If you’re remodeling your kitchen, you may want to consider an alternative layout and bring back banquette seating. The unmistakably Parisian bistro inspired model was originally introduced as a way to maximize space and fit as many people as possible into smaller eateries, and the same can be true for your kitchen! If you love the idea but don’t know where to start, make sure to scroll all the way to the end for some of our favorite banquettes!
SEATING THAT FOSTERS COMMUNITY
When banquettes were introduced to the United States, the first place they appeared was in the classic American Diner. American restaurant owners wanted to create spaces where people wanted to gather, stay awhile, and of course, buy more food. These diners, for much of the 19th century, served as a “third space,” aka a place outside work or home where people could meet, talk, interact, and foster community. Banquette seating was the perfect way to accomplish this because it was comfortable, practical, and, almost by mistake, became an iconic part of diner culture as “booth” seating became the most desirable place to sit.
The same can be true for your home! We added a banquette in our Park Slope Paradise project for our clients who wanted to have a cozy, comfortable place to eat with their children. One of the reasons we love these for a family is because they promote comfort, closeness, and non-formality that should exist between family members. The idea is that kids will bring home friends, or sit down with their parents & be present with one another.
CREATING A COZY PLACE TO GATHER
The other alluring feature of a banquette is the inimitable coziness that comes with it. In our own home, we’re actually considering moving our kitchen island 6 inches inward to free up space to put in a large banquette of our own. Every time we have friends or family over, everyone ends up gathered in the kitchen along our island, which is fun, but also makes meal prep a little more stressful. By adding a comfy booth for everyone to pile into, they can sit a few feet away and we can have a true prep area that serves us both functionally and socially.
BANQUETTES WE LOVE
Dorian Upholstered Dining Bench
