Cozy Kitchen Seating

I always love it when people put a creative spin on traditional design... it's so unexpected!  One of the trends in home design that I think qualifies as such is banquette or bench seating in a kitchen.  It's such a cozy alternative to dining chairs, and it creates such a warm and comfortable feeling in a home.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of banquettes:

This picture uses a traditional table setting with three chairs and a banquette on one side of the table.  I love how the designer incorporated the black and white stripe on the cushions and popped in an apple green color with the pillows.

In this picture, a rectangular table was again used with two end chairs and a banquette along the wall.  In this design, however, the chairs used are upholstered, which go along with the cozy feeling that the banquette evokes.  And again, the color introduced with the pillows is fabulous!

Here, the concept is similar to the previous two pictures with the table, chairs, and banquette, but the use of a round table as opposed to a rectangular one frees up a little more space and allows the table to be more of a corner piece.

{Note:  I love the photo collage wall behind the banquette and the pops of turquoise with the coffee mugs.  Stay tuned for a post about photo collages.}

I love how this kitchen has the banquette seating in the middle of the room coming off of the island... such a creative alternative to traditional barstools!

Again, this picture is unique in that the banquette is positioned in the center of the room-- I love the curved shape that exactly mirrors the shape of the table.  This piece of furniture could be used in almost any room of the house; it would be great for repurposing someday if this kitchen was remodeled.

This kitchen uses the traditional banquette, but then brings in other upholstered pieces to complete the design.  An ottoman placed between the banquette and a large armchair create a cozy seating area that would be the perfect place to enjoy breakfast and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate on a chilly day.

Finally, while this is not banquette seating, I wanted to include this picture because it provides a non-traditional example of bar seating.  The bench provides a unique alternative to bar stools, while the square yellow stools add interest with their rectangular shape and bright, sunny color.  Think outside of the box, don't mold your designs to fit what everyone else already has!

Consider using this trend to update your kitchen while making it a comfortable retreat for you and our loved ones.  We only get one chance to live our life... lets make it inspiring!

God Bless,

Julie