Im assuming this banquette has a back? Its the thickness of the back plus 19" seat depth is the measurement you need to see the actual shape or curve of the banquette. Take all these measurements and enter into a CAD to get this shape/size. Or ask the manufacturer to make a paper template of the actual base size.

Thank you all for your thoughts. It is so helpful to read a variety of perspectives. Thank you for the info Annie. Maybe a winter project (if the built in benches survive that long--just joking, I am resigned to dealing with it the best I can as is). Bronwynsmom: yep. I didn't want to come across as overly dramatic, but it does indeed sap my energy. My kids prefer lounging on the stairs over the benches and it just makes me cry a little bit inside each time I see one of them on the stairs. And yes, intentional over dramatization in effect! Les: I will look into various upholstry/cusjhioning possibilities. This seems to get pricy quick. I am definitely thinking of making some myself or modifying less expensive ones. Francoise: I have thouth about the deeper seat portions. The parts that hinge up for the storage or only in certain sections, so I cannot just put in larger hinged tops. Actually, maybe I could. Hm, I am going to look into this more. If I can make larger ones, even just where the lids hinge, I could still replace the original ones if needed. But then it might be odd having only certain parts of the benches extend out farther. Unless I make them kind of T shaped to fill in the gaps. Not sure that makes sense unless you can hear me thinking. Teacats: I do think painting the bannister is a possibility. Apparently the house used to have cabinets that matched the bannister, but previous owners had the current cabinets and breakfast nook put in. Updating the bannister all around would be my preference. Grandma: taking out the backs would give us an extra 2 inches it looks like. I am worried that if we try to do that we will mess up somethign along the way. I don't know if it is just us...but any project we undertake becmoes about a gazillion times more complicated than it originally seemed. Geo: If you have little kids, I think the banquette seating is a great asset. Even when we first moved in, almost 3 years ago, my boys were young (small) enough to have friends over and everyone would squeeze into the benches and do projects, have snacks, etc. Deeper and taller seats would definitely be better for people over 6ft. It is interesting the different styles of tables suggested. I don't really know what style this cabinetry is even considered. To me it is more formal that what I would chose were I remodeling a kitchen. I had thougth the dark pedestal tables were the closest match for the rest of the kitchen.

I have the seat cushions from a couch that my mom got rid of a few years ago (yes, we've been at this remodel that long...) that I've been saving for a bench seat. We picked up some auto upholstery material at a garage sale to cover them with. It looks kind of like a plush microfiber fabric. When I think of how long the seats in a car last with relatively little care, it seems like this should be a durable solution. I've also made a quick non-sewing cover of a smaller cushion where I simply wrapped the foam like a birthday present and pinned everything together with large safety pins on the underside. The pins don't show from the top or sides. It looks upholstered, but the cover can be removed for cleaning. This might not hold up to high usage, though.

Do you have a round table? You can always squeeze another in at a round table.