Banquette seating detail


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(Image credit: Nick Smith)

Banquette seating is one of the most stylish ways to create a dining nook regardless of your kitchen's style or size. It’s a clever space-saver in a smaller rooms and can hold more people than the conventional dining table and chairs set-up. Not just that, you can incorporate storage into the design like a lift-up seat for like kids toys, or pull-out drawers for linen and crockery. 

It is also a great way to add some color and texture to what can otherwise be a clinical space. Banquette seating can be built in a number areas, such as within an island, as a window seat or in the corner of a the room. And remember, it is not just about space for dining, the beauty of banquette seating is its versatility –  it can be anything from a quiet reading area to your working-from-home spot.

Here are some banquette seating styles which you can include in your kitchen design…

These are our favorite banquette seating ideas – they've all transformed the kitchen they're in.

See: Kitchen ideas – decor and decorating ideas for all kitchens 

1. Use banquette seating ideas to boost space

(Image credit: Nick Smith)

‘It can be tricky to achieve sufficient cupboard space in the kitchen alone. Banquette seating offers a fantastic opportunity to relieve storage pressures,’ says interior designer Clare Gaskin . ‘Consider what you’d like to store and, most importantly, how often you need to access it.’ 

Here, drawers under the seat cater for rarely used kitchen gadgets and bulkier infrequently used toys. ‘We’re big fans of drawers, rather than lid-style lift up bench storage. Contents are more accessible, and there is no need to remove cushions to access,’ adds Clare. 

Drawer units frame the seating and deliver storage for items in frequent use.  

2. Choose a bold color to highlight banquette seating

(Image credit: Martin Moore )

‘Increasingly, clients are opting for bold, bright colors for their banquette seating, such as mustard yellow, electric blue and hot pink. This helps bring character and interest to the scheme, without overwhelming the space. Luxurious, soft fabrics such as velvet are also proving extremely popular,’ says Richard Moore, design director, Martin Moore . ‘We tend to do everything in-house and either supply the fabric or work with client’s chosen fabric.’ 

For extra design definition consider fluted and button back designs and contrasting piping on curved arms and seat cushions. At floor level, plinths prevent dust traps, while legs can feel more elegant.

3. Integrate banquette seating into a kitchen island

(Image credit: Humphrey Munson)

‘More formal than bar stools but less formal than a separate table, banquette seating on an island creates a hugely desirable spot for cozy, low-key dining,’ says Louisa Eggleston, creative director, Humphrey Munson , who has three tips for success.  

‘Firstly, it’s essential to ensure there’s sufficient space to navigate around the island, including when any chairs are in use,’ she says. ‘Next, if a sink or hob is also on the island check there is adequate distance between the banquette for safety and cleanliness. Finally, choose materials carefully – any upholstery needs to be robust. We recommend leather or a solution dyed acrylic that is wipeable.’ 

See: Kitchen island seating ideas – ways to use bar stools and dining chairs

4. Introduce curved banquette seating for sociable dining

(Image credit: Tom Howley Kitchens)

'Banquette seating can make your kitchen feel even more welcoming, especially when it incorporates cozy soft furnishings. The key to sizing up banquette seating in a smaller space is introducing curved shapes rather than seating that follows the width of the wall,' says Sophie Hartley, kitchen designer at Tom Howley .

'This will increase the amount of seating available and will also create a more "conversational" shape, meaning that people sitting around the table will be directed towards each other.  

'This example also features some neat, narrow storage, tucked behind the curve of the banquette bench. When choosing a table, round shapes are best to echo the rounded seating.'

 

5. Layer banquette seating with complementary furnishings

(Image credit: Simon Brown )

 Designing a banquette isn’t about furniture alone. Salvesen Graham has built up layers of texture and color in this compact corner banquette using art, accessories and low-slung lighting. 

