That is odd.

When a focus on symmetry goes bad.

The extra long bench must be so there is a place to stack the lumbar pillows when the seats at the table are actually used.

Or seats for more people if the table is extended -- but I hope they have a number of people who scoot easily and don't' have to get up during a meal.

That looks like Toby Fairley’s Mom’s house.....

Or maybe they bring in another table and chairs.

And it looks like someone is going to have to sit on the crack between the bench seats. Well, that's just awkward.

Interesting....maybe not super functional, but I think it's pretty...

Waiting room, lol. 😄

This was designed by Lauren Deloach as the Southeastern Showhouse —

http://www.laurendeloachinteriors.com

http://www.southeasternshowhouse.com/2017-showhouse

Iirc, she said in an interview that she wanted to create a restful spot (breakfast room) overlooking the beautiful backyard. (I might be remembering that wrong, though, don’t quote me!). So maybe a sort of eating area + lounging area.

ETA: I just noticed the picture was on the Southern Hospitality blog ... didn’t Rhoda post here a long time ago? Anyone remember?

I was going to say it's an extendable Duncan Phyfe style table but after looking at the original house, it's probably an original antique.

Top Atlanta architects and designers showcased their talent to benefit The Atlanta History Center for this showcase house.

Yes @Jinx - Rhoda was here long ago.

It looks like an extendible table with two more leaves. They are very common in the Atlanta and surrounding areas. My dining table has three leaves and is over 140 inches long with all three in. We can fit sixteen people at it. The photo makes perfect sense to me and I think it’s lovely 😍

Weird.

It looks more like something one would see in a restaurant. Pretty decor but I wouldn’t want it for dining guests.

So pretty.

A few issues. What is a lumbar pillow if you have to remove it to sit? The seat needs to be deeper or the pillow must go. Very common error to see chairs you cannot sit in w/o removing a pillow. I also do not like the breaks in the bench seat.

very restaurant except for the pillows. A restaurant I went to before Covid had a similar layout. The bench without the table was actually waiting area for take out. And the table was seating for dining. The host station was just to the right of the bench. A small place where every foot counted. Seemed to work for them

Extended tables are now a distant memory unless you want to sit 10 feet away from your spouse.

I’m not a fan of banquettes. They never seem to be the same height as the chair opposed. Last time I was at a restaurant with banquette seating, I was on the banquette side and my friend in the chair was about eight inches lower than me. It was weird. I also don’t like having to slide to the side to get out from behind the table.

That does not look like a comfortable spot to,sit and enjoy the view. It makes a pretty picture, though.

I would get rid of the banquette and put chairs there - unless it is a restaurant, which is what it looks like. That banquette is a big waste of space and not attractive.

As noted above, the seat height of the banquette is much lower than the seat height of the chairs, and with the lumbar pillows, the seat depth is apparently less than 12" - not ergonomic or comfortable at all. And no one wants to sit on that crack, but I would not sit on that banquette at all.

I don't even think it's pretty, but then I do not like plaid.

The table's on wheels, maybe they don't always keep it there...?

And I also don't care for pillows that take up half the seat - how is that ever comfortable?

Unless they're down/feathers and collapse a lot...

Those drapes! That rug! The LANTERN!! That soft blue....💕💕💕

Mini, agreed. It is very pretty. Jinx, thanks for the links. Hey, that rhymes.

Love the walls!

I love it! Like Kswl2, Our Baker table with all the leaves easily seats 16.

The seating is a big space saver....if the area is narrow, this would leave room to exit the french doors while maximizing potential seating at the table which looks like it expands. I used banquette seating in my bkfst nook and it feels cozy to sit there and it saves a lot of room in a tight area.

It’s difficult to tell in a photo the relative heights of the chair and banquette. IME the banquette is usually a little higher than a chair. i certainly could not say definitively from that photo which seating was higher.

I hate lumbar pillows and my guess is that they are there because the bench is deep. However, the pillows are too big. Alternatively, they may be there as another pattern just for show. (Raise your hand if you have never added something unnecessary to a design just for show, lol.)

“Extended tables are now a distant memory unless you want to sit 10 feet away from your spouse.”

Maybe in your area, but everyone I know has a long formal dining table that extends. Our informal dining table is seven feet long and DH and I sit in the comfiest chairs at opposite ends of it. We make quite a game of sliding the salt and pepper shakers to each other. I’ve only broken one 😎

Lars, you don’t like plaid??? I’m not sure we can be friends after such a shocking revelation!

Signed, Mad About Plaid

On her website, the area is symmetrical. I am not a fan of built in banquettes, but I do have a high back settee in our breakfast room. It's very comfortable.

The rooms on her IG account are all lovely, but she seems to use the same soft colors every. single. time.