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!
More Blogs From Herringbone…
Kitchen Tips: Modernising Your Kitchen
If you’re after a bespoke kitchen but are worried the Shaker style might be too traditional for your taste, fear not; there are many ways in which you can modernise your kitchen space throughout the design process and after.
Cabinetry Styles
A no fuss, flat door front style of cabinetry with always look sleek and modern. For the Dunkirk project (pictured below), we altered our Westminster range and omitted the shaker panels for a simpler look. A lack of decorative cornicing, little feet or even units flush to the floor will also help to modernise your kitchen.
Glass Fronted Cabinetry
Glass-fronted cabinetry, as well as glass shelving within, is another great way to modernise your space. Opt for plain glass or fireglass for a 21st century modern look and reeded for a more Art Deco one.
Stunning Stone Worktops
Possibly one of the most exciting ways of giving your kitchen a more modern edge is with a beautiful, bold stone worktop! Granite, marble and even quartz stones all come in a variety of colours, veins and patterns which will becoming a huge focal point of the space and always leave people saying ‘Wow!’
Two-Tone Colour Palette & Bold Colours
Bold and vibrant colours will truly help to make your kitchen a bit more contemporary. In the design process, play around with different colour combinations and even consider a two-tone aesthetic.
Hardware
For a more modern look, choose handles that are more geometric in their design. Squared edges and straight lines will always do the trick. Knurled or reeded details also lend themselves well to modern designs.
Downwards Extractor Hobs
At the height of cutting edge kitchen technology, an induction hob with a downstream extractor will streamline your surfaces and make for a very impressive cooking station! We love the Bora hobs as there are many different models with additional playthings and gadgets for the home chef.
Undermount Sinks
As with the induction hob, and undermounted sink will also help streamline your work surfaces, allowing a continuous flow for the eye. (Easy to hide dishes also!)
More Blogs From Herringbone…