Allow between 70-80cm between table and pendant light to avoid obstructing sight lines. The comfy cushions with contrasting trims pick out colors from the prints above and coordinate with the kitchen. All these elements combine to make the space more inviting and feel like a cohesive part of the room. 

‘It has become a firm favorite for weekend breakfast with the newspapers and evening homework,’ adds senior designer Nicole Salvesen.  

6. Go for a simple, country style

(Image credit: Plain English)

Save the organization and expense of bespoke upholstery by opting for a simple painted banquette scattered with colorful cushions. Here, built-in seats are paired with a long, narrow table and a bench that can be tucked in tight to provide clear access to the garden. 

‘Tongue and groove panelling, in this instance with a capping strip, is a traditional technique for protecting the walls,’ adds Merlin Wright, design director at Plain English . ‘Painted in eggshell or gloss, this style of banquette is a practical and hardwearing solution, especially in a busy family kitchen with children jumping about.’

See: Country kitchen ideas – get the rustic look with our ultimate inspiration gallery

7. Maximize your dining space

(Image credit: 82mmPhotography)

When it comes to saving space and seating large numbers, banquette seating beat dining chairs hands down. 

‘The rule of thumb is to allow about 90cm between a chair and the next piece of furniture or wall, minimum, but with banquette seating you can reduce that down to as little as 30cm if the seat fits directly onto the wall,’ says Jamie Blake, creative director, Blakes London .  

‘Not only do you save space, but you can also accommodate more people. Children can squish together and get much closer than they would on separate chairs – perfect for birthday parties and family gatherings.’

8. Choose outdoor fabrics that are practical too

(Image credit: Future)

This banquette is in a large kitchen diner and living space extension. The open-plan room itself has been kept very neutral, with white kitchen cabinetry and concrete floors – however, the banquette offers a ton of dining space and draws all the attention due to its bold upholstery, a clever technique for distracting from a kitchen's proportions, and for adding color.

'Upholstered banquette seating is a great way to add some texture and interest to a kitchen, where opportunities to use fabric can often be lacking,' says Katie Cox, interior designer at Ham Interiors .  And, she says, don't forget about those sticky little fingers, adding: 'We also use outdoor fabrics for busy families to make them extra practical. '

9. Create a narrow – but fabulous – dining space

(Image credit: Future/Simon Bevan)

'Banquette seating is a really good idea,' says Emily Bizley, of Studio Bizley . 'Designed correctly, you can make use of a tight area without any space getting wasted behind chairs. A banquette is a really good opportunity to create something special in what otherwise might be a difficult space.' 

This is perfectly demonstrated in the room above, where the only space for a dining area is a narrow gap between the doors and the far wall. 

'To make banquettes successful, you need to have a nice firm upholstered seat and back, and then additional scatter cushions to give squish and comfort. 

'The cushions also allow you to bring in some other colors, patterns or textures to help build the scheme – it might be that your main fabric is plain or a leather, and the scatter cushions then add interest. There’s something really cosy and conspiratorial about a banquette – they encourage you to linger.

She jokingly adds: 'They’re also good if you don’t like clearing the table, because you can sit in the middle and no one will ask you to do anything!'

10. Fill an awkward niche with banquette seating

(Image credit: Future/Polly Eltes)

When you make space for a dining table, you have to allow around 3ft/1m for the chairs to fit between the wall and table. However, if this will limit your table size too much to make it practical, a series of banquettes built into the space is a practical choice. 

Note how here, the base of the seating is angled inwards to the floor – this makes seating more comfortable, plus it will be easier to navigate around the table with the extra floorspace.

11. Mix banquette seating with vintage furnishings for a high-end feel

(Image credit: Stephan Julliard/Sophie Dries Architect)

This beautiful banquette seating area designed by Sophie Dries Architect sits in the Paris home of a street art collector. The kitchen banquette is paired with an octagonal Charlotte Perriand table from Les Arcs station and vintage Philippe Starck chair.

Sophie says: 'We often use banquettes at Sophie Dries, especially in the kitchen to create a small dining area, mainly for breakfast or a coffee break.

