Dear AT,
When I bought and renovated my little co-op last year, I had seating built-in along the double-windowed walls of both my living room and bedroom.
At the moment I only have pillows propped up in the corners (left sides, both rooms) where I stretch out, and I keep small lamps or candles in the opposite corners (which have more limited seating access due to shelving or a/c)...
Now I'm wondering what size cushions or pillows I should get for the seats.
Should I have one custom cushion made for each room that covers the ENTIRE space (and would you suggest one long cushion or a few that together cover the entire space allowing better spot cleaning if necessary) or just a couple cushions for each room that fit from the left-walls where I lean fully to under the actual window areas where peope often sit?
Or just more scattered pillows?
The seat widths are thinner than normal to fit the alcove walls: the bedroom seat's width (not including 1" of further ledge extension) is only 10" and the living room's 12".
Also, do you suggest solid color (perhaps matching the lime-green Series 7 chairs just visible in both rooms?) or pattern (something maybe like white with large black cursive script?)
It's hard to see in the photos perhaps, but green, red and yellow are my main colors (kitchen en route to living room is white with green mosaic tiles)
Thanks! Elizabeth
Copyright © 2008 Apartment Therapy
I'd think it would look best as one long cushion in a wacky pattern. That would add some visual interest for sure! If you still want to keep your candles at one end of the seating arrangement, add a serving tray.
Multiple cushions might have the slip 'n slide effect.
view darcidoodle's profile
10" and 12" is not deep enough for a seat - cushions would look silly there (I see your pillow is already about to fall off the ledge...)
These are nice shelves under the windowsills: Just them for books, artwork, plants, etc.
view bepsf's profile
I've got to agree with bepsf.
view f.in.eur's profile
I'll be building a 15" window seat in my bedroom for the same reason that yours are so narrow, so here are some thoughts:
- use it as a showplace for really beautiful, interesting fabrics and colors, since it can't really be used for seating.
- buy an intricate textured fabric for the cushion that would run along the seat - a tapestry that incorporates all the colors in your room, an interesting table runner, a great shawl or a suzani bought on eBay and turn it into a cushion cover. It is not as though it is going to get worn out.
- at the ends of your "seat" put stubby bolster - they should be the width of the seat and be placed so the round end faces out. Maybe make the ends fancy, e.g., gather the fabric used to cover them and draw it together with a nice fabric tie. This is the shape http://www.yurdan.com/yrdn/Browse.aspx?MSCSProfile=DCCDF22EB27065BE873E77100669B211969E9DFC12713C54BFB3E1BA40B0CAE538C4FB8D28D94DC9B5A277411226BCCDDA3924049502EFE7A17F315C7990D11793083D46B4D55AD5692BD7B84CAFC37B555741C3F14AE1FC7542E8979C993999AF78E2B54682CB03BBE57AA8CA5831D24C9390BFAEF22FC0D224DAF610E49CC2&UserPref=&BC=YRDN_HomeDecor;HomeDecor_BolsterPillowCovers&node=1
- if you want pillows for the area under the windows, take your inspiration from Moroccan pillows - they're long and narrow. Look at this for the shape I'm talking about http://davidrehunt.com/BerberMoroccanMixedtechniquepillowsorbags.html
view Taureg's profile
I just saw this on their home page - I'm not arguing for the execution - but the ideas for using pillows in a long narrow space are interesting.http://davidrehunt.com/Textiles.html
view Taureg's profile
Elizabeth here. Thanks for the comments; you're making me think. Have to say they're used for seating more than you may think -- great for relaxing with coffee or wine and the view, plus when all other seating is full-up with a gathering. If/when I finish them, I'll let you know!
view Elizabeth II's profile
Have you considered a touch of nostalgia to set the theme of one of the window seats? Is there a stuffed toy or scatter pillow from childhood or school/college years available to set the theme for the decor of that seat? Pattern desirable to break from all the solid colors.
view spenser's profile