apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Gorgeous! I'd love to cozy up there, esp in cool weather. Creative and versatile, should you want to make changes int he future.

Very nice job !

That is an inviting nook.
Can I come lounge there?

Love the idea. Thanks for sharing.

Would like to better understand the editorial policy though since Kyle as a Boston blogger essentially just got to post a free and detailed ad for her own business.

I'm not yet being critical of the practice, but think the reading community should have some insight into how this kind of a post (clearly not written in the AT royal "we" third-person voice) qualifies as editorial and not advertorial.

Good idea in general? Yes.

But where's the toekick/legs? You can already see that there's a problem w/ opening the doors with that rug in front.

And where are the door handles? Or the trim panel on the side to cover the white laminate on the end? And what about the dead space between the kitchen counter and the front of the cabinet in the corner which is now impossible to access due to the tight space?

This is a situation where a custom-cabinet that wrapped around the corner and fit the space precisely would have been a much more approriate and useful solution - standard IKEA fronts, finish panels and legs could have still been used to maintain a cohesive appearance...
...and the case would probably wouldn't have cost much more than the ill-fitting off the shelf pieces.

We're about to do our kitchen in ikea cabinets and I have a window I'd love to tuck a storage/window seat under. Good idea. Couple Q's:

1. was this reinforced or was it already sturdy enough to sit on?
2. don't the doors scrape on the carpet? and aren't the set of doors behind the other cabinet unusable?
3. is the bench leveled and fixed to the floor/wall like regular cabinets or is it simply resting on the floor?

Ohh I love the fabric of the pillow with leaves on it. Where is it from, please do tell!?!

So that's the secret to keeping your kitchen looking as nice as yours, don't cook! I'd rather order out anyway.

i think this looks great and like that you kept it simple versus worrying about details like those mentioned by bepsf. if the doors have just enough clearance not to catch on the carpet, then who cares? adding legs may make it taller than would be comfortable when sitting. and why would you want door handles sticking out to be bumped against when sitting there?

again, i think this looks great. the only way i would change it would be to add some small casters so that you could scoot it around if need be.

I love a good Ikea hack. Nicely done!

Oh where did you get the pillow top? Was it from an old couch? It is a nice, thick size. :)

http://www.modernests.com

And here I was just thankful she wasn't using that AT-"we" about her own kitchen....

Thanks for all your comments.

To answer your questions:

1) The end panel of bench isn't white - it's the same tone as doors

2) I do have the bench located in a slightly strange spot, making it so the far right cabinet isn't AS accessible but it's totally fine for rarely used stuff. Sometimes I go for slightly "strange" if it means gaining something really valuable to me (location by that window). And there's nothing permanent about it so I can change things around when the whimsy strikes. Oh and does it strike!

3) It's a totally sturdy set-up (not affixed to the wall). It's the depth of the pieces (24 inches) that make the set-up completely sturdy. I guess my floor is also naturally level in that spot.

4)It's hard to tell from the photos but I used really small bumper feet to raise the bench up high enough that it seamlessly clears the carpet.

5) I didn't want handles. Wanted a less clunky look that that. It's not the least bit difficult to open the doors.

6) The pillow top is from Joann Fabrics.

7) The small floral pillows were made with this fabric: Freespirit Fabrics, designed by Anna Maria Horner. Fabric Series - "Drawing Room", Specific Fabric name -
"Green Branching Out") www.purlsoho.com

Thanks!
Kyle

Smart and nice.

Thanks for sharing all your design and organizing expertise! I love it.

Nice job! I also love the fabric for the cushion.

This project reminds me of two other similar ones from ikeahacker:

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/06/make-compact-banquette-from-kitchen.html

http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2008/10/good-looking-banquette-from-akurum.html

I have a banquet too in the kitchen that has been waiting for a cushion for over a year. Just ordered the foam today!

http://www.donkeehouse.com

i completely agree with bepsf. it should've been a custom integrated piece, with a small toe kick, using matching ikea doors. touch-latch hardware could've been used so that no decorative pulls/knobs would be needed and you'd still have the function of easily opening the doors. (or the doors could be modified to have fingerpull edges, but that would've changed the edge profiles for just those doors.)

I love this idea and would like to use it too. Just wondering how much weight these cabinets can take?

I love the pillow fabric with the multi-colored leaves, but didn't find it under the fabric line you named. Would you let us know? Thanks---

VERY nice! i've been looking for a kitchen storage bench myself. i just might have to try this! thanks.

Annki -

Looks like they may not be selling that color anymore but I just found a variant on a different fabric site:

http://tinyurl.com/m9u2vd


Bridie -

I don't know exactly how much weight the cabinets can take but they feel very strong.

Thanks,
Kyle

Thanks Kyle :)

love it! looks good, functional, and I'd like to hang out there! :)

I've been on the lookout for a bench to go under the bay window in our living room and got really excited when I saw this (possible temp solution till I find the perfect vintage find?). Unfortunately, I realized why I needed a bench... there's a huge vent under the window... so this won't work. Still- fabulous idea!