'They're a smart space-saver, but also very friendly with a holiday feeling. They are a nice alternative to the large empty dining table area when you just need to do a few emails  with a cup of coffer or when children work after school while you're cooking.'

Speaking about the design of the banquette seating above, she says: 'The pearl grey velvet of the banquette is complementary to the orange tones of the cushions placed on it, and plays with alternations between colors. The walls, floors and ceiling are all a rich terracotta shade that creates a dynamic effect. Sophie Dries wanted to create a convivial space in this kitchen and not just functional. The custom made-to-measure bench creates a dining area around the famous octagonal table "Les Arcs" by Charlotte Perriand.

'Above the tailor-made bench hangs a watercolor by Giulia Andreani, and beside it sits a vintage stool by Philippe Starck in grey lacquered metal. The Haussmanien style was refined and pared down in order to introduce minimal lines better suited to the contemporary usage of this living space now occupied by a modern family.'

12. Choose a fluted banquette to add a sense of glamor

(Image credit: Rosendale Design)

This ultra-chic banquette was created by Rosendale Designs, and pairs glamorous fluting with upscale materials like marble for an elevated finish. 

Dale Atkinson, Founder of Rosendale Design , says: 'Banquette/ booth seating can really help to anchor the design as it not only provides the family with a communal space to dine at but they inevitably allow the kitchen to become the hub of the house. This is because banquettes are soft and comfortable. One can easily lounge and read a book or just relax. 

'They give the kitchen an enhanced importance and improve family bonding times, in our experience, bringing people together, as opposed to just sitting on the sofa in the lounge or movie room watching the television, where perhaps there is far less interaction. '

When it comes to design, he says, using the right color can really bring the room to life, or it can be used to subtly complement or bring out another color used within the space, even if it is a different material.

Dale adds: 'The dining table of the booth seating can equally have a dramatic effect and we often use them to help reflect light into the space. We really like the effect of a honed white marble top as it can reflect the light softly and does not feel as visually cold as a polished table top. Of course, there are so may materials one can use, and various timber tops can provide a sense of warmth and and visual texture, too.'

13. Layering in muted tones creates a chic soft-focus banquette

(Image credit: Hector Sanchez photograpy/Jasmine Lam)

We love how tranquil the above banquette by Jasmine Lam feels. Earthy tones are layered with textured cushions and soft stripes on the wallpaper, while the marble dining table adds glamour to the laidback-luxe look.

'We use banquette seating often especially in small dining areas,' says Jasmine. 'When you place the built-in seating at the wall, you actually GAIN space by eliminating the need to pull chairs in and out. They are comfortable and also can provide more seating at a table. I suggest choosing a fabric that is durable and easy to clean and/or treated with stain protection. You can play with color and textures in throw pillows or the back cushions.'

14. Go for bespoke banquette seating to max out space

(Image credit: Drew Forsyth & Co / Paul Craig)

In a small kitchen, a bespoke banquette designed to fit your room's proportions perfectly is a great way to ensure plenty of social seating. Often, the space under the window is perfect for banquette seating – and it's bright spot that's welcoming, too. In this kitchen, the banquette seats can be lifted to reveal storage, while open shelves at each end are perfect for recipe books.

See: Country kitchen diner ideas – cook and dine in a pretty, rustic space

What is banquette seating?

Banquette seating is a built-in seating unit usually placed against a wall. Also known as booth seating, a banquette is ideal for breathing life into a small kitchen. Once the domain of restaurants and cafes, its stylish look and excellent practicality credentials have seen its popularity rise in modern home decor, particularly in small kitchens where optimising space is necessary.

As the Deputy Editor of Livingetc's print version, Busola Evans works across both the physical magazine and digital and specializes in kitchens, bathrooms and projects. She is an expert at explaining how to improve, extend and convert your home. Prior to her current role, she was Associate Editor on both Livingetc and Homes & Gardens, where she authored kitchen and bathroom articles. Busola has also written for The Guardian, The Sunday Times Magazine and Grazia, and was an interiors columnist for the London Evening Standard's ES Magazine.

