The seat is actually cayenne and some of the dots match perfectly. The GC sill has to instal the back -so the cushions are just there for looks. I have 2 pillow all dots, 2 pillows in cayenne and 2 pillows that are reversible.

The bench is between the two "caves" - one for DH and one for me. We each have a pull out work surface and we each have our own charging station. I put mine under the 2 drawers and DH uses one of the drawers - nice to have flexibility.

I ordered our table for the area. It will be an Amish shaker style table with a lift top. I specifically didn't try to match all of the cherry but contrast the color (still cherry but a different color) - the picture is just the stock picture and not the actual unit that we ordered.

Shows pull out works space and drawer

Last one - DH side of the area

Picture of the coffee table that will be in front of the bench - the top will rise up to be 30 inches and moves towards the bench so DH and I can use as a breakfast area.

Been meaning to ask you about your Advantium. Do you find you use it often? Are you still happy with it? And if you've experimented a lot, would it make a huge difference if a 9x13 dish couldn't rotate? I'm still messing around with squeezing one in my kitchen and am trying to definitively decide on built in or OTR put over countertop. Those 30 inches are killing me!

OK to hijack my own thread - I use my advantium 240 all of the time. I use the MW feature most often but have used the speed oven piece a number of times - It works great!

I use the reheat a plate of food most often it cooks it almost perfectly - sometimes I need to add 10-30 seconds if I want it a bit warmer or know DH will be slow to the table.

Baked potatoes are amazing - 2 giant baked potatoes on speed oven - 9 minutes flat and you will swear they were baked in an oven and not a combo oven.

The 240 wall unit will rotate a 13x9 without a problem - just went back and checked.

I also made an awesome corn pudding on my first attempt with the speed oven - I did everything you are not supposed to do - and it came out perfectly. New oven, new recipe, modified recipe to use yogurt, doubled the recipe, and used the keep warm moist for an hour!!!

Frozen pizza - using the standard pizza setting - doesn't understand the thick Chicago style using MW only and haven't taught DH about the speed oven feature yet - so need to try it with that setting. Standard pizza worked fine in the MW - although I usually don't like MW pizza.

My work schedule has been crazy, so not much time to play yet - but heading to kitchen to make some cookies - made a batch of muffins yesterday with peaches, blueberries, and yogurt - yum!

So glad to hear you actually use the Advantium part. The only difference I can see functionally cooking-wise between the built in and OTR is the turntable is smaller in the OTR and will not allow a 9x13 to rotate. Not sure if that is important or not. But I would get that 30 inches back too, so maybe it's a good trade off? Got to post for layout help soon so everyone can make up my mind for me :-)

Williamsen - can't wait to see your floor plan - I don't comment on complex floor plans - just the simple ones.

I put in a wall oven and the Advantium above the oven - both DH and I are taller than average, so we went a bit higher than standard which works great (except for cleaning the back wall of the Advantium.
Miele speed oven can go under counter and I think it is Sharp that also has a similar item.
I like being able to use the 9x13 - but not a deal breaker as I also have some old Corning square pans and some round pans.

So far, I haven't baked cookies or cakes - the Wolf is so nice for that...

And, can I just move in next door to you and have samples of everything you make? You always seem to be making something yummy!

Beeps - Would love to have you as a neighbor - I think there might even be a house for sale in the area. I never did much baking and am not a gourmet - I just don't have the time for the frills - things taste good but not always the prettiest delivery.

My mom said my kitchen was getting boring - so needed to enhance a bit - I think she will like it - doubt that she will see in person but I show pictures to her when I visit. We set her up with an ipad and airplay mirroring so even though she is legally blind, she can see the pictures.

For the recipe of the week -
Snow on the mountain cookies (I just made this one up today - modified double chocolate recipe from the web and dipped in confectioner sugar to have a white top) or Salmone de Lexana?

Michoumonster - the bench is 79 inches wide. The cushion width is 21 - I have to look, I think it was supposed to be 20 :-( so hope enough room for the back.
The height is 3 inches of foam plus the wraps to make it around 4-4.5 inches. If I had room, I would have gone one inch thicker. I used high density foam and a local upholstery shop did the covers (and ordered the foam, etc.

The pillows are fluffier than I expected but they are so comfy. They are feather filled.

If no back - 18 is probably adequate - but since we have pillow backs, a minimum of 20-22 would be better...

Thanks for the compliments..

