How to make my corner banquette more inviting and functional?
Jessica Geerling
2 years ago
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Jessica Geerling
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Need Banquette Seating Ideas
Comments (14)I've never built a banquette, but my kitchen and dining room is exactly like yours, layout and dimensions. We don't have a wall between the DR and LR however, so we've put a buffet server on the long wall between DR and LR. Clearly, you've outgrown your house. My dining room looks so much bigger than yours because I'm not trying to make it do double duty by storing stuff that should be in the kitchen. The open storage is not doing you any favors of making your space look comfortable and peaceful at dinnertime. Rather than built-ins, consider a hutch or buffet server with some closed storage that you can take with you when you move. Simplify your stuff, and I guarantee you'll add to the function, and you'll feel much more relaxed. There's a principle of elementary education that says if the classroom is disorganized and chaotic, the students will be too. Besides whether a banquette is doable, does it make sense for future buyers? I would ask a realtor before I went any further. I don't like the idea of the banquette against a peninsula with a sink. My counter extends 19" beyond my sink, and I get splash almost to the edge. Seating--we have a 36" x 54" table--a little narrower than most rectangular tables. We put 4 chairs on the long sides. I find that arrangement more roomy than a chair at each end. Extensions pull out from under the table on the short ends for guests. Mine is positioned with the long side along the peninsula, but you could turn yours the other way....See MoreDo you love Banquette Seating?
Comments (21)I just now saw the questions posed to me, and I am sorry for not having checked in sooner! ML, the 3-drawer stack I bought was just the 18" base cabinet with 3 drawers, and I ordered it with Arlig (now Harlig) drawer fronts. When you order it like that, everything you need for that arrangement is included in the price. I am sorry I do not remember off-hand how much it cost, but I know it was under $100 at the time. I see the price has gone up to approximately $150 now, but that was 4.5 years ago. That 3-drawer cabinet is in my linen closet now, and I have extra toiletries--toothpaste, shampoo, soap, mouthwash, etc. in one drawer, some cosmetic items and personal stuff in the shallow (top) drawer, and misc bath items in the bottom drawer. This was the cabinet that convinced DH that IKEA kitchen cabinets were a whole 'nother animal than their other cabinets. Newbie, it actually IS my only dining area. It was the "formal" dining room, but we never used it as such, except for holidays and entertaining. Every other day, it became a catch-all. This drove DH crazy, as he cannot stand any kind of clutter. We had a small table in our kitchen area, and that is where we ate. We have two children, and when we first started this, they were a bit younger and SMALLER. ;^) We tore down the wall between the two spaces because it felt so cramped. It is such huge difference having that wall down! I came up with the idea of the banquette when I was trying to create more storage. I looked online for some pictures and drew out the plan on graph paper first. DH was hesitant at first, thought it might be too "frilly-nilly" as he called it. He loves it now. Our table has two leaves, and we have used it that way. There is plenty of room for entertaining and holidays. It would be nice if that were our "breakfast room", and we had a more grand dining space, but our house just is not that large. I am fine with the cozy cottagey vibe we have going. In fact, I am quite fond of it. :^) I imagine I will be even happier when we get around to finishing the basement, which is next on the list. DH wants a year off of house stuff, though, when this kitchen is finally done. I can hardly blame him. He has been amazing! Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA--Harlig three-drawer stack...See MoreTo Banquette or not to banquette
Comments (7)You have lots of things to think about that only you can answer: How formal do you want to dine? A banquette is an informal eating space, compared to the more formal set up you have now. Does your home have a dining room, in addition to this space? If so, you could sacrifice this duplicate formal dining space, downgrading it to a more informal eating space. If not, you may want to reconsider, to keep the option for formal Thanksgiving Dinner, etc. Think about how you want to use and care for the eating space: How many people do you envision seating at a banquette table? The larger the number, the harder it is to get in and out of it on the bench side. The way it is now would be easiest to clean. Also, think about your sight lines: It looks like the table is currently centered on an opening to a living room. When looking at the kitchen from that room, do you want to see a formal dining table that can be decorated seasonally, or view kitchen bar stools? Think about your traffic patterns and lighting: Changing to bar stools & banquette would open a wide space in the middle of that room -- where you would bonk your head on the chandelier. How do you envision your lighting plan changing to accommodate that? Recessed cans? Moving the big chandelier over the banquette would likely make the room feel unbalanced. All of these issues are solvable. They just require forethought and an understanding of the trade-offs. At my house, we got rid of the eat-in kitchen table & chandelier altogether and extended the countertop for bar stools. We needed the floor space for a clear pathway to the new family room addition beyond. We also have a formal dining room elsewhere in the house, so, functionally, keeping the eat-in kitchen table was not necessary for us....See MoreHow can I make my dressing room look more inviting and feminine?
Comments (15)I would need to see a better close up of the rug that is staying, but to give you an idea of updates that would help. Paint in the lighter blue color, or the ivory, cabinets, walls and ceiling. You can leave the center ones darker, and if that blue matches the one in the rug, then that works. For the backs of the cabinets, put a nice ivory/light blue damask wallpaper that matches the cabinet paint color and ivory in the room and rugs. Replace the mirror with one like pictured below. Update all the pulls with crystal ones like pictured here. Update the lamp to a crystal one, and replace the fan with a crystal chandlier. I created Ideabook Dressing room feminine blue if you wanted to see any of these in more detail. Hope that helps and let me know if there are more questions....See MoreJessica Geerling
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Jessica GeerlingOriginal Author