Corn Upholstery -How to Specify Your Custom Built-In Seating Design

Upholstery Information, Industry Updates, and Product Showcases by Corn Upholstery

Are you a general contractor, millworker, interior designer, or Architect who needs custom built-in seating? Do you have questions regarding banquette seating dimensions, design, and construction?

There is much more to specifying banquette seating than just height and width. In this post we will breakdown some of the different attributes to the design of built-in banquette seating, as well as terminology we use here at Corn Upholstery, to make sure you get exactly what your project needs. This is just a basic breakdown of booth and banquette seating, so if you have further questions, we are here to walk you through the process and make designing and manufacturing your custom built-in seating a breeze. Just reach out to us on our contact page to get started!

Booth/Banquette Basics

There are many options when it comes to creating your custom banquette and booth seating. The choices can get overwhelming at times, so when you don’t know where to start it helps to begin with the basics. We tend to separate our banquette specifications into a handful of categories. These categories include specifications for the base, optional apron, seat, inside back, and outside back. Each one of these components can be customized in numerous ways and identifying what you’d like for each element will ensure a seamless design consultation and manufacturing process. We have many in-house models here at Corn Upholstery that you can reference as you compile your ideas, but if you are looking to build your banquette seating design from the ground up this post will outline all of the different features and combinations you can use to customize your banquette/booth seating.


Built to your space

As you think through how you want to design your booth and banquette seating, considering where your banquette will be placed is just as important. A true “built-in” banquette requires very specific measurements to ensure it conforms to its critical fit. Corn Upholstery offers expert field measuring to take that responsibility off of your plate, but if you are looking to take on measurements yourself, consider not only the space the banquette will take up but also what dimensions it will need to be to fit through doors, hallways, or elevators. Shipping joints can be added to the banquette to break up its size and allow it to fit through tighter spaces. Standard widths for sections usually start at 48 inches and go up to nearly 96 inches. Beyond 96 inches presents engineering challenges that can increase complexity and costs. If your banquette has an “L” or “U” shape, shipping joints at or near the angles are often used to help fit the entire piece for both shipping and installation. Placement can also determine if your banquette will need to be fully upholstered on all sides. If the seating is being placed against a wall there is no need to use more fabric or budget to upholster the outside back. The same goes for parts of a banquette that are surrounded and built in. By communicating the full picture of the seating placement and the environment around it you will get a more complete upholstery quote in the end.


base basics

A recessed base is the best way to keep your custom banquette maintenance-free. The base gives your seating a sturdy foundation to sit upon while keeping cleaning easy by eliminating the need to sweep underneath the piece. Raising the upholstery off of the floor also protects the fabric from being marred by shoes and cleaning appliances. Many designs look to have the recessed base disappear with a dark finish applied, but multiple finishes, colors, and materials can be used to add interest and make the base a focal point in the overall design.

Banquette Base with No Recess

Banquette with “Standard” Recessed Base

Banquette with Maximum Recessed Base

Banquette with Legs and No Recessed Base

The “standard” recess tends to be around 2-5 inches, but the depth can vary depending on your design and intent. The main contingency to consider when determining the depth of your recessed base is the cantilever effect. If the depth of the base is too far set back, the banquette can tip forward when weight is applied. In this instance, Corn Upholstery would look to recommend a more shallow recessed base or recommend the banquette be anchored to a wall or structure to balance the cantilever effect.

“We at Corn Upholstery are familiar with incorporating all different kinds of materials into the banquette design and are here to help walk you though the engineering possibilities and options available to you.”

