I am very grateful for the two posters who recommended the floating bench idea. It wasn’t remotely on our radar and both my husband and I really like it as an overall concept. Thank you for that!

Whatever happened to this?

" I store the pillows in the closet, It works for us......Would new lamps look good and skip the art? I''d love some green in there........live plant or something? and we don't spend alot of time in there. .........

If you rented it for a night in a hotel? You'd be thrilled?

In a heartbeat, I would major joooooosh this room!!.

I'd use 18 x 24 of your planned hallway photos, three across., tight together, in new frames you can buy for a song, mats already in them.

Whatever!!!

Funny you bring this room up! It is a part of the process. I have pictures I am thinking of putting here too. Either here or in primary bath and then transferring art from bathroom to this room. But it is all on hold till I sort out entry and what frames and pics go there. Between the entry, bedroom, bathroom, I will use, in some format the six landscape photos of our travels and the one custom piece a dear friend made me. I guess you couldn’t help yourself and find something to drag with the wall colour and bedding hey. Interesting to pull in another post and then make a completely unneeded dig.

It's not a dig..........it is get one spot to a finish you may love. I get the "picture" concept in hall.....Just saying proportion and opportunities, within the easy to do.....,leads sometimes, to better results. The photos are clearly meaningful......not sure that much mat enhances the meaningful, just because you can find it on the internet. : )

I am totally content to have a number of projects on the go and pick away at them. I love my home and am grateful daily.

We are getting quotes for a wood floating bench for our entry niche that appear to vary quite a bit in terms of how the neck is supported and what materials are used. Google isn’t really helping me understand what method is best and most safe.

The niche is 8 feet 3.5” inches width. The bench is going to fill the space and be 18” deep. There is an air return along the back wall of the space that needs to be considered too.

Options we’ve been given so far are:

1. solid 4” Douglas for piece of wood installed with steel iron angles at the ends and a continuous support piece at the back. This is securely anchored to the studs and the bench itself.

2. A 2x4 shelf being created and anchored to the studs and then plywood veneer in white oak being added to it to create the bench or using real 3/4” white oak although I can’t picture this.

3)L brackets being installed and the wooden bench sits on top. Although I am not sure how they would do this and deal with the air return.

You mentioned that folks will sit on it putting on shoes. You might want to find out about the weight capacity for the benches.

It’s a bench. So yes people will sit on it. That is why I am clarifying and asking for. Suggestions here too. I want to understand what method is safest.

So again, looking for feedback on the construction options of the floating bench, which is what we have decided to do, and want to do it safely.

@wsea and @jan how thick should the floating wood bench be?

@ 93 1/2, length I think you need the finished "look" of

3 1/2 " ........the wood itself need not be 3/1/2, because you can frame support brackets in plywood. I'm staring at my ruler too....fyi and feels right at 3.5

I'd use "Right On" Brackets. - how many depends where exactly studs are., but seems you should have four between walls.

Five of these, each holds 150 lbs

Great video link below, on a DIY ,! ( I even like the THIN tufted pad, ( any upholster could make a channel tufted )which has an nice modern/organic look for its non traditional thickness and maybe a bit of color . Or not : )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p-hzzHwtp0

_______________________________________________________________________

No sagging !!!! ( thank u AI )

" Support Points: An 8-foot span is too long for a "true" float supported only at the ends. You must anchor a 2x4 or 2x6 ledger board into every wall stud along the back length using lag screws.

• Deflection (The "Sagulator"): At 8 feet, a 3.5" thick bench with a 1,000 lb load (about 4-5 adults) will typically sag only about 0.03 to 0.09 inches, which is nearly invisible to the eye.

Get with your guy, and HOWEVER he frames/supports it...no sag lol and safe, If three of you sat ast the same time, ( unlikely ) I doubt you'd exceed 600 lbs, but hardly the point, Wood does what wood does. Bows.

Freezing a couple shots from that video......and shorter length of bench which might be 2 3/4 thick? and six feet at most in length.....

I'd stick a 3.5

It is looming more and more like it will be a slab of wood not a box. He has quoted 4” thickness but the photo provided by him looks super thick. I was thinking 3” would be lighter and easier to navigate. Going to get him on site to check out the studs and do some measuring.

I think 4” plus would look nice, but id be tempted to mock it up with cardboard. 3 might seem out of proportion due to the length.

Guess you have to take it up with him, - mock it up in place with cardboard and duct tape. : )

It can not be less than 3"

Not at that length ........and tht is why I think 3.5 is the sweet spot.

Watch the video up above.

Have seen a similar video. It is one of many ways to do this. Our carpenter wants to use a solid piece of wood not this method. We need to get him on site to see how realistic thos is.

More like this install.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSmwBk9jxX9/?igsh=emJiaGsxZDlwOTU2

If I wanted to be certain of best method? I'd first do this:

Go get a stud finder at the hardware store. Move your bench, mark those with masking tape on the walls. They are probably 16" apart , two each side of the return? Mark exact size location of the air return..... to make a sketch.., to show us.

You may need a contractor prior to this wood guy.

You can rip off the lower drywall, install wood blocking between studs use the right brackets and be able to stand Atlas on it.

I'm just getting a sense he's trying to do this with least disturbance to surface, I might be dead wrong! But with 3" ..3 1/2 , I'd invite @ Millwork to the thread. He's the guru

But its a bit vague content for best answer support and method. ......in what we all know as to conditions behind current bench and drywall.

I'd not trust that without iron, solid blocking every stud. JMO...

The link doesn't show whole process....

No one is worried about disturbing the drywall or not. The goal is a safe bench . If that requires drywall removal then it will be done. The L shaped metal brackets are commonly used for this from all we have read and definitely require drywall impact. Someone is coming to do a site visit today to get a real world look at it and make a safe plan.

Great site visit today. The brackets attached to studs is definitely the way to go. There are five studs along the back wall. So now to wait for quotes to get the supports installed would place and finalize the bench quote too. This is going to take awhile but will be well worth it if done well.

Just wanted to give an update tust we are going ahead with the built in bench but do to schedules and work etc it will be happening this summer so project on hold till a few months from now when I am off work and the trades can take us on. We are excited to have a plan.

Yeah, cant wait to see the final result

Okay don’t be mad. We still have plans ok the calendar for the built in bench but Im wavering. What do we think about refinishing something like this instead? It’s 8 feet long.

That bench along with your travel photos displayed above it could be really cool, too.

I really like the floating bench but this new bench could work too. Very different looks.

Agree the above would be very different look. How would it fit in the space?. is it deeper than the the side walls? you say its 8’ how wide was the opening again?

It would be a very different look. To be honest I am just questioning the cost of the floating bench. It’s making me wonder if finding a furniture piece makes more sense

Seat depth is 15”. Overall depth is 20”. We have 25” so depth is fine.

I love the bench you found, but think the floating one would be cool too. But if you have the time and skill to refinish that wooden bench I'd go for that choice just because I love unique old things given new life. I'm not a designer so take my advice for what it's worth ;)

How much space between the walls and the bench sides will there be?

Your drawing shows 8' 3 1/2" outside wall to outside wall. Width of niche will be considerably less. Recommend double-checking. Don't forget baseboard thickness on each end of niche.

The bench seems interesting if you can get correct size.

Will measure once home.

There is 25.5inches baseboard to front of niche area so lots of space .

I think the measurement several of us are asking about is the longer length. you say the bench is 8 feet. how wide is the opening?

Oh! Yes, thank you for catching that. It is too big 🤦‍♀️

Too big, and feels too "country" for all the rest of your home. Wait for the right thing- the float

Smart to contain costs and purchase furniture rather than build. But this isn’t the right piece for your space. It isn’t clean or modern enough. I’m sure you can do better.

We are leaning toward a console table now after all. I just can’t stomach the cost of thr built in bench so it is what it is. I think I’ve found something that will work. Will still be a bit as I need to get matted and framed but feeling good about progress.

I was never for the built-in bench. I guess you don't need seating at all?

I sit there and put my shoes on but no one else does. Everyone else list manages. We all put bags or things on the bench though

Console tables are kinda useless. I like Emily's rendering.

It’s just a space to put bags down and showcase some art. A table does that just as well as a bench.

You could do a console with ottomans underneath it for when you want it. This console is from Pottery barn.

That is very similar to the console I am considering. I can’t see is doing the ottomans though. It isn’t really a space used like that. I am literally the only person who sits. Even guests don’t.

Buy an 84" bench, and call it a day: ) ? You 're the only sit, and the rest just drop stuff.

Hand wring is pointless , unless you want to spend money you don't really want to spend..

Up the road? You can always sell a bench, to someone. if a mind change

All 84 inches below, last is 87"

I think we are leaning toward a console now Jan. I don’t want to spend over $1k on this.

Oh wow this looks great, clean and crisp and love the photos!

I’d definitely keep the bench function — it sounds like it’s actually working really well for the way your family and guests use the entryway. I’d just upgrade it to something with more character and better materials, perhaps a warm oak or walnut bench with a simple upholstered seat.

I also really like your idea of replacing the large artwork with three framed landscape photos from your travels. It would make the entry feel much more personal. I’d use matching frames with generous matting and keep the arrangement fairly simple so it doesn’t compete with the bench.

Since this is directly across from the front door, I’d treat it as a small “arrival moment” rather than trying to fill every inch — a beautiful bench, the three personal photographs, and maybe one subtle cushion or basket would probably be enough.

I created a quick visualization of this direction as well. Hope it gives you some ideas! 😊

If you find a product you like, we can also help turn the idea into a real piece — from design development to custom manufacturing.

https://morphra.ai/

@morphaai project is done. You are late to the game.