opportunity to add soft fabrics in a space that is usually filled with hard surface materials.

The customization options for banquette designs are endless. These fun little gathering spaces can be designed to fit your family needs for comfort, storage, and aesthetics. This week I wanted to share a closer look into some of the features and possibilities of kitchen banquettes.

Function

A well designed space should be as functional as it is beautiful. There is no other space in the house that requires more thoughtfully planned functionality, than the kitchen. These spaces are filled with gadgets, appliances, serve-ware, and kitchen tools that need to be stored and accessed as needed. A banquette with a closed base, provides a great deal of storage space for those bulky items that are not used on an everyday basis, as well as linens, and pieces for occasional entertaining.

This can be achieved by designing lift up seats or pull out drawers. Depending on the design, these storage solutions can be a visible part of the overall look or discreetly crafted as a hidden function. Here are just a few options for storage elements.

Additional seating

Providing places for people to gather in the kitchen is an important part of design. Even the smallest kitchen can become the gathering area when guests are in your home. It may be the one place where claustrophobia goes out the window and people are naturally put at ease when gathered in close proximity. It is where the action is. Banquettes provide an opportunity for added seating as people gather. They can be designed to be the only seating or part of a mix of seating options. Here are a few examples of the unique seating options they can offer.

Added Design Elements

Kitchens or predominantly designed with hard surface materials. Thus adding a banquette provides the opportunity to add some softness to the space. This can be done with seat cushions, pillows, additional lighting, and draperies within the nooks. There are solutions for any budget. From fully upholstered seating, to box cushions, and throw pillows. You can also play with some unique finishing touches. Here are a few examples.