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BANQUETTE SEATING How should I design banquette seating ?
This style of seating is a great way to utilise a corner or bay window in a kitchen or dining room and being bespoke, it will perfectly fit a space. It can also be used to divide a long layout or zone an area in a large room.
There are so many possibilities —do you want an informal seating area finished in natural or painted wood or are you aiming for a more luxurious feel with upholstered seating? Consider the shape and layout and whether a straight run of seating, with perhaps cabinets either side, would fit better than, say, a corner configuration. Circular tables are ideal for small corners, and you can maximise the area even more with banquette seating that’s designed to follow the curve. Bear in mind how many people you need to be able to seat and whether you already have a table in mind or if you want one custom-made to match. Do you want storage included? There are many options, from concealed designs where the seats lift up, to cupboards and pull-out drawers as well as styles with baskets underneath. I do suggest making the seats as comfortable as possible if you are planning to use banquette seating as your main dining space, rather than just an informal breakfast area.
When planning your seating, allow around 18 inches of seat depth, not counting any back support (a standard bench depth is 15–20 inches) and for a clean aesthetic, the length of the banquette and table should match, with room for people to easily get in and out.
GLAZING ADVICE Is there a limit on the amount of glazing I can include in my extension?
This has become quite a common question for people looking to complete larger areas of glazing on their new extensions and refurbishments, particularly as people become more aware of sustainability and specifically the thermal impact that glass can have on a space (and their heating bills).
Generally speaking, people are not looking for conservatories any more (which have a clear internal/ external delineation thermally with external-grade doors between the main building and the extension) and are looking for rear extensions with larger areas of glazing and connections back through to part of the whole of the remainder of the ground-floor plan. The glazing should be considered generally in terms of the layout and the direction t
