Best of the Week: 33 Beautiful Banquettes and Built-In Benches
These bold bench seat and banquette set-ups will have you lining up to incorporate some built-in seating
Julia Fairley
21 November 2018
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture that is thoughtful, sophisticated and champions an element of the unexpected. Before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW and becoming a journalist, I studied interior architecture. For over a decade I have interviewed inspiring creative minds from around the world to write about design in its many different forms. Recently, I have also become an accidental gardener, to everyone's surprise.
Chief Sub-Editor and Writer, Houzz Australia and New Zealand. I love design and architecture... More
Whether you’re renovating, planning to, or are just flirting with the idea of doing something a little different in your dining area, these 33 built-in bench seats provide all the ideas and inspiration you need.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
1. Location: Woollahra, NSW
Designer: Luigi Rosselli Architects
Features: The curves in this banquette are a sight for sore eyes, from the sculpted foam stuffing and the double curving at the ends of the upholstery, to the subtly rounded corners of the joinery and table.
Designer: Luigi Rosselli Architects
Features: The curves in this banquette are a sight for sore eyes, from the sculpted foam stuffing and the double curving at the ends of the upholstery, to the subtly rounded corners of the joinery and table.
2. Location: Darlinghurst, NSW
Designer: SJB
Features: One glance at this caramel-coloured banquette tells you it’s no surprise the space scooped this year’s awards season.
Designer: SJB
Features: One glance at this caramel-coloured banquette tells you it’s no surprise the space scooped this year’s awards season.
3. Location: Rose Bay, NSW
Designer: Woods & Warner
Features: A strong angularity gives this built-in dining nook presence.
See more of this home with Houzz Tour: Punchy Patterns and Bold Colour Find a Home in Sydney
Designer: Woods & Warner
Features: A strong angularity gives this built-in dining nook presence.
See more of this home with Houzz Tour: Punchy Patterns and Bold Colour Find a Home in Sydney
4. Location: Canning Cottage
Designer: Bicker Design
Features: The perfectly matched fabric of the banquette and the timber base shows exemplary attention to detail. This tiny 32-square-metre cottage won the best residential design and the best state residential award in the 2018 Australian Interior Design Awards.
Designer: Bicker Design
Features: The perfectly matched fabric of the banquette and the timber base shows exemplary attention to detail. This tiny 32-square-metre cottage won the best residential design and the best state residential award in the 2018 Australian Interior Design Awards.
5. Location: Marrickville, NSW
Designer: Bondi Kitchens
Features: That spread of mustard adds a zing of flavour to this monochrome kitchen, and the backless banquette helps keep a low profile in the narrow space.
See more of this home with Room of the Week: A Mustard Yellow Banquette in a Crafted Kitchen
Designer: Bondi Kitchens
Features: That spread of mustard adds a zing of flavour to this monochrome kitchen, and the backless banquette helps keep a low profile in the narrow space.
See more of this home with Room of the Week: A Mustard Yellow Banquette in a Crafted Kitchen
6. Location: Orange County, USA
Features: The perfect place to while the hours away, sit quietly with a cuppa, or gather for a meal with friends.
Features: The perfect place to while the hours away, sit quietly with a cuppa, or gather for a meal with friends.
7. Location: USA
Features: There’s no rule that forbids shiplap banquettes from beautifying beach-style homes.
Features: There’s no rule that forbids shiplap banquettes from beautifying beach-style homes.
8. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Features: White and grey make the day.
Features: White and grey make the day.
9. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Features: Although the graphic print of the banquette seat and the rusty hue of the leather sling chairs don’t share any colours in common, there’s something about their contrast that makes this built-in dining nook shine.
Features: Although the graphic print of the banquette seat and the rusty hue of the leather sling chairs don’t share any colours in common, there’s something about their contrast that makes this built-in dining nook shine.
10. Location: New York, USA
Features: The upholstered caramel banquette, grounded by the navy accent wall, delineate the kitchen from this living space.
Features: The upholstered caramel banquette, grounded by the navy accent wall, delineate the kitchen from this living space.
11. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Features: Sometimes simple is best.
Features: Sometimes simple is best.
12. Location: Sacramento, USA
Features: This sweeping semi-circle draws everyone into the conversation here… not to mention that gentle curve of the timber.
Features: This sweeping semi-circle draws everyone into the conversation here… not to mention that gentle curve of the timber.
13. Location: New York, USA
Features: Pops of pattern, puffy texture and punchy colours enliven this banquette beyond belief.
Features: Pops of pattern, puffy texture and punchy colours enliven this banquette beyond belief.
14. Location: New York, USA
Features: The subtle gap between the upholstered seat and backrest of this built-in bench (and the workmanship involved) is a design detail that takes this banquette up a notch.
Features: The subtle gap between the upholstered seat and backrest of this built-in bench (and the workmanship involved) is a design detail that takes this banquette up a notch.
15. Location: New York, USA
Features: This tongue-in-cheek built-in breakfast nook channels plastic fantastic with its vinyl-like diner seat and the Barbie-inspired art.
Features: This tongue-in-cheek built-in breakfast nook channels plastic fantastic with its vinyl-like diner seat and the Barbie-inspired art.
