BANQUETTES
Wayyy cooliente'
Wayyy cooliente'
Banquettes are sofas which are usually built-in or fitted to the wall, often armless which have a more tailored look - regardless of your design direction. They create a cozier, more intimate space.
I think they're sexy, practical and offer a sophisticated alternative to a standard sofa.
Pronounced: Bahgn kette
Pronounced: Bahgn kette
Their origins
(Source: Royal Mansour, Marrakech)
Bedouins originally sat on pillows and carpets which after centuries turned into built-in banquettes filled with throw pillows in wonderful luxurious textiles.
This Villa in Greece is purely authentic and that's exactly what we like about it.
(Source: San Pietro Hotel, Positano)
A garden wall with a built-in seat decorated with polychrome tile
Bedouins originally sat on pillows and carpets which after centuries turned into built-in banquettes filled with throw pillows in wonderful luxurious textiles.
This Villa in Greece is purely authentic and that's exactly what we like about it.
(Source: San Pietro Hotel, Positano)
A garden wall with a built-in seat decorated with polychrome tile
LIVING ROOM BANQUETTES
(Designer: WADesign)
Whoa...this banquette is so rad and fresh... Instead of cluttering this modern house up with the s.o.s. from Design Within Reach, this built-in banquette enhances the rooms clean lines. The ethnic pillows soften it and make it more user friendly.
Whoa...this banquette is so rad and fresh... Instead of cluttering this modern house up with the s.o.s. from Design Within Reach, this built-in banquette enhances the rooms clean lines. The ethnic pillows soften it and make it more user friendly.
(Designer: Sarah Richardson)
A small living room utilizes a banquette for dining and extra seating.
It creates a clean-lined look and the tufting creates texture in the gray and white room.
A small living room utilizes a banquette for dining and extra seating.
It creates a clean-lined look and the tufting creates texture in the gray and white room.
(Source: Beautiful Habitat)
Chic Chic Chic!
The perfect chiaroscuro effect with the white Saarinen table against the brown backdrop
(Designers: Jacques and Agnes Cho)
A small French cottage has cozy banquettes flanking the stove; sofas and chairs would look cluttered and disrupt the clean architectural lines of the room.
(Designer: Barry Dixon)
Dixon knocks its out of the park with this delicious banquette tucked into a link between rooms...
It definately beats the ubiquitous chest-mirror-lamp formula.
(Source: Pottery Barn)
Twin beds are used here as a banquette; they offer storage and two extra bunks for guests. The "French mattress style" cushions were definitely not from Pottery Barn.
(Designer: Toby Fairly)
Perfect for the afternoon booty-call...pull the curtains and get jiggy wit'it
(Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright)
Wright created banquettes often as he liked everything simple, built-in and organic. Here, one can read and gaze outside at the beautiful gardens.
(Source: Achados de Decoracao)
LOVE this alternative seating area in this living room - this screams get a book and chillax here.
(Source: The Brooklyn Home Co.)
Low-budge and beautiful (like me). This inexpensive banquette is sooo simple and works so well - reason being - it is what it is, cheap and chic
(Source: Nest Egg)
For the fussy southern gal who wants to live in Provence but is stuck in Little Rock... This pretty corner can be used for cards, small meals or for the old geezers at cocktail parties who can't stand for too long...
(Designer: Melissa Rufty)
Banquette in a foyer - who'da thunk?!? It works perfectly as often large parties need more seating for guests. Also it's nice to wait for your ride or throw your crap on when you get home!
(Source: Beautiful Habitat)
This handsome built-in is in a hallway...it fills space and looks cozy and inviting
DINING ROOM BANQUETTES
(Designer: Phoebe Howard)
This beautiful, albeit small, dining room feels like a private restaurant but it's not feeling crammed because the banquette dissappears and takes away the feeling of "too much wood."
le lieu intime pour des moments intimes
(Designer: Phoebe Howard)
Try getting this much seating in a room this size without a banquette! Family room, dining doom, homework room, tea room, WTF use it for anything
(Designer: James Michael Howard)
Who doesn't have enough storage, raise your hands?
