I LOVE chestnut so I'd leave it as. What's the intended use of the bench?

I really like it as is unless someone is going to hang out there for hours - in that case you might want a cushion. Very pretty. Love the whale!

I agree with the previous comments. Exposed, unless someone's going to sit there a long time.

It's beautiful!

If you want to change anything, think about a pedestal table (instead of four legs) so that there's room to slide in around it.

Thanks guys. This corner bench is located in our kitchen. It serves as a handy place for additional informal seating during parties when the island seats are full. It isn't used often and I tend to agree that the chestnut is so special that I would hate to cover it up.

lovely as is, and agree you need the opposite of that table.... a little more table top, less leg.

what color is your wall? its beautiful.

Are you thinking of just one mitered cushion? If so, that would be difficult to store if you decide you don't like it, although it would look very nice.

You could have one long and one short rectangular cushions, butted up to each other, and then you could store these away if you don't want to see them all the time.

Love the whale...where did you get it?