Using plywood, 2x4s, and unfinished kitchen cabinets, Amber and her husband fashioned a seating area that makes excellent use of a nook under their dining room window. Add in some cushions and stylish textiles, and you have one great-looking banquette.
Amber says buying the unfinished upper kitchen cabinets from Lowe's was more affordable than building their own. The upholstery, then, ended up being the bigger expense because it required 14 yards of fabric. To give the cushions more durability, Amber covered them in pre-washed denim.
For more photos and a full description of the process, check out Amber Interiors. (You'll also want to see her DIY cloud art project.)
Images: Amber Interiors
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Love the light fixture. Where's it from?
Love the rustic look of the table!
Nice Turkish kilim.The added suzani helps the look, too.
I hear you, Waiting for Gateau, because I'd be that person... the one who would ask if somebody else would Please sit in the middle.
On the other hand, the fact that the middle person has to stay put could be used strategically. For keeping a rambuctious 3 year old at the table and between his parents, or the like.
Another huge advantage that banquettes offer is that they offer seating within a small footprint... no 3-4 foot deep space required behind one, as would be nice to have with chairs.
"Repurposing cabinets" is a great tip, too.
Very nice choices on fabrics! Another option is to make benches instead of using cabinets. It feels more open, you can move it around easily, and you get leg space under the bench. That's the route I went with my breakfast nook. The disadvantage is that I don't have extra storage space.
"Love the light fixture. Where's it from?"
Circa 1973
i am sitting in a dining nook where i feel something is amiss....this is it!!! thank you for the inspiration!
@bepsf, yep. I remember those well.
The three year old is probably the only person who COULD get out of the middle. By way of the floor underneath. :)
Most people have to make some concessions when entertaining more people than usually fit in a room. A couple of kids would be fine back their on a daily basis.
This dining room looks pretty amazing! I just checked out Amber's blog and you can see better images of the room. This girl is talented! I like her blog and I like her style. Well done. http://amberinteriordesign.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-cloud-art-and-more-dining-room.html