Seat Height, Depth, and Crown

The seat of the banquette is the foundation of comfort and functionality. If it is too high, you’ll leave your guests’ feet dangling. Too low and it may be difficult to get out of your seat. If it is too soft then the seat fabric could stretch out prematurely, too hard and no one will want to sit for very long. These are all very important considerations that we here at Corn Upholstery have worked to perfect over the past 74 years. We have found a few standards to each of these factors to ensure your custom seating is ideal for all guests. Our height recommendation for the most universal comfort tends to be between 18-19 inches from floor to top of seat crown (see adjacent diagram for seat crown options).

Corn Upholstery has found that the two highest quality and best performing seat suspension constructions are wrapped steel spring coils or high-resiliency foam over substrate. Each construction option has its benefits and allows for many different seat dimensions. Many other manufacturers will cut corners with their seat suspensions using inferior methods such as webbing or “no sag” sinuous springs. We have discovered that these methods are not made to last and will result in premature maintenance or failure. Corn Upholstery never cuts corners with the quality or value of your custom banquette seating.

Inside back pitch and overall height


The inside back of a banquette affects many aspects of the overall dimensions of the piece. At Corn Upholstery we have determined what amounts to our standard dining pitch and our standard lounge pitch to achieve the best comfort for the banquette’s setting. With a banquette used for dining at a table, we recommend to set the pitch of the back at 98 degrees while a banquette in a more relaxed environment and for seating exclusively we recommend a more relaxed pitch around 102-105 degrees (see diagram).

One aspect of a banquette’s dimension that is often overlooked during the design phase is the ratio between the pitch of the inside back, the banquette’s overall height, and its overall depth. The adjacent diagram demonstrates the connection between these dimensions. As the height is increased, the overall depth must increase to compensate for the angle of the seat back. The more angled the seat back, the more the overall depth increases. Many times a built-in banquette or booth has a critical fit for its space, so determining these dimensions early can cut down on a lot of headaches as your project progresses.

“Corn Upholstery never cuts corners with the quality or value of your custom banquette seating.”

Upholstery design

With your banquette or booth at its perfect fit for your space, this opens up discussion on the design aspects of the upholstery and what materials will be used. For an in-depth look at different types of tufting offered by Corn Upholstery follow the link on the adjacent image to read our post breaking down the numerous tufting options we provide.

While tufting is a timeless design element, you may want to go in a different direction opting for a more simple, tightly upholstered seat or back. Perhaps you would like to have vertical or horizontal channeling incorporated into your banquette; the options are endless. If you need any inspiration for your design, follow the links here to our Products or Portfolio pages to see our latest installs, manufacturing capabilities, or Corn Upholstery standard models.

Corn Upholstery Tufting Blog Post

Left: Horizontal Channeled Inside Back w/ Waterfall Seat
Center: Vertical Channeled Inside Back w/ Waterfall Seat
Right: Button Tufted Inside Back w/ Boxed Seat

Seat upholstery has many customization options ranging from considerations for comfort, durability, design, and cost. In general, your seat cushion can either be tightly upholstered and non-removeable or it can be a loose cushion or removable seat for easier reupholstering. Your tightly upholstered seat can have a boxed design with seaming at all edges or a “waterfall” design that allows the upholstery to flow seamlessly from the seat back to the seat bottom. Comfort, cost, and durability revolves around the support system for the seat itself. For more information on our seating support construction and recommendations, follow the link over to our Contact page to reach out with more questions.


Accents and Extras

Design for your booth or banquette doesn’t have to stop at the upholstery. Elevating your seating from functional furniture to a piece of art revolves around the details. Will your custom seating have turned wooden legs? Metal trim? Nail head detailing? Privacy screens? Calling out all of these details are an important part of the specification process. Providing inspiration images or drawings can also go a long way to helping close the gap between the dream design and the finished piece. As a completely custom furniture manufacturer, we are equipped to help you create your unique pieces.

Another popular feature is the addition of power into your banquette. No matter where your seating is placed, your guests’ power hungry devices are always with them. By incorporating outlets and USB ports into your custom built-in seating you’re adding a convenience your guests will appreciate. We at Corn Upholstery are familiar with incorporating all different kinds of materials into the banquette design and are here to help walk you though the engineering possibilities and options available to you.