(now, put them down 'cause I can't see them - duh!)
This works in every way...storage; elegant yet cozy seating area; coffee break & newspaper spot.
(Source: Chicago Home and Garden)
Very Chicago, clean lined modern - no surprises there!
Love it - but would a seat cushion kill ya?
(Source: Traditional Home)
Want a place to sit when you're not at the breakfast bar or in the formal dining room? This cozy banquette is pissy and comfy at the same time!
(Source: AJC Homefinder)
I want this room!
Modern perfection = monochromatic scheme, an antique for patina and built-in upholstery
(Source: Cote de Texas)
A large, armless banquette backs up to the wall as it is the "mass" in the space, it also eliminates a cluttered look, less chair legs, etc.
(Designers: Keith McNally)
This old farmhouse in Martha's Vinyard has a new banquette which feels original to this glass porch-cum-kitchen by using beadboard. The old painted table and casual French cafe chairs are the perfect pieces with it too.
KITCHEN BANQUETTES
(Designer: Penny Drew Baird)
Ain't no way anybodys gonna get five chairs jammed into that corner - but that built-in banquette makes it possible.
(you just don't wanna be the one in the back with an active bladder!)
(Designer: Tracery Interiors)
And for you country-lovin' folk, a banquette for you.
Actually a sofa, but its acting like a banquette. It looks great and works well too, offering a comfy seat for coffee and the paper with the TV on.
Loooove it. (Oprah voice)
(Designer: Toby Fairly)
Against the island, this banquette eliminates the standard 42" needed between the table and island for chairs.
(Designer: Bill Barr)
A Zen-inspired banquette?
Modern simplicity is the point here; blonde woods with minimal contrasts. Clutter is eliminated by not using six or eight chairs.
(Designer: White Wave Design)
Old house? No room for seating?
Carve out a small nook next to a window and use an old table for patina - its charming and cozy.
(Designer: JPM Design)
This is the classic breakfast nook banquette; you can seat four or six on the banquette when the kids bring friends over. LOVE the all-white and hot red. Antique chairs and table temper the rooms coolness.
(Source: Coastal Living)
Diggin' a nautical theme? This feels like a boat with the mahogany trim and white paint! Handsome, compact and very useful
(I mean the banquette, not him)...
INTERESTING SHAPES AND USES
(Designer: Suzanne Kassler)
This banquette definitely looks custom! This isn't a dining space but a cocktail, coffee or tea space.
(Source: Attic Mag)
Tuscany calling on line two:
This funky banquette is so wild it's fun. It creates interest and works with the Italian country flavor.
(Designer: Amy Bergman)
Datshitcray!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
BEDROOM BANQUETTES
(Designer: Joe Minton)
A sofa jammed in there would look like - well - a sofa jammed in there! But, this custom banquette creates a broad, lineal spot of color and comfort. A place for naps and late-night reading.
(Designer: Schoos Design Group)
This architecturally designed banquette was perfect for this small guest bedroom which needed some seating.
OUTDOOR BANQUETTES
(Source: Australian Home and Life)
Large open decks needs large pieces to make them less 'country club' feeling with lots of furniture everywhere. This banquette defines the outline of the space here.
(Source: Joseph Paul Davis)
These two semi-circular banquettes on this terrace in Capri, Italy are chic-as-shit and their flexibility of going from a place for 'afternoon siestas' to seating 30 at a buffet dinner party is perfect!
(Source: House Beautiful)
This Santa Fe-esque banquette rocks the Casbah with its stucco form and comfy cushions jazzed up with multi-colored pillows.
(Source: Home-Dzine)
Wood details on this masonry banquettes back and seat add warmth to the design. The wall diverts the wind from the people while seated.
(Source: Casa Diseno )
When you're next to the sea you have two constants; wind and salt spray. Here, the glass panels help keep the wind diverted while the deck and banquette are in California redwood which resists the salty weather. The seat and back cushions are covered in outdoor fabrics which can withstand anything nature throws at them, and they're flat and large - thus increasing their weight so the wind has less ability to lift them.
(Designer: Jamie Durie)
This small-ish pergola can seat 10+ guests now, if it were set up with individual chairs it would be a clusterf#%k trying to get in and out of there.
(Designer: Lynn Morgan)
Back porches need banquettes too!
The perfect place to sit and pull your gardening boots on and off, store the pool towels, or even sit out of the sun while watching the kids splash around.
(Source: Ikea Idea Book)
This Mediterranean cement and wood pergola provides guests a deep-seated bench which can be good for many outdoor things; eating, sunning, resting, screwing, etc.
(Source: Gap Interiors)
Got Roof? Do something with it.
The built-in banquette is perfect as it won't blow away and the large wicker trunk/table is for storing the blue pillows when not in use.....smaaart!
(Source: Unknown)
Who says you have to spend a lot of money?
A small French cottage has cozy banquettes flanking the stove; sofas and chairs would look cluttered and disrupt the clean architectural lines of the room.
(Designer: Barry Dixon)
Dixon knocks its out of the park with this delicious banquette tucked into a link between rooms...
It definately beats the ubiquitous chest-mirror-lamp formula.
(Source: Pottery Barn)
Twin beds are used here as a banquette; they offer storage and two extra bunks for guests. The "French mattress style" cushions were definitely not from Pottery Barn.
(Designer: Toby Fairly)
Perfect for the afternoon booty-call...pull the curtains and get jiggy wit'it
(Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright)
Wright created banquettes often as he liked everything simple, built-in and organic. Here, one can read and gaze outside at the beautiful gardens.
(Source: Achados de Decoracao)
LOVE this alternative seating area in this living room - this screams get a book and chillax here.
(Source: The Brooklyn Home Co.)
Low-budge and beautiful (like me). This inexpensive banquette is sooo simple and works so well - reason being - it is what it is, cheap and chic
(Source: Nest Egg)
For the fussy southern gal who wants to live in Provence but is stuck in Little Rock... This pretty corner can be used for cards, small meals or for the old geezers at cocktail parties who can't stand for too long...
(Designer: Melissa Rufty)
Banquette in a foyer - who'da thunk?!? It works perfectly as often large parties need more seating for guests. Also it's nice to wait for your ride or throw your crap on when you get home!
(Source: Beautiful Habitat)
This handsome built-in is in a hallway...it fills space and looks cozy and inviting
DINING ROOM BANQUETTES
(Designer: Phoebe Howard)
This beautiful, albeit small, dining room feels like a private restaurant but it's not feeling crammed because the banquette dissappears and takes away the feeling of "too much wood."
le lieu intime pour des moments intimes
(Designer: Phoebe Howard)
Try getting this much seating in a room this size without a banquette! Family room, dining doom, homework room, tea room, WTF use it for anything
(Designer: James Michael Howard)
Who doesn't have enough storage, raise your hands?
(now, put them down 'cause I can't see them - duh!)
This works in every way...storage; elegant yet cozy seating area; coffee break & newspaper spot.
(Source: Chicago Home and Garden)
Very Chicago, clean lined modern - no surprises there!
Love it - but would a seat cushion kill ya?
(Source: Traditional Home)
Want a place to sit when you're not at the breakfast bar or in the formal dining room? This cozy banquette is pissy and comfy at the same time!
(Source: AJC Homefinder)
I want this room!
Modern perfection = monochromatic scheme, an antique for patina and built-in upholstery
(Source: Cote de Texas)
A large, armless banquette backs up to the wall as it is the "mass" in the space, it also eliminates a cluttered look, less chair legs, etc.
(Designers: Keith McNally)
This old farmhouse in Martha's Vinyard has a new banquette which feels original to this glass porch-cum-kitchen by using beadboard. The old painted table and casual French cafe chairs are the perfect pieces with it too.
KITCHEN BANQUETTES
(Designer: Penny Drew Baird)
Ain't no way anybodys gonna get five chairs jammed into that corner - but that built-in banquette makes it possible.
