6'4x5'8 corner - banquette or chairs/benches?
Hi wise list,
We are at punch list stage of our kitchen reno, but I have basically left the last quarter of the project undone, and now I need to make some decisions. Kitchen is 16x16, and one corner (between our exterior patio door and the dining room door) is the breakfast/dinner nook. Currently we have a round table (48") and four chairs there, but they are generously proportioned and not our style and need to go.
The question is - in this corner space, which is 5'8x6'4 (see drawing), what to do?
The challenge is that we currently have a very large hydronic radiator that is 9" deep, 20" tall, and essentially the whole length of the 'short' wall (let's call its length 5'). It is the primary heating source in the room and we could convert it to regular baseboard, or a toekick heater, or just keep it and work around it. This heater is the white box in the drawing.
I'm tempted by a nice comfy L shaped banquette in that corner (with a round or square table?). But - I'm not sure there's enough room, and I'm also wary of committing to built-in things, so my other option is a comfortable dining bench along the longer wall (for the 2 kids, currently ages 2 and on-the-way) and two chairs for grownups. We eat breakfast there and nearly all dinners now, so it needs to be comfortable, easy to clean up, etc. I'm a sucker for fun patterned cushions but recognize that straight wood will likely be more kid-friendly (am I wrong??).
This forum has been so helpful as I designed the new kitchen and I know you will think of pros and cons that I have overlooked - I just can't see my way through this decision, having spent several days searching online for examples of floating banquettes, built-in banquettes, dining benches with backs, squound tables, heating options, gah. Someone help me see the light, please! :)
In the plan below the banquettes are 22" deep, and I can't get the Ikea software to overlap the 41" Docksta table over the banquettes, so you will need to imagine it. Thank you!
Comments (6)
feisty68
9 years agoBanquettes rock! I think they're great for kids if you get removable mid or dark patterns covers that can be washed. I used to like hard chairs but found out that my kids sit much better on upholstery so I've given in to that. Not sure about the radiator issue but banquettes can provide great storage space if you use cabinets for seating (BESTA line probably has some good dimensions - their cabinets have finished tops).
I helped my sister design the one below. She has made a lot of changes in her home, but this is the one that she says has made the greatest improvement because of how it has changed how they use the space. The whole family really loves to hang out there and the area feels warm and welcoming in a way that it didn't before.
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9 years agoYour after photos are just beautiful. I agree with feisty, you need a spot to sit and gawk at your handiwork.
We did it backwards - got the banquette last fall and are now just finishing up the kitchen. Ours is from Ballard and it's 74"x74" - there is more than enough room for our family of 4. I also sit there a lot with my laptop or a newspaper, my kids do their homework there. Tip, if your kids are anywhere as messy as mine, definitely go with Sunbrella or some other easily cleanable option! This is a shot from before the kitchen was done; we opened up the wall on the left so that it's all one space now.
nmjen
9 years agobrinnie
8 years agonmjen
8 years agoSure! Here you go. It seats 4 comfortably (1 on each bench & 2 in chairs); you can get more people in there, but then it is a bit of a squeeze to get out. We love it!
feisty68