In a studio apartment, there's usually not room for a separate dining area. Enter the banquette, a triple-duty piece that can serve as a sofa, dining spot, and storage space all in one. Banquettes can be built into windowseats (extra awesome when they have storage underneath), empty alcoves, and corner areas...or they can be constructed from benches or chaises. Click below for some beautiful banquettes from AT:Chicago...

We love the space-saving design in this interior by Frank Roop.









Shaw's Original Fir...
I just love the semi-circular window seat, though I wouldn't have been able to resist incorporating some storage underneath
That wooden frame banquette is amazing. Picture that by candlelight!
I have been looking to built a bench/chest for the bay window in my bedroom and I'm still debating what kind of storage I want in there (open-chest, shelves, drawers, file cabinet). Also, since it's a bay window in an edwardian house, none of those sizes are standard. I've contacted wood shanti and the estimate is around 3.5K$ which is a bit on the high side.
Anyone has any good addresses/names in the bay area that would do custom work like that?
Thanks!
Alex.
I've got a small, awkwardly placed breakfast nook off my kitchen, and have been dreaming of doing a banquet (one side OR L-shaped) and table in it for a casual dining space...but I'm not sure it's big enough. I know there are some interior design/architecture guidelines about minimum measurements for walkways, doorframes, landings, etc....anything for banquet seating? I can figure out how deep to make the seat, not sure how to coordinate that with table size etc. I should prob just take my best shot, but money is too tight to reinvent the wheel and mess it up, if there's a correct answer out there!
I'm planning this for my kitchen, too, but I've been told by furniture/cabinetmakers that people like to tuck their heels back, and that a perfectly square-edged bench with no space underneath for feet is uncomfortable. Thoughts? If so, how far back should storage be, or put another way, how far should the bench extend beyond the storage? Anyone?
Gorgeous, I love it