Everyone likes to gather near or in the kitchen and banquettes make it everyone’s favorite spot. They are cozy, comfortable, and good use of space!
This is an updated post for 2023 with fresh ideas including pedestal and trestle table sources. It is a good idea to have this type of table to make it easier to get in and out (rather than a four-legged table).
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Free Standing Banquette
My friend, Debbie had her banquette custom-built by Lee Industries. Since it’s freestanding, it can be moved if she wants to use this area differently, or if she moves. She can squeeze in plenty of guests (especially her grandchildren) and not have to use her formal dining room.
We have this dining bench that serves as a banquette. I had the upholstered bench recovered in performance fabric but you can order it in performance fabric now. We needed a table that extends like this one from Crate and Barrel for large parties.
Banquette benches are a great way to go if you want flexibility rather than a built-in. That’s a new ikat pillow from Pottery Barn. The dining chairs are also from PB.
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You may also like How To Make Your Dining Room Informal.
Straight Built-in Banquettes
For a Florida client, we used a performance fabric by Perennials on the back and an easy-to-clean faux leather on the seat of the banquette with throw pillows.
The chairs from Restoration Hardware are also in Perennials Outdoor fabrics.
Corner Built-in Banquette Dining Area
My client has space for extra storage under the kitchen banquette in the cozy spot.
More about this kitchen: A Sunny White Kitchen And Great Room.
Annie from Most Lovely Things changes the decor for her corner banquette seasonally. She can serve casual meals here instead of at her dining table.
This is Annie’s breakfast nook in her previous home.
Cindy Hattersley’s corner banquette in her new home looks so inviting. Love the pendant.
This used to be a blank wall in my client, Lisa’s small kitchen nook…
In this dining nook, we used more performance fabric on the seat and back cushions by Perennials.
L-shaped Banquette with Upholstered Back
The dining table is from Scout and Nimble. Construction by Brovelli Architecture and Construction. This is a good place for the kids to do homework
Measurements For Banquette Seating
Trestle Dining Tables For Banquettes
1 • 2 Extendable • 3 • 4 Lots of finishes available • 5 • 6 • 7
Pedestal KitchenTables For Banquettes
1 Authentic Saarinen Table by Knoll • 2 • 3 • 4 Extendable • 5 Also extendable• 6 • 7
Those are banquettes for everyone’s favorite place to gather! You may also like Why A Classic White Kitchen Works.
Shop Banquette Tables:
I love a banquette. I just did a whole home remodeling, and we added a banquette into the dining/breakfast nook. We did custom with built-in drawers underneath. We used a round table that could make into an oval with it. It turned out great and the clients were really happy. I grew up with a bang cat, so I think for me they’re all it’s very nostalgic. As usual, I love your post!.
Hi Mary Ann,
Loving your posts! I am seated at my banquette having coffee..The fabrics you chose for my banquette are holding out nicely. My drawers underneath are useful..
I have been thinking of your daughters garage redo and wondering if it has survived these storms we have had.
This is a wonderful informative post Mary Ann. We absolutely love the banquette in our new home. We have never had one before. We often use it for small dinner parties and family dinners. Summer loves to sit and color there too!!
Your graphic f the banquette doesn’t seem to include measurements for everything A – G. Can you help me out?
Sorry, that’s all I have.
Good Morning Mary Ann,
The banquettes you showed are all beautiful. I’m sure the space available determines the direction and look you
present. It’s not so straight forward as it looks. I too love the cozy banquettes provide.
Yes, me too I have been absorbed with all the people in Ukraine. Families, fur children torn apart from one another. It’s over the top heart wrenching, and it’s got me so mad at Putin, he is a war criminal. I’ve been wearing my symbol of peace necklace for many weeks now. I don’t know why but that offers me some kind of hope. I would like to end this comment with something joyful, so I’m sending you smiles, and peace ahead.
I
Your comments always warm my heart, Katherine!!
Dear Mary Ann, A shout out to you, Annie and Cindy for your compassion for and suggestions for responding to Ukraine. Thank you for sharing ways to concretely express our connection to these dear courageous global friends.
We are downsizing this summer to a retirement community so your delightful approaches to nooks and banquets starts my creative juices flowing. Thank you.
Hugs from Camano Island, WA,
Diney
A banquette or nook is great for downsizing, Diney!
MaryAnne, I too am a huge fan of World Central Kitchen Jose Andres is an amazing man.
As for this little nooks, I love a good kitchen nook and banquet and all of these looks like cosy places for a family meal.
Yes. Chef Andres IS amazing. It brings a bit of cheer to see the work they are doing on Instagram.
I love the ideas in your post. I am in the process of having a baguette built in my kitchen. My bench area measures 72inches long. What length table would you recommend?
About the same length or 6 inches shorter or longer (if there is room to get back to it).
