There are several long threads about banquettes with lots of pictures in the kitchens forum.

Oui! My girlfriend had one in her very plain little ranch, tucked into the kitchen corner.

Our family had one when I was a kid, the first time we were stationed in Germany, at one end of our tiny galley kitchen. We also had a formal DR, which we used for entertaining.

In my own experience, these are very functional space savers, and if I could have one, I would!

They're cozy spaces, so they're perfect for smaller families.

My neighbors recently installed a beautiful one with a leather bench and stools, the entire thing is counter height. It is very cozy.

Thanks Cheryl, I will search the kitchens forum.

Hey clax, here is a thread with banquettes. I have one but it is very small. There is a really nice sized one by needanap towards the end that you might be interested in.

Good luck.

Here is a link that might be useful: Banquette thread

This site shows tons of banquettes. I think I've memorized each and every one :)
We were really wanting to build one in our eat in kitchen. But, for resale reasons, among others..we opted not to.

Here is a link that might be useful: banquette slide show

momto4boys, that is a fabulous site! I need pillow ideas and there are alot.

I think this inspiration set from Horchow is gorgeous.
The picture here is dark but if your interested go to the site
and they have lots of pictures of it.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks everyone:)

kelly, every time I see your banquette I think about the morgue drawer and the dogs tearing the body apart. LOL They are so precious.

I have a technical question, if the bottom of a banquette is left open and not solid, is it still considered a banquette or then becomes a bench? I want banquette type seating, but I don't like the closed in bottom because when I'm sitting I tend to put my feet back and with it closed it, that can't be done.

I didn't mean to highjack this post. Sorry.

Hey brutuses, I don't think you are technically hijacking if you are asking questions about banquettes. (Then again, I haven't read the rule book lately. If I did it probably also says that you shouldn't have pics of dogs pretending to eat a dead person.)

I agree that not being able to put your feet back could be an issue for some people. My cabinet guy actually put drawings together that had a slant so you could put your feet back. I didn't like the look at all. (I am all for function but you have to like the overall look.) It looked funky with a square drawer. Another option would be to have the seat top extend a little longer (I thought of that after mine was done.) Also, you could have a shallower drawer that sits on feet or a platform that sets back. If that makes sense.

Ahhhh.....technical questions - my forte ;-)

I think of banquettes as being a bit more to the casual than 'dining room' reating but a lot probably depends on what kind of dining room you have in mind. Queen Anne and banquette seating - no. Pottery Barn - yes.

brutuses - my banquette definition would be any seating that backs to a wall and sits two or more people next to each other. Not sure how Webster defines it but that one works for me!

So that means I have a booth, not a banquette in my kitchen.
{{!gwi}}

And I have a banquette on my porch
{{!gwi}}

Any other pressing life questions I can answer? First two are free but from then on I charge ;-)

We have this in our kitchen: