Kitchen Design
12 Kitchens With Inviting Built-In Banquettes and Benches
See the many ways designers create stylish and versatile seating arrangements for casual meals and other activities
Adding a built-in banquette or bench with a table is a wonderful way to create an eat-in kitchen for almost any floor plan. These welcoming spots make a kitchen feel more cozy and encourage casual conversation and meals. For inspiration, check out these built-in banquettes and benches in various sizes and styles.
2. Freestanding Fashion
A custom, cushy freestanding banquette in a striped performance fabric wraps around an oval wood table and black dining chairs in this Oxnard, California, breakfast nook by 22 Design House. The double pendant light has a hardwood backplate and white linen drum shades. A natural fiber sisal rug and chairs with a geometric pattern add a touch of warmth and texture to the porcelain tile floor.
Rug: Palm Beach Collection, Safavieh
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A custom, cushy freestanding banquette in a striped performance fabric wraps around an oval wood table and black dining chairs in this Oxnard, California, breakfast nook by 22 Design House. The double pendant light has a hardwood backplate and white linen drum shades. A natural fiber sisal rug and chairs with a geometric pattern add a touch of warmth and texture to the porcelain tile floor.
Rug: Palm Beach Collection, Safavieh
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Shop a curated selection of items for your kitchen
3. Nifty Nook
In Minneapolis, this corner breakfast nook with built-in bench in an expanded kitchen by Will Spencer Studio and Full Circle Construction sits under three double-hung windows that overlook a side yard. The bench has a flip-up top that conceals storage space. The custom round wood table and modern upholstered dining chairs have airy profiles that keep the nook from feeling crowded.
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Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen
In Minneapolis, this corner breakfast nook with built-in bench in an expanded kitchen by Will Spencer Studio and Full Circle Construction sits under three double-hung windows that overlook a side yard. The bench has a flip-up top that conceals storage space. The custom round wood table and modern upholstered dining chairs have airy profiles that keep the nook from feeling crowded.
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Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen
4. Turret Takeover
A circular chartreuse banquette in a fairy-tale-like turret is part of a charming Louisville, Kentucky, kitchen by Bethany Adams Interiors. (The same bold fabric was used on the island stools.) Homeowner and builder Stefan Rumancik of Designer Builders made the table for his wife, Heather, for Christmas using two extra pieces of the kitchen’s quartzite countertops and a strip of walnut down the middle. The base is gold powder-coated steel. The chandelier is perforated brass, which complements the knurled brass hardware in the kitchen.
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10 Top Kitchen Design Trends for Cabinets, Countertops and More
A circular chartreuse banquette in a fairy-tale-like turret is part of a charming Louisville, Kentucky, kitchen by Bethany Adams Interiors. (The same bold fabric was used on the island stools.) Homeowner and builder Stefan Rumancik of Designer Builders made the table for his wife, Heather, for Christmas using two extra pieces of the kitchen’s quartzite countertops and a strip of walnut down the middle. The base is gold powder-coated steel. The chandelier is perforated brass, which complements the knurled brass hardware in the kitchen.
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10 Top Kitchen Design Trends for Cabinets, Countertops and More
5. Farmhouse Flex
For a warm farmhouse-style kitchen in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, designer Carly Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations created this new breakfast nook with a built-in banquette in a section of a former playroom. The reclaimed-pine farmhouse-style table coordinates with other wood tones in the kitchen. Built-in cabinets store seasonal dishware and overflow items. A selection of pillows adds color to the banquette, whose top is the same color and finish as the base of the kitchen’s new island.
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12 Clever Kitchen Cabinet Storage Ideas
For a warm farmhouse-style kitchen in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, designer Carly Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations created this new breakfast nook with a built-in banquette in a section of a former playroom. The reclaimed-pine farmhouse-style table coordinates with other wood tones in the kitchen. Built-in cabinets store seasonal dishware and overflow items. A selection of pillows adds color to the banquette, whose top is the same color and finish as the base of the kitchen’s new island.
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12 Clever Kitchen Cabinet Storage Ideas
6. Pretty in Pink
Designer Stephanie Dickens (who worked on this project for Case Architects & Remodelers) helped an Alexandria, Virginia, retired couple create their dream kitchen. The space includes cheerful pink walls and this built-in banquette with pink-and-green floral fabric cushions. The couple use the space to eat, watch TV, read and pay bills. Four storage drawers sit below the banquette seats. The table, which the couple already owned, was repainted a bright white to match the cabinets. A crystal chandelier hangs above. Glass cabinets show off the couple’s dinnerware collection.
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Designer Stephanie Dickens (who worked on this project for Case Architects & Remodelers) helped an Alexandria, Virginia, retired couple create their dream kitchen. The space includes cheerful pink walls and this built-in banquette with pink-and-green floral fabric cushions. The couple use the space to eat, watch TV, read and pay bills. Four storage drawers sit below the banquette seats. The table, which the couple already owned, was repainted a bright white to match the cabinets. A crystal chandelier hangs above. Glass cabinets show off the couple’s dinnerware collection.
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7. Coastal Creation
This casual breakfast area in a bright and open Boynton Beach, Florida, kitchen by Lindross Remodeling includes a built-in banquette custom upholstered in a coastal-style blue-gray striped performance fabric. White spindle chairs tuck under a light wood table. A pendant light with a woven shade adds another coastal touch.
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7 Kitchen Design Challenges and How Pros Overcome Them
This casual breakfast area in a bright and open Boynton Beach, Florida, kitchen by Lindross Remodeling includes a built-in banquette custom upholstered in a coastal-style blue-gray striped performance fabric. White spindle chairs tuck under a light wood table. A pendant light with a woven shade adds another coastal touch.
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7 Kitchen Design Challenges and How Pros Overcome Them
8. Midcentury Moment
This revamped 1890s Toronto kitchen in wood, white and blue by designer Square Footage now sits open to the dining room, which has a banquette for casual and formal meals. The arched alcove is an original part of the dining room’s architecture, and designer Frankie Castro cleverly designed the banquette to fit into it. The streamlined style of the banquette and its fabric complement her clients’ existing midcentury modern Danish table and chairs. The color of the fabric also ties in with the kitchen’s navy cabinetry. Throw pillows add bright color and pattern.
Light fixture: Morris medium lantern, Visual Comfort
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This revamped 1890s Toronto kitchen in wood, white and blue by designer Square Footage now sits open to the dining room, which has a banquette for casual and formal meals. The arched alcove is an original part of the dining room’s architecture, and designer Frankie Castro cleverly designed the banquette to fit into it. The streamlined style of the banquette and its fabric complement her clients’ existing midcentury modern Danish table and chairs. The color of the fabric also ties in with the kitchen’s navy cabinetry. Throw pillows add bright color and pattern.
Light fixture: Morris medium lantern, Visual Comfort
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9. Cozy Corner
This cozy breakfast nook in a creamy white, wood and blue Austin, Texas, kitchen overlooks a back porch and backyard pool area. The space, by Ariel Bleich Design and builder Clint Carson of Tofka, features a built-in bench that wraps around a custom oval wood table. The banquette’s custom faux leather pale blue cushions coordinate with the floor in a nearby butler’s pantry. Drawers below the banquette hold toys and craft supplies, as well as napkins and place mats. A dome pendant light with antiqued brass finish introduces a touch of glam and shine.
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New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
This cozy breakfast nook in a creamy white, wood and blue Austin, Texas, kitchen overlooks a back porch and backyard pool area. The space, by Ariel Bleich Design and builder Clint Carson of Tofka, features a built-in bench that wraps around a custom oval wood table. The banquette’s custom faux leather pale blue cushions coordinate with the floor in a nearby butler’s pantry. Drawers below the banquette hold toys and craft supplies, as well as napkins and place mats. A dome pendant light with antiqued brass finish introduces a touch of glam and shine.
Read more about this kitchen makeover
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
10. Breakfast Break
A generous banquette with built-in storage forms an updated breakfast area in this renovated Duxbury, Massachusetts, kitchen by Archia Homes. A large wood table gives the family plenty of room to dine and is paired with weathered driftwood chairs that work with the kitchen’s coastal look. A traditional-style candlestick chandelier keeps sightlines open. The family’s West Highland terrier, Minnie, is seen here perched atop the banquette.
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A generous banquette with built-in storage forms an updated breakfast area in this renovated Duxbury, Massachusetts, kitchen by Archia Homes. A large wood table gives the family plenty of room to dine and is paired with weathered driftwood chairs that work with the kitchen’s coastal look. A traditional-style candlestick chandelier keeps sightlines open. The family’s West Highland terrier, Minnie, is seen here perched atop the banquette.
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11. Traditional Treasure
This inviting dining alcove sits in a colorful new kitchen with original crown molding and salvaged stained glass in a 19th-century Brooklyn townhome. The design team at Ben Herzog Architect removed a poorly fitted bookshelf from the alcove, exposed and cleaned the brick, then built in banquette seating with storage beneath the seat. A small marble-topped, tulip-shaped table adds a midcentury modern touch.
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This inviting dining alcove sits in a colorful new kitchen with original crown molding and salvaged stained glass in a 19th-century Brooklyn townhome. The design team at Ben Herzog Architect removed a poorly fitted bookshelf from the alcove, exposed and cleaned the brick, then built in banquette seating with storage beneath the seat. A small marble-topped, tulip-shaped table adds a midcentury modern touch.
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12. Bistro-Style Bliss
The designers at Deane opened up this Quogue, New York, beach house kitchen and added a 13-foot island with a two-person counter spot at one end and, on the back side, an extra-long banquette in easy-to-clean gray vinyl. The banquette faces two custom painted wood tables and bistro-style woven rattan chairs, all with a blissful view of the water.
Banquette: Morgan Harrison Home; tables: Tritter Feefer
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25 Kitchen Islands That Think Outside the Box
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The designers at Deane opened up this Quogue, New York, beach house kitchen and added a 13-foot island with a two-person counter spot at one end and, on the back side, an extra-long banquette in easy-to-clean gray vinyl. The banquette faces two custom painted wood tables and bistro-style woven rattan chairs, all with a blissful view of the water.
Banquette: Morgan Harrison Home; tables: Tritter Feefer
Read more about this kitchen makeover
25 Kitchen Islands That Think Outside the Box
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Read more kitchen design stories
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In this fresh and fun coastal-style kitchen in Novato, California, by Jennifer Wundrow Interior Design, a roomy custom built-in, L-shaped banquette with performance fabric cushions gives a family of four a relaxing spot to gather. Drawers offer storage for seasonal and other items. The wood dining table is custom. The chairs are faux leather. A pendant light with woven shade complements other woven textures in the kitchen.
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