This Milgard bay window is about 10 years old. I wish I knew then what I know now, pay the extra $$ for UV protection on the glass. The sun is the process of ruining the cushions, they're so faded. Not even the UV spray I bought from Calico Corners stops it. That's one reason why I put up the sheers, to slow down the deterioration of the cushion and pillows. For some reason it hasn't faded the barrel pillows as much as the cushion. When it comes time to replace the cushion fabric I may have to go with Sunbrella fabric to be sure I'll never have this problem again. Something to keep in mind when you're selecting fabric for your bay window. From personal experience I can tell you that eastern exposure in California is not kind to fabric in windows. I pulled the cushion away from the window, you can see the window goes from top to bottom, no place to hang curtains! I finally came up with a solution, buy cafe rods and hang them upside down from the only wood surface inside the bay...the "ceiling". With an all-vinyl window there's no other place for the screws to go. Hanging curtains on the wall doesn't block the sun from the fabric inside the bay, because the curtain would be on the outer edge of the bay. I was looking for a way to block the sun from getting inside the bay window not inside the living room. No one makes a small curtain rod to hang upside down. The other problem you can see from the pictures is how low the window goes, straight to the floor of the bay. So we can't use a very high cushion. This one is 2.5" high (or 2.25"). I have never had a problem reaching down to open the window, there's a lip that protrudes, that's what your hand pulls up on to lift the window up. DH built the frame for this window and he didn't take into consideration that you need to have a few inches of wood on the bottom, he should not have taken the window all the way to the horizonal base. Live and learn. What I do like about the cushions is the foam they chose, it's pretty firm. I made it very clear to the designer that I did not want to feel my butt hitting the wood base when I sat down on the cushion. For a cushion that narrow to support a body without mashing down, well it has to be firm. I'd prefer a softer look, not so tight like this one is...but then it would probably have to be thicker and then I have to deal with reaching down behind the cushion to find the window lip. I thought I would read and lay inside this window but I never have. I attribute that to the lack of a wood frame because leaning up against glass is very unsettling, expecting it will shatter. So it's mainly there for show. I think that covers all the issues I've had with this window. My advice is to think about comfort and sun-fade when you're deciding on fabric for a window. Even a few hours of sun can do a lot of damage. If your window has UV protection then consider yourself lucky...or smart that you made the wise decision to add that option to the glass. The money I saved by not doing that has ended up costing me more in fabric.

I know this is off track but those of you thinking of doing a built in banquette, cabinet type check out Ikea. They will sell you their over the range cabinets to make into a custom banquette. This gives you storage underneath too with two doors on each part. My GC recommended checking it out after I asked him to have the cabinet guy build one. Total cost- 3 cabinets- the style I picked is $62 each, and then I would have to buy plywood for the top and sides(you need to put in two by fours to extend the width so there would be a gap to cover), two by fours, nails and labor- Total around 650.

Thanks for the nice comments about my room. I love the sense of serenity of the soft colors. I know it's a different strokes thing and some, like my sister, are uplifted by more color in their rooms, but this suits me. It also works through the 4 distinct seasons we get here. I can warm things up in the winter with wooly throws and a different mantel arrangement, but still have it feel fresh and airy in summer months. Fall mantel But since I do have to replace these 2 upholstered pieces I'm brainstorming. Anne CK brings up the big question for me. Does the only formal (& I use the term loosely) LR in the house need a sofa? No one naps on ours, except the dogs, and since there's no TV here no one reclines or lounges on it. Perhaps a loveseat (or 2) would fit better in this space than full sofa. Here is another pic I saved that shows a possible arrangement with a sofa & 2 chairs

I may have to get rid of the lounger. It's 30+ years old and I could never replace it for what I paid for it, and I like it, hence I keep hanging on to it. I could replace it with any number of seating options that wouldn't need cushions or would look good cushions-optional, but I mostly try to keep using what I have if I can . . . but I'm downsizing. I do like having it where I have it. Maybe I should just sacrifice the cushions to the gods this summer . . . but I priced replacements, they are not cheap, particularly ones made from good materials. So that's not going to work, I don't have the money to buy cheap ones every year or so. I've ruined a couple of cheap pillows by trying to wash them. I don't have the skills to replace the cushioning material. That would be one option, having ones with stuffing and covers that could be washed. I have a few pillows on our screened in porch that work out great that way, the cushions wash up great, the stuffing doesn't come apart. I can use bleach for the mold. But they don't get constant sun and rain exposure, they are under a roof. Just a little dampness over the summer.