GET BENCHED
SITTING PRETTY ON KITCHEN WINDOW SEATS
Q: I’d love to have a window seat. I’ve seen that you can make one with kitchen cabinets. But is it better to have one made? If I make one using kitchen cabinets, what kind of cabinet would I use?
A: I was so excited when I read your question because on my new show, Open House Overhaul for HGTV, we put a window seat into almost every house. (The show is all about overhauling your home to get it open-house ready so you can sell it for top dollar and has tons of great tips.)
A banquette or window seat is the place where people always want to sit. Banquettes are also space-savers that add character, which is what sells a house.
You can certainly make a custom bench — the upside to anything custom is that it can fit into any nook or cranny. Plus, the front profile can be fabricated into any style — modern or traditional — to work with your existing architecture. A simple custom bench four feet (1.2 metres) wide, without doors or drawers for storage, will cost approximately $300. Depending on how many drawers, doors, mouldings and hinges you add, the cost can be as much as $1,500.
To make a banquette with offthe-shelf kitchen cabinets, you’ll need cabinets that are 15 inches (38 centimetres) high with a depth of 15 or 24 inches (38 or 61 cm). Cabinets with a 15-inch (38-cm) depth are great for a tight space. Deeper 24-inch (61-cm) cabinets, however, will give you a more comfy seat.
If you’re good with a sewing machine and don’t mind wrestling a large piece of foam, you can make your own seat cushion. Otherwise, have your upholsterer make a seat cushion two to three inches (5 to 7.6 cm) thick to bring your banquette up to seat height, which is 17 inches (43.2 cm).
To make your banquette look built-in, use filler pieces of wood or drywall to cover gaps, then patch and paint them the same colour as the wall.
To take it one step further, add baseboard trim.
Add a couple of throw pillows (down-filled and 20 inches, or 51 cm, square) and, voila, your seat will be complete.
Be warned, however, guests might not want to leave.
For inspiration, I’ve included a photo of a banquette made of kitchen cabinets.
Send your small-space question to asksampynn@gmail.com.