(you just don't wanna be the one in the back with an active bladder!)
(Designer: Tracery Interiors)
And for you country-lovin' folk, a banquette for you.
Actually a sofa, but its acting like a banquette. It looks great and works well too, offering a comfy seat for coffee and the paper with the TV on.
Loooove it. (Oprah voice)
(Designer: Toby Fairly)
Against the island, this banquette eliminates the standard 42" needed between the table and island for chairs.
(Designer: Bill Barr)
A Zen-inspired banquette?
Modern simplicity is the point here; blonde woods with minimal contrasts. Clutter is eliminated by not using six or eight chairs.
(Designer: White Wave Design)
Old house? No room for seating?
Carve out a small nook next to a window and use an old table for patina - its charming and cozy.
(Designer: JPM Design)
This is the classic breakfast nook banquette; you can seat four or six on the banquette when the kids bring friends over. LOVE the all-white and hot red. Antique chairs and table temper the rooms coolness.
(Source: Coastal Living)
Diggin' a nautical theme? This feels like a boat with the mahogany trim and white paint! Handsome, compact and very useful
(I mean the banquette, not him)...
INTERESTING SHAPES AND USES
(Designer: Suzanne Kassler)
This banquette definitely looks custom! This isn't a dining space but a cocktail, coffee or tea space.
(Source: Attic Mag)
Tuscany calling on line two:
This funky banquette is so wild it's fun. It creates interest and works with the Italian country flavor.
(Designer: Amy Bergman)
Datshitcray!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
BEDROOM BANQUETTES
(Designer: Joe Minton)
A sofa jammed in there would look like - well - a sofa jammed in there! But, this custom banquette creates a broad, lineal spot of color and comfort. A place for naps and late-night reading.
(Designer: Schoos Design Group)
This architecturally designed banquette was perfect for this small guest bedroom which needed some seating.
OUTDOOR BANQUETTES
(Source: Australian Home and Life)
Large open decks needs large pieces to make them less 'country club' feeling with lots of furniture everywhere. This banquette defines the outline of the space here.
(Source: Joseph Paul Davis)
These two semi-circular banquettes on this terrace in Capri, Italy are chic-as-shit and their flexibility of going from a place for 'afternoon siestas' to seating 30 at a buffet dinner party is perfect!
(Source: House Beautiful)
This Santa Fe-esque banquette rocks the Casbah with its stucco form and comfy cushions jazzed up with multi-colored pillows.
(Source: Home-Dzine)
Wood details on this masonry banquettes back and seat add warmth to the design. The wall diverts the wind from the people while seated.
(Source: Casa Diseno )
When you're next to the sea you have two constants; wind and salt spray. Here, the glass panels help keep the wind diverted while the deck and banquette are in California redwood which resists the salty weather. The seat and back cushions are covered in outdoor fabrics which can withstand anything nature throws at them, and they're flat and large - thus increasing their weight so the wind has less ability to lift them.
(Designer: Jamie Durie)
This small-ish pergola can seat 10+ guests now, if it were set up with individual chairs it would be a clusterf#%k trying to get in and out of there.
(Designer: Lynn Morgan)
Back porches need banquettes too!
The perfect place to sit and pull your gardening boots on and off, store the pool towels, or even sit out of the sun while watching the kids splash around.
(Source: Ikea Idea Book)
This Mediterranean cement and wood pergola provides guests a deep-seated bench which can be good for many outdoor things; eating, sunning, resting, screwing, etc.
(Source: Gap Interiors)
Got Roof? Do something with it.
The built-in banquette is perfect as it won't blow away and the large wicker trunk/table is for storing the blue pillows when not in use.....smaaart!
(Source: Unknown)
Who says you have to spend a lot of money?
- Dry-stack cinder-blocks
- Buy chaise lounge cushion
- Buy outdoor pillows at Home Depot
- Sit your butt down
- Close eyes, think of the sea
You're there for $200.
You can do it, I'm here to help!
jpdsodpb@aol.com
jpdsodpb@aol.com