16. Location: Miami, USA
Features: Texture is the name of the game in this interior, with the fine fur of the poufes, the soft hide of the banquette seat, and the tufted upholstery of the backrest, all against the velvety smoothness of the floor and walls.
Features: Texture is the name of the game in this interior, with the fine fur of the poufes, the soft hide of the banquette seat, and the tufted upholstery of the backrest, all against the velvety smoothness of the floor and walls.
17. Location: London, UK
Features: The matching upholstery on the mis-matched chairs, cushions and banquette seat leave no doubt what the hero of this room is.
Features: The matching upholstery on the mis-matched chairs, cushions and banquette seat leave no doubt what the hero of this room is.
18. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Camilla Molders Design
Features: Here, built-in seating solves the tricky problem of a low ceiling height. Genius! Not to mention those pops of lipstick red in the upholstery buttons.
Designer: Camilla Molders Design
Features: Here, built-in seating solves the tricky problem of a low ceiling height. Genius! Not to mention those pops of lipstick red in the upholstery buttons.
19. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Paul Uhlmann Architects
Features: This banquette seating channels mid-century style and the restaurant vibe that these owners wanted at home.
Designer: Paul Uhlmann Architects
Features: This banquette seating channels mid-century style and the restaurant vibe that these owners wanted at home.
20. Location: London, UK
Features: Slimline seating makes this built-in bench take a backseat.
Features: Slimline seating makes this built-in bench take a backseat.
21. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: A monochrome marvel.
Features: A monochrome marvel.
22. Location: Woollahra, NSW
Designer: RAAarchitects
Features: Not all banquettes take centre stage. Part built-in bench seat, part-window seat, this streamline banquette is subtle and sophisticated.
Designer: RAAarchitects
Features: Not all banquettes take centre stage. Part built-in bench seat, part-window seat, this streamline banquette is subtle and sophisticated.
23. Location: Atlanta, USA
Features: Ghost chairs and a transparent pendant light fade into the background so the mis-matched upholstery can jump to the fore.
Features: Ghost chairs and a transparent pendant light fade into the background so the mis-matched upholstery can jump to the fore.
24. Location: Singapore
Features: This curved banquette seat is no fading wallflower. And the complementary floor cushion and ottoman? Brilliant!
Features: This curved banquette seat is no fading wallflower. And the complementary floor cushion and ottoman? Brilliant!
25. Location: London, UK
Features: Stylish and space-smart, this built-in bench seat takes up less room than arranging chairs around all sides of the table.
Features: Stylish and space-smart, this built-in bench seat takes up less room than arranging chairs around all sides of the table.
26. Location: London, UK
Features: Look closely – is that a bespoke banquette seat or a cleverly repurposed sofa?
Features: Look closely – is that a bespoke banquette seat or a cleverly repurposed sofa?
27. Location: London, UK
Features: Sleek and subtle, the raised backrest of this banquette creates a cloistered huddle for quiet conversations within an open-plan area.
Features: Sleek and subtle, the raised backrest of this banquette creates a cloistered huddle for quiet conversations within an open-plan area.
28. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Mr. Mitchell
Features: The space-age banquette in this 1960s apartment stands loud and proud.
Designer: Mr. Mitchell
Features: The space-age banquette in this 1960s apartment stands loud and proud.
29. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: A quiet escape in a private corner.
Features: A quiet escape in a private corner.
30. Location: Leicestershire, UK
Features: Part banquette, part-window seat, wholly chic. It’s also refreshing to see a bench seat sans upholstery.
Features: Part banquette, part-window seat, wholly chic. It’s also refreshing to see a bench seat sans upholstery.
31. Location: Chicago, USA
Features: Rustic, country charm adds a welcome warmth in this built-in dining nook.
Features: Rustic, country charm adds a welcome warmth in this built-in dining nook.
32. Location: Seattle, USA
Features: Sleek and sophisticated, this elongated bench seat makes seating 10 easy.
Features: Sleek and sophisticated, this elongated bench seat makes seating 10 easy.
33. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Donna Guyler Design
Features: A custom banquette rising up on tippy-toes. Now why haven’t we seen more banquettes on little feet?
Tell us
Which built-in banquette or bench seat would you like to be relaxing at right now? Tell us your faves in the Comments, save the images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more interior inspiration? Check out Houzz’s Best of the Week: 31 Great Conservatories From Across the World
Designer: Donna Guyler Design
Features: A custom banquette rising up on tippy-toes. Now why haven’t we seen more banquettes on little feet?
Tell us
Which built-in banquette or bench seat would you like to be relaxing at right now? Tell us your faves in the Comments, save the images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more interior inspiration? Check out Houzz’s Best of the Week: 31 Great Conservatories From Across the World
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I have always loved banquette seating as a flexible seating area that you can also lounge over but also as a space saver. It is so 60's and a fun way to dine. My favourite is no. 28 in Melbourne for this very reason.
Although being a tall person I find that most banquettes are either too high and then from an ergonomic point of view it doesn't work with the table height. This is critical in achieving a successful banquette arrangement. You should also make sure that the table isn't too oversized for the seating area and that there are curves on the table top for ease of movement around the seats.
Thanks for sharing this article.
1&2 are very lovely 28 is nice too
Does anyone know the tables in 1 and 2?