Kitchen Trends: Banquette and Bench Seating
We have seen many more clients opt for banquette seating within their bespoke kitchen design, and it’s clear to see why! Not only are they beautiful pieces of furniture, but are also very practical. Banquette seating can make a kitchen the social heart of the home you want it to be, while also creating additional storage solutions.
Boot Area Seating and Kitchen Island Banquette
We love this gorgeous (and incredibly useful) boot area right by the front door. The fact that there is a space to sit, store and hang your clothes/shoes is a game changer when it comes to storage.
The L-shaped island works really well with the L-shaped worktop space and offers a wonderful built in seating area for all of the family. The seat lifts up to reveal even more storage and the warm tone of the natural wood is a lovely contrast to the other two colours in the kitchen.
Living Room Seating in Richmond Upon Thames
This L-shaped run of banquette seating is not only beautiful but also adds seating and storage with the lift-open seats. The base and back were matched to the colour of the kitchen while the seats and cornice on top were kept in the oak finish matching the inside of the family’s larder. A lovely bit of tongue and groove adds some dimension and interest while echoing the extractor hood in the kitchen.
Blue Banquette Seating in Balham
We love this sunny corner in a kitchen we designed for a lovely couple in Balham. They have created the perfect space to sit and relax with a cup of tea or read a book. The fern printed cushions and hanging plants help to create a transitional space between the kitchen and garden and the storage space underneath is useful to store shoes or gardening equipment.
Tongue & Groove Banquette Seating For A Family in Richmond
This banquette seating area is a wonderful alternative to a traditional dining table and chairs and creates a much more versatile space that can be used in different ways depending on the occasion. The top of the seating lifts up to access storage underneath which makes good use of the space. Our kitchen fitter James installed this tongue and groove panelling to fit around their window frame and there is a beautiful view out into their garden. Our favourite thing about this lovely family space is that they have displayed their daughter’s art work next to a map designed by her father, and we are sure many more works of art will be made here in future!
Chic Banquette Seating in Blackheath
This kitchen is a pink and brass dream, the banquette seating is just one of many things we love about it. The pink and blue cushions both add texture, and mirror the blue island and pink tiles, this is clever way to create continuity and harmony in the space. The top of the seating lifts up to access storage space beneath and is a great place to store items you don’t use too often, or don’t want on display.
Simple, Flat-Door Banquette Seating in Deal
This is our Applegate range and this kitchen (which we designed for the Applegate family!) was the first of its kind. They chose to continue the handless cabinetry style in their banquette window seating. They have again chosen to accessorise with material that ties in with the scenery outside and the colours inside, creating a lovely transitional space and social area to relax in the kitchen.
Cool, Industrial Dining Area in Gravesend
This gorgeous L shaped banquette seating sits under an exposed brick wall for a cool, Brooklyn loft vibe. With additional cupboards underneath for storage, this piece is not only comfy but super practical.
Our lovely client said:
“[My favourite part of the kitchen] Has to be the seating, so lovely having breakfast there every morning as a little family. With the back drop of our exposed brick work it gives off a really cool modern looking seating area that ties in with the rest of the exposed brick work in the other rooms, the cheeky little buster & punch lamp finishes the space off perfectly.”
Sleek, Sharp & Modern Bench For A Family in Dunkirk
This open plan kitchen was the creative vision of the couple and their interior designer, Katie Goring, with a large kitchen island being the main focus. This piece consists of two different stones, and sits at three different heights. Here, the attached banquette seating sits on the ‘outside’ of the island for more casual family meals or answering some quick emails with a cuppa while the baby naps!
Cosy, Morning Coffee Nook in Camberwell
Built into the kitchen’s bay window, this cosy little nook is perfect for that first cup of coffee in the morning, when the world is still asleep and quiet (before the kids wake up demanding cheerios!)
The best thing about designing and making bespoke kitchens is being able to create unique pieces of furniture that work perfectly for our client’s and their needs. If you have a challenging space or would like to discuss your project with us, please give us a call or drop us a message!
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Kitchen Tips: A Guide To Kitchen Extensions Part 2
PLANNING
A brief discussion with your planning department won’t harm as a first step, but in most cases, you will need to consult with an architect to produce initial drawings for planning (planning takes around 8 weeks - if you have cooperative neighbours). Getting a recommendation for an architect is crucial. In some cases, you won’t need an architect and you can work with an architect technician or a surveyor.
The kitchen is normally the reason for the extension, so you want to make sure it can accommodate everything you are dreaming of. It is a good idea to get an initial design and quote from your kitchen company early in the planning process, after you have planning permission ideally. This ensures you won’t run into design limitations further down the line.
It is normal for builders’ quotes to vary massively. It will depend on how busy they are, what else they have in your area, how much they want the job and how well they think you’ll work together. Remember - cheap is not always best! It is important to have a good relationship with your builders and strong communication, this will help during the issues that will inevitably arise during every project.
During the project it is best to move in with family or into rented accommodation if possible. It is much less stressful - especially as it is common to experience delays to the project. If you’re staying at home during the build, think about setting up a temporary kitchen if you can. Lots of builders will do this for you, or there are companies that do this. Or you can set up the fridge, microwave and a camping hob and a slow cooker somewhere in the home.
DESIGN
Having a carefully considered kitchen design that works for you and your lifestyle is key when planning your extension. Your kitchen designer can help to advise with simple things that will make a huge difference to the design of the kitchen - like moving windows/doors, plug sockets and where to put the boiler.
When doing substantial building works like an extension, it’s normally possible to move the waste, so don’t let this worry you about where to put the kitchen. If you’re having under floor heating, think about where your manifold should go (a massive pipe junction that takes up a lot of room).
Your kitchen designer can show you different ways you can design the kitchen/living space, but there is usually one way that will quickly become obvious to your designer once you tell them what you would like in the space.
When sitting at the island, you want to face into the kitchen, not out into the living space - it feels more natural to be facing whoever is cooking. The ideal distance between an island and units is 1000mm, but aim to keep it between 900mm and 1200mm.
If you want to have a clear island with no hob/sink, you can put the hob and sink on the same run – but, this can make designing the space difficult. You will need quite a long run and you’ll need space somewhere in the kitchen for your tall units.
Using complimentary colours or materials to link living spaces together will help the design to flow. A well placed island or peninsula can define the separate spaces. Artwork and lighting will also help to add your personal style and character to the space.
Our personal top 5 must-haves for a kitchen/family room extension are:
1. An island/peninsula
2. Large doors (sliding/Crittal /bifold) leading out to the garden. But this does not have to be all the way across, sometimes it’s nice to break it up with a sink run
3. Underfloor heating – this removes the need for radiators which can take up a lot of space and will feel like heaven on cold winter mornings!
4. Skylights or roof lanterns
5. Banquette bench seating area
INSTALLATION & LEAD TIMES
Undertaking a kitchen extension is a big project with lots of moving parts and so there are many things that could potentially delay your project. Careful planning can help to avoid some of these delays but remember that some issues are unavoidable.
Keep in mind the lead times for your kitchen cabinetry (ours is currently around 6 months). It takes time to make a bespoke kitchen as every piece is hand made and finished just for you. This also applies to your handles and taps, especially if you are choosing a special finish like brass, which can take up to 12 weeks! The more you have decided on and ordered beforehand, the better. You don’t want to be disappointed if some products have longer lead times than you are expecting.
To fit some kitchens (like ours) you’ll need a finished room wall to wall, flooring, electrics and plumbing in place and ideally the room would be decorated so you’re not risking getting paint on your new kitchen.
Just like in Grand Designs, most window and doors will be made to order, and they will not make them until the space is measurable. There can be a lull in projects while you wait for windows to arrive, so keep this in mind when booking a date for your kitchen installation. Another common reason for delays to the project, is the drying times for different types of flooring. Concrete screed takes roughly 1 day per mm deep and some wooden floors need time to acclimate to your space which can take 2 weeks.
If you are having solid worktops (e.g. quartz, marble or granite), allow another week or more for this. The stone masons will template once the kitchen units are in place, then go away and cut the stone to the template and come back to fit it a week or so later.
Changing your mind will delay things, for example, adding or changing plug sockets are not always quick jobs. However, it is also the right time to do it if you don’t like something. Speak your mind and have a close relationship with your builders, pop in often and try to enjoy the process together.
