Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

Banquette Seating and Open Shelves Painted Blue

The progression of banquette seating…all in one kitchen! About 3 years ago, for my sisters birthday, I added banquette seating in her kitchen. It totally transformed her eating area and added so much seating! At the time we did everything neutral and 3 years later I thought adding some color would be fun and cozy. Plus, I kept thinking how it would be nice to continue the banquette seating around the other side of the table (make it an “L” shape) in an area that wasn’t getting any use. Do you ever do that? After a project think, “well that was cute but I think it can be even better?” I’m so glad I went with my gut and finished it up. My sister and her husband were onboard for anything and were looking forward to more seating. Sharing how easy it is to add banquette seating and how adding color and pattern can totally transform a space.

Here is how her kitchen looked before-

Making the Most of your Eat-In Kitchen with a Banquette
Then we added a long bench of banquette seating. You can see the full makeover here.

Kitchen Now with Painted Blue Banquette-

The after, a custom, finished look! We love the color and the newly added trim and shelving around the window. I gave her my pink chairs that I had (older Urban Outfitters) for a pop of color and to contrast the table.
I will mention that she could do a slightly longer table now. But I also like the open areas to sit and chat, not confined to a table. You can see how close the table is to her island and kitchen area, so the table can’t really be wider, just longer. (This is her dining table, we love the white in here with her wood floors).
You can see a tutorial on how to build banquette seating here. It really is a project that anyone can do! We also DIY’d these banquette cushions, you can see how here.
DIY Banquette Cushion Tutorial
Before we started, we taped a mock up of where everything would go to see if it would fit and look good. It helped so much being able to visualize. Also making sure the shelving would work with someone sitting under it. There is a vent under the window that we were planning on rerouting to were it came out the front of the banquette. My sister decided that she didn’t want a vent on the front, they keep it closed often. So after talking with a friend that does heating and air for his profession, he recommended to just cap it off. We used these magnetic vent covers to redirect the airflow.
I wanted to pick a paint color that would flow through all the open areas of her house, a bright blue, and not grey at all. I went with Aqua Sphere SW7613 from Sherwin Williams, color matched at The Home Depot, since we were picking up supplies there. The paint itself is Behr Ultra Scuff Defense, in Semi-Gloss (it is paint and primer in one).
We have built a couple banquettes in our day and also paid to have one built in our Connecticut house. I had a couple bids and one bid was about $2200, for a banquette that was slightly smaller than what we installed here. I had a top realtor message me on Instagram and said they for sure add value to the home and if not emotional response to the uniqueness. I am obviously team banquette!
Another thing we changed was the light fixture to this simple black chandelier, and lowered it. This helped to make the space more intimate. The bottom of the chandelier is 32″ now.
Adding open shelves to a blank wall adds so much- storage, color, access to everyday kitchenware, makes space look bigger and brighter. We used leftover wood we had from our beams and cut to fit the entire space. Then used these brackets to mount the shelf, pulls in the black accents in her kitchen.
Open shelving is also an inexpensive way to showcase items you already have and use everyday.
Kept her centerpiece simple with this green tray, a plant, candlesticks, battery candlesticks.
Nobody was home when I was taking pictures, so here I am for scale! ha! They can easily fit 10 people here! And if we had a longer table she could fit 12-14 people!
I added a few pillows in a few spots to lean against while sitting.
Chandelier // Pink Cookbook // Blue Vase// Retro Glasses // Green Vase // Beaded Glass Bowls //
Green tray with mirrored bottom // Farmhouse Table // Set of 2 Dining Chairs //
4 pack napkins // Glass Drink Dispenser // Salt and Pepper Mills // Glass Dessert Plate //
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Comments

  1. Jennifer C. says

    It’s beautiful (like all of your projects)! My favorite part is the rug turned into cushions! Good call! You are so fearless in your decorating and I love it. Thank you for always sharing.

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