Feeling Inspired?

There’s virtually no limit to how to style your banquette and booth seating. If you’re feeling inspired to get your project going head over to our Pinterest page to see more of our portfolio as well as inspiration we have collected ourselves. We are here for you if you need any help or have questions, just reach out to us at our Contact page and we will be happy to give you a no-cost quote or answer any questions you may have!

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built-in seating, booth seating, banquette blog, custom furniture, custom seating, upholstery blogMatt McDanielfurniture blog, specifying upholstery, specifying furniture, hospitality seating, hospitality furniture, custom seating, custom banquette, banquette, banquette seating, custom furniture, custom upholstery, booth seating, custom booth seating, restaurant seating, upholstered seating, built-in seating1 Comment

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Selection of chairs for the banquet hall of the restaurant

Posted On May 24, 2022

Today, banquet hall chairs are widely used in organizing various events. This piece of furniture should be aesthetic, comfortable, light.

Distinctive characteristics of banquet chairs

Criteria for choosing chairs for a banquet

The success of a celebration depends not only on delicious food, but also on how well the furniture is chosen in the establishment. Therefore, it is important to consider the following points:

Design features of banquet chairs

Design and style solutions

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Banquet chairs are available in many designs. Thanks to this, there is always the opportunity to choose an option for the design of the institution and the format of the event.

Rent a banquet hall for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 people, rent a banquet hall in Minsk

Rent a banquet hall for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 people, rent a banquet hall in Minsk

Seasonal offer

Capacity: 25 people
Area: 65m 2

Book

If you want to organize a family celebration in a warm homely atmosphere, the fireplace room of our restaurant is ideal for you. This small room, designed for 25 guests, seems to be created in order to celebrate an anniversary, wedding, christening in a narrow circle of relatives and friends, or just to meet people dear to you whom you have not seen for a very long time.

Benefits of renting a fireplace room in the Robinson Club restaurant.

Strict classics and modern motives

The interior design in the fireplace room is unusual - the interior decoration combines antique styling with cutting-edge solutions. Despite the small area, this room does not feel cramped. Ceiling lamps, as if from the Art Nouveau era, paintings and shelves with small decorative details on the walls, heavy curtains, white tablecloths on tables and soft chairs where you can sit with maximum comfort. Armchairs can also be replaced with wooden chairs with comfortable seats. You can ask to light candles on the tables and really immerse yourself in the old-fashioned romantic atmosphere of a quiet family holiday. The light flickering of the fire in the fireplace is a detail that gives this hall a special chic.

Meeting place for respectable clients

The fireplace hall of our restaurant can also be a worthy place for a small corporate party or an informal meeting of business people. In this room you can organize breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the participants of the seminar or for the foreign delegation, which will then be accommodated in the Robinson Club hotel. Conservative notes in the interior, coupled with high quality service, will surely please your guests.

A well-thought-out lighting system (large windows, ceiling and additional wall lamps) will help set the atmosphere of the event in a businesslike tone. You can leave only a soft, subdued light, suitable for a chamber family evening. The presence of modern audio and video equipment in the hall allows you to organize familiarization with multimedia materials for your business meeting. On holidays and celebrations, a cultural and entertainment program is possible at the request of the customer. Seats along the wall are perfect for guests to relax after a banquet.

A place to return to

This is one of the favorite halls of our clients - having chosen such a service once, you will surely contact us again. Hurry up to book a cozy fireplace room for a family celebration, an informal meeting or a business event. Call us right now - and we will offer you mutually beneficial terms of cooperation!

ALL BANQUET HALLS


For table reservations: +375 44 502 12 22

For organizing banquets: +375 44 502 13 43/45
[email protected]


"ROBINSON CLUB" - THE RIGHT PLACE FOR A GOOD REST!

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