Sure!

Worthy,

As usual, your advice is worthless. Just guessing, but I bet the last time you "used" a window seat, children ran screaming, and women laughed hysterically. : )

* Posted by worthy (My Page) on
Mon, Mar 14, 11 at 1:39

Yes, indeed, what an idiot I am!

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/build/msg0323410610504.html

(Your words,...not mine! )

CCinTX I think that whether you actually use a window seat will depend on where you locate it in relation to the rooms you use and how comfortable you make it. In my house growing up there was a window seat in the dining room and it got used all the time. After dinner, when everyone wasn't ready to leave the table yet, someone would always go and sit on the window seat to be more comfortable but still part of the conversation. I also had a window seat off of my bedroom and I used to read there all the time.

In my new house, I am putting in multiple window seats. One in the master bathroom (to sit on while getting dressed/undressed, etc.) , one beside the master fireplace, one in an upstairs bedroom and one in our conservatory. (Can you tell I love window seats!) They will all have 2.5 inch thick cushions and I expect that they will all be used (except perhaps the one in the upstairs bedroom since no one will be up there except if we have guests)

My dog also loves window seats- great place to curl up and watch the outdoors during the winter (the master windowseat... kinda designed for the benefit of the dog, lol!)

Not quite as helpful as the pictures above, I'm sure, but here are two of my planned window seats if that helps any :)

Thanks for your input Beagles. I had actually thought about having more than one window seat but the boss says one is plenty. I love the shelving in your library. Never thought about a seat by the dining room. Great idea. Thanks again.

Beagles said it all. It depends on where it is and how comfortable it is. When our house was framed, we could see that the pantry walled off a beautiful view. The pantry was moved under the stairs to make way for 3 windows and a window seat. It was used so many times each day....where I had my morning coffee and read the paper. The cabinet maker installed mutiple drawers that held grandchildren's toys. Loved that window seat!

We've had a window seat in our bay window for 20 years (still dreaming of building) and at least once a week I still look at it and say, why the heck didn't I go for the floor space?

Floor space would be so much more flexible, especially in a nook. You can always put in free-standing seating, a table, or, especially around the holidays, the perfect spot for a tree or other display.

If you're not over 3000 square feet and want your spaces to be flexible, I'd suggest going for the floor space but creating the nook feeling with framing, a lower ceiling, bump-out if you can, etc.

Our Westie loved the low bay window seat in our old house; it was one of his lookouts. If you live in a cold climate, you'd want the window seat to be quite deep, to stay away from the cold glass. Now that I'm a Senior, I'd prefer space for a real chair with a *back*.

We are putting one in the master closet to serve as a seat for putting on socks, etc. There are two other places in the house I want to put them...for the cats.

Worthy's advice wasn't COMPLETELY useless...I enjoyed the view, as well!
;)

If I had one, especially if it were next to a bookcase, I would certainly use it.

We had one in the old house I grew up in. It actually housed the heating pipes for the house, so it was a popular spot in the winter- if you could get the cats off of it!

I'm planning one in the house I'm going to build soon. Now you have me thinking that maybe i should have a finished floor in that space, and a removable window seat- the best of both worlds. Ours will be a bump-out in our dining area.

I was reading old magazines on a long car ride yesterday and even though the article about window treatments for window seats was (mostly) dated, the advice was good! They said that today most window seats are made too shallow - and they merely become decorative accents not usable seating. I threw the magazine away on the trip so I can't tell you what depth they recommended! I do agree that location is important! Also your lifestyle. I have three young boys and a very busy household so I can only dream of the day I might have time to sit on a windowseat! However, my grandmother had a wonderful nook at the top of her stairs - it was actually a twin bed recessed into the nook with curtains and bookshelves on either end. I spent hours in there as a child reading - it was fabulous!

My window seat is in the dinining room sits between two bookcases. I have enjoyed putting my feet up and daydreaming while viewing the very private garden out back.. It is not conducive to any length of stay as it is uncomfortable feeling exposed visually and pressing against glass, this tightness of space is due to the shallow Craftsman proportions. I love the storage this seat as cabinet provides. In addition, our cats 2 long-furred adults and 2 short- coated tiger kittens take turns viewing the goings on of the natural world outside. This is a charming view, like a painting;, watching them in this cozy space which is ideal for their size is one of my joys.