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Bespoke Internal Storage For Your Kitchen
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Kitchen Tips: Open Plan Kitchens; Are They For You?
When starting to think of your kitchen design and looking to begin the process, especially if you’re extending, the thought of a great big open plan kitchen with doors leading to the garden surely will have crossed your mind. Whether it be kitchen / dining, kitchen / living or all three if the space accommodates, here’s some things to consider if you’re unsure this layout works for you.
A Relaxed & Social Butterfly
With your dining and/or living space flowing straight into your kitchen, will automatically make it a more social environment in a very easy-going way. Families will natural gather in the living, dining and kitchen areas even if taking part in solo activities like reading, watching TV, colouring in, doing homework, cooking etc. This creates a lovely feeling of togetherness but with some personal space. If however, your family value privacy and less noise travelling, perhaps keeping the living space separate might be better suited for your lifestyle.
Or, if your space allows for it, creating a separate, cosy living nook!
2. Plenty Of Room, Plenty Of Light
With an open plan layout, you will of course be left with a larger room. This will also make your kitchen itself appear larger and especially if you’re extending and adding windows, skylights will allow more natural light in bringing the outside in. Extending into an open plan living layout will especially make a grand impression if you have high ceilings.
3. The Heart Of The Party
Are you an entertainer? Always the host? There’s no better way to throw a saoiree, be it small or large, than with an open kitchen and living space. Maintaining presence while finishing up food or making drinks ensuring you don’t miss a beat of your get together. Plus, a sofa or arm chair is the perfect spot to end up in after a few drinks!
Keep in mind that if as Toastmistress, you like to keep the mess that comes with a party or dinner more of a mystery to your guests, perhaps opt for a separate dining space or even a sink in your utility near by as a place to hide away dirty plates and glasses until your guests have said their fare-thee-wells.
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Working From Home - Kitchens: The Make Shift Office
The past year and a half has been challenging, to say the least, for most of us, with many office dwellers needing to work from home with no designated office; this can be a bit of a pickle!
The kitchen seems to have been made into the make shift office for many, so we have compiled a list of things you may want to consider when designing your new kitchen while adapting to the new ways of working.
Calming Colours For A Focused Mind
A calm mind is a productive mind! There are a few different colours and hues that have been proven to provide a calming and relaxing effect on the brain.
Among the most popular relaxing tones are neutrals, blushes, soft blues and greens as well as greys with green undertones and tans.
Whether your choose any of these for your kitchen cabinetry or your kitchen walls, they will certainly make for a peaceful working week.
Natural Light
Undoubtedly one of the most important factors of a healthy and pleasant workspace, is maximisation of natural over artificial light. Allowing sunshine and natural light to pour into your space will not only lift your mood and keep you alert but can also be a lovely break for your eyes after hours of blue screen light.
Windows and French doors looking into the garden or skylights are all excellent choices for your kitchen-’office’. Keep a couple of them open too as ventilation helps bring in fresh air!
Kitchen Island Seating
When choosing the right seating for your kitchen island and breakfast bar, ensure your stools or tall seats are comfortable and offer good back support. Are your perching at your island or sat down for hours at a time? A cushioned bar seat with a mid to tall back is a great option and comes in a variety of styles to suit any space.
Invest In A Boiling Water Tap
Throughout your day, you will inevitably end up making a never ending line of teas and coffees. A boiling water tap will satisfy your hot drinks craving much quicker than a kettle ever could. It will also cut time off your kids’ bow-tie pasta lunch prep!
Surround Yourself With Things That Inspire
Artwork, plants and even family photos are just some examples of things that will not only fill your space up with an abundance of character but will all aid your productivity and creative spirit.
Keep That Wine Cooler Close!
Once the emails have been answered, the phone lines have closed and the laptop has been folder shut, you’ll need a drink; you deserve it! Keeping a wine fridge on the kitchen island is a very popular spot as it is accessible especially for guests. Hop off your stool and pour yourself a Sauv Blanc.
Create Your Own Hot-Desk Station With Banquette Seating
Banquette seating is increasing in popularity within kitchen designs currently. This could be a perfect way to include an ‘office’ area into your kitchen with comfortable seating, hidden storage and enough space for another WFH hero or a little one colouring in/doing homework.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what your dream kitchen / work from home office needs!
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