Did the home where you grew up have a special niche that you were drawn to? Was it cozy and did it make you feel safe and full of imagination? We often think of window seats as that special place that makes a house a home. We most often associate window seats with older homes sometimes they can be just as wonderful in a contemporary home as in the photo below.
Over the years it has been older homes where I have used built-in seating most often. In one case, I used a window seat beneath a low window in a Victorian home to connect the cabinets in the kitchen and the serving area in the adjacent breakfast area. Not only did it connect two runs of cabinetry but it gave a place for friends to sit when the homeowner prepared a meal.
One of the biggest advantages of built-in seating is the extra storage. Whether it’s a flip up lid or front access, the space created will provide room to store everything from spare linens in the bedroom to picnic supplies in the kitchen and extra towels in the bathroom.
Many times a heat run is placed under a window and can be incorporated into the window seat cabinetry.
Sometimes storage has to be given up if there is a radiator under the window. In that case a grill front will be required but seating may still be a possibility if the radiator is low enough to allow for a comfortable seating height.
One of the best tricks in a small dining room is to build in seating (often called a banquette) along a wall and slide the table up to it. Adjust the location of the center light fixture and add chairs on the opposite side for a cozy dining area with more room for traffic to flow.
Mudrooms are are also a very practical place to add a built-in seat. Not only is the storage valuable but the seat is helpful for putting on shoes and boots.
Create a special place for your family with beautiful Waypoint cabinetry!
