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Home Decorating

Anyone Have/or Have Ideas For Moveable Window Seats?

16 years ago

We have a 12'x 15'sunroom that is finished, floor to ceiling in white beadboard (real, not panels.) There are large windows on 2 sides that come down to window-seat height. The other 2 walls have sliders - a double coming from the DR & one leading to an open deck.

I'd like to have window seating along the perimeters of the 2 windowed sides (so it will be "L" shaped.) I don't want to nail it in to the beadboard,but I'd like it to have a built-in look. I'm thinking of having long benches built with a short back so that bench cushions can be set on them, but I've never seen what I'm thinking of. Unlike banquette bench seating which is usually more built like a chest, I'd like the bottom open so all that beadboard isn't covered up. I'm wondering if anyone has done anything like this?

Thoughts or ideas?

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Comments (3)

syllabus
16 years ago
I have something similar. Under 2 windows at one end of our sunroom we have a low bookshelf that my DH built to house my cookbooks. It is only 18" high and the top is just under the sill moulding of the window trim. It's 84" long and 16 inches deep. There is one bracer board in the center that keeps it sturdy. I asked him to just make it like he would a bench only add a shelf to the bottom. The shelf sits up off the floor high enough that I can get the vac under it and the back is open.

The top is usually covered w/ current reading materials and our birdwatching binocs. We have a couple of chairs in this corner where we like to sit, read and watch the birds at the feeders. I like having all my cookbooks in a comfortable place sit and look through.

This bookcase/bench gets used as a seat when we have lots of folks over. The sunroom is just off the kitchen & is where everyone likes to hang out. When I know we'll need or want to be using it as seating I have some cushions that I add.

It works for us and now my SIL wants him to build the same thing for her sunroom, too! She likes that it can be used as more than just a plain bench cause it has the shelf underneath.
karenforroses
16 years ago
When we redid our kitchen I wanted a bench seat for our grandchildren to use, but I didn't want to put in anything permanent in case we decided against it after a few years. So the carpenter who did all our beadboard and woodwork built a separate unit, with a hinged lid for storage, and we had a cushion made for it. It has a build-in look, but isn't. We love using it, but also like the idea that it could be removed if we ever want to. Here's how it looks:
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Okay, read this post yesterday for the first time and thought: I have one. Oops no pics of it. So that's what I did this morning. Realize this is still sort of a work in progress. This area is at the front of my house, upstairs at the end of the wide center hall. The window seat was there when we bought the house 2 years ago. A few months ago we added the bookcases on either side. The seat lifts up also for storage. Please ignore the fact that the curtains are not hemmed and I have not recovered and replaced the cushion (and the really crooked candle)! I think I also need to paint the strip under the window the same color as the windows and the seat and finish painting the upper left window and then scrape the paint off the window panes!!. Never enough time though. Also something I did in a previous house: it is really easy to make a finished window seat using those small cabinets that go above refrigerators.Put several together to get the length you want, add a top and a cushion.
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Yes you can make it sanborn. If you railroad the fabric, you'll need three yards. Fold the fabric length wise so that you have a 104 inch run then cut the width 42 to 44" inches wide (depending on the thickness of the foam you use) Upholstery fabric (that's I suggest you use) runs 54' wide, so you'll have about 10 to 12" x 108" left over for throw pillows. You can either use foam or stuffing. Turn you fabric inside out and sew along the back, turn you fabric to the right side and slip your foam in, if it's too loose, sew it tighter. Then sew one end and slip your foam in again. The other end you can pin tightly, then hand sew close. I did a cushion for my piano seat this way, and got a nice tight fit. Be use to pick out a fabric (pattern) that lends itself to railroading. Also you may have to glue together the foam cushion to get a 108" foot run. They sell foam adhesive in an spray can. Good luck, Joann
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amck2
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you both for posting such good ideas.

Karenforroses, I think your dining bench is a great addition to your space. Your builder did a terrific job at making it look built-in, right down to matching the base moulding to the wall. Love the lamps, too!

syllabus - Your bench seating sounds like what I've been trying to describe to DH. We have a wicker dining set with seating for 4 in there now, and I would like to keep the option open to put another small table & chairs in there for certain occasions. But most times, especially when the screens are open, it will be the place people will gravitate to to just hang out, chat or read. I think I would make best use of the floor space with benches.

I had not thought of a shelf, but really like that idea. It would provide added support and is the perfect spot for binoculars, bird books and decorating magazines!

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