Where did you find the rectangle table with rounded edges? It’s pictured with the Williamson Sonoma striped bench
If you are referring to the trestle table with the custom bench, it was from Restoration Hardware and my friend had the edges rounded by a carpenter. It’s surprizing that they are hard to find with “race track” edges.
Mary Ann, I love this post. I’ve been wanting to redo our kitchen eating area bay window benchmark chair cushions and pillows and all these gave me some great ideas. My big issue is finding fabrics, it’s almost impossible these days. And of course, Debbies house is a favorite of mine and I love everything she does, you too! Thanks for all the inspiration.
Benchmark? I meant bench cushion!
Mary Ann,
I’ve always loved banquettes. I’ve never had space for one but they are so inviting for dining, conversing after a meal and just a cozy spot for coffee and making a list or so. There are such pretty examples here, thank you.
Kaaren
I so enjoy your posts Mary Ann! You do a lovely job with your blog as well as your design skills with clients.
Thanks so much, Kathy.
BEAUTIFUL………….
But back to KOBE!I am DEVASTATED TOO!Found out yesterday he was not piloting and it took off from OC.
SO he still lived in the old neighborhood!Did I tell you my mother named her female cat KOBE!I don’t think she ever saw him oooh maybe once at ROGERS GARDENS!I keep thinking about his poor wife………………I cannot IMAGINE how she is functioning!
Tomorrow AGELESS STYLE with CINDY…………….I think YOU might like what my VICTIM MAKES!!!!
Be sure to TUNE in at 7am!!!
XX
Give us alternative ways to do the soft cushion part of these banquets as a diy.
I have heard you can use cabinets from Lowe’s on the bottom for storage and add foam for the seat part.
Any hints will be appreciated.
Would a love seat work?
I’m not so big on DIY but I will tell you that both my daughter and sister are using settees as banquettes (that I recommended)…they are a bit lower, so you can put cushions under the seats. Also, we just bought the Pottery Barn modular banquette for a client. I will show it when it comes in.
I love this new updated post. I pinned nearly every image!
Thanks, Cindy!
Could you source the chairs in the 4th picture? Thank you.
I don’t know but I love them too! You could try contacting the designer listed.
I never would have thought to contact a company to make a custom banquette. I love a Debbie’s bench! Getting the corners rounded on her table was brilliant; making it easier to slide in or out. Does Debbie have a blog or Instagram account to follow?
Hi! We are wanting to build a banquette, but we haven’t found any instructions on how to attach the foam/fabic to the back of the banquette. I’ve only been able to find instructions for the bench seat. How did you add it on the back of yours? Thanks!
With velcro!
Hi! Thanks for the info! I love the idea of a banquet but have a design question. I notice usually they are anchored by a wall , I want to have mine in a open space, is there any tips you have or pics that you suggest to make sure it doesn’t look out of place? Thanks
I usually use a wall for the base. Have you thought of a bench seat instead?
I love a good cozy banquette. Thanks for all of these great ideas. Performance fabrics-brilliant!
Mary Ann- I love a banquette! Thanks for including mine! And I love how you always provide useful information to those thinking about building one or hiring someone to build one…
I love a banquette. You have done some really fun ones for clients. They are always great if you don’t have the space for a big table and chairs. Great post!
My breakfast nook and banquette are in desperate need of a redo. Thanks for all these ideas and will definitely want to use performance fabrics. Love them!
So many beautiful ideas! I love them all!
Just the post I have been needing!
We live in Mission Viejo CA and have been searching for a contractor to build our banquette.
Any reccomendations? LOVE your blog!
Thank you!
Tamara, I used Thoemmes Cabinet Makers in Orange (714-939-0400) to build a new kitchen island for me three years ago. I think they’re a little expensive, but they do beautiful work. And recently, I had The Original Cabinet Experts in Santa Ana do a repair on one of my kitchen cabinets. I was so impressed with their work ethic and quality – I know they do new builds on kitchen and bath cabinetry so maybe they can help you with a banquette. Their number is 714-956-8500. Good luck!
Tamara: I have used Dwayne at Top Notch Cabinets and Moulding in Anaheim. He has done a huge amount of work in my house including media centers, tables, built in shelving, arched casements and moulding. He has paneled my entire library including coffered ceilings. He’s built a banquette for my brother too. He’s detailed but best of all he is really reasonable. He doesn’t do painting though.
(714) 630-3099
These all look so fresh and comfortable. I’m saving to Pinterest!
Pillows are essential! A friend has an antique church pew, which is convenient for squeezing in extra people, but OMG it is SO uncomfortable. I’ve learned to wear a big sweater and take a pashmina, both of which I just happen to take off and use as cushions, especially for my lower back.
These are comfortable, especially the ones with soft backs and they have more padding than a lot of dining chairs!