Speaking of which, what's not to love about his and her areas? What a great idea! I hope your partner is better at keeping his stuff in his own area than mine is... I am on constant guard to police my areas around here. lol

Note we each have a drawer on our side of the bench... DH is bent out of shape that we still have the electrical leftovers in his -but I offered to let him store all of the kitchen appliance manuals etc in place of what I gave him....

Can't wait to see your plans!

Is that King's Chosen in Ann Arbor Michigan, by chance? I am from Michigan, just north of Fenton!

Can either of you recommend an upholstery shop for cushions? I only know of calico corners, great quality but a little pricey.

When you wrote that you had his and her 'caves', I first thought you meant wine 'caves' and thought, wow what a concept:).

I vote salmone de lexana. I made the oatmeal recipe yesterday and it was delicious! I loved the dried cherries that you recommended.

Tell your family they're lucky to have someone with such an eye for color. It looks great together.

Kelly - I went to a family run business on the west side of A2. Rendells - they are not inexpensive but the work is phenomenal! Lots of choices for fabric - I think they have a couple of rooms! I found the dots on my last trip - I wanted to spice up the room a bit - and the black plus dots did just the trick (plus the cayenne - LOL - spiced up!)

Marti - I want to also - the back is not done yet and the GC's daughter is getting married this weekend, so likely not to see him til next week.

Dilly -lots of options in the Amish tables and also Lazy boy used to have a very traditional one. I am having this one customized to be a bit higher - I wanted the final height to be 30 inches. Some only go to 24 or 27 - so look at the final heights. Amish mission style is probably the most common one around the internet. Most are made in the Shipshewanna area (probably spelled this wrong)

Pooh - yup, home stretch - picked up the tile tonight and have to unload it.

OldBat - once I have the table, I will post pictures - probably the better part of 2 months - I like the idea of a wine cave. Now, do I serve cheese with his whine about the kitchen not being done - just kidding - but he deserves something special - wait - he went out and bought some new toys....

Four - thanks - glad you liked the oatmeal - I will have to defer the recipe of the week for a week or 2 as running back to help mom move from skilled nursing to assisted living - she is doing pretty good.

Michoumouster - thanks! I am sure yours will be terrific - glad I learned the term banquette from GW - otherwise the post would have been bench!

Shelayne - thanks!!!!

Hope I didn't miss anyone! Love all of the feedback and ideas!!!

CK - thanks! She is feisty and a real trooper! She is determined to get back to her apartment!

Badger- too funny! Someday we will meet each other! No new dishes other than bringing my parents china back to Michigan. Our daily dishes are villeroy and boch. Probably don't go with the kitchen but very colorful, my parents china is all white on the front with the story of the magic flute embossed on the edges and scripted in gold on the back. (rosenthal)

So happy for him and his daughter - he is worth any wait!

Thank you!!

Depth of the banquette is ~22 but the back cushions are pretty cushy, so takes up a lot of it.
The window is 78.5 inches wide

Island - we are 98% there - only trim and the table - trim next week but the table not until late September - custom stain is holding it up :-(

Thanks!

Note that we powered the base, so if you are using an electronic device, you can plug in! We each have our own outlets with the vent in the middle.

Overall picture of back/window close up

Piano hinge back in down position

Piano hinge from front

Alternate pillow arrangement - this one allows me to sit sideways to read a book and just enjoy looking out 2 sets of windows..

Hope these pictures help you make a decision - I am going to love reading my Nook in my nook! So much fun being close to finished. Just bummed that the table will be another 3-4 weeks!

PS Looks like I need to clean my iphone lens!!! LOL

Pip - heading to my nook after I bake some cookies with my "new" Craiglist KA mixer in my new bake zone - I helped my DH move his coffee maker and grinder out of the bake area, so it is all mine!!!

Thoughts?

Bummed that our table was delayed so kitchen stays at 99% finished.

We see these so often in design magazines and online, but in real life I don't know a single person who has one. Well, let me change that: When I was a small child, my grandmother had a fantastic little butler's pantry with shelving on one side, a built-in table with two banquette benches on the other side. It had a large window at the end of the table. I adored that little nook.

Anyway, any advice for a person planning a banquette in a new build?

Think about what type of table you will need - Fishies has been struggling with her design. We are going very basic and planning for only 2 people. So our table will be coffee table height but will rise up to 30 inches to use for a desk or breakfast.

Power the area - we put power under the benches and in our "caves". I was working on the computer and realized the batteries were low(the bad battery gene runs in the family - LOL), so just plugged in and kept working!

Good luck and will be watching your plans.