Banquettes

No, no, not baguettes, those tasty French crusty long loaves of deliciousness… Banquettes!   Ever since I was young I’ve been intrigued by banquette seating.  I’m really not sure why as they aren’t the easiest to navigate, especially when they are upholstered in fabric.  Ever slide into a restaurant banquette and have your skirt do a complete 360 on your body?    Usually this happens when the upholstery is fabric rather than leather or a faux.  Not all banquettes are ergonomic either.  Since they are being placed against the wall, correct proportions are paramount. If the proportions are done correctly, great.  If the proportions are done incorrectly, they’re completely uncomfortable.  As banquettes are usually custom built you can ensure a good fit and sit with your designer before ordering.  Banquettes are tremendously advantageous when space is at a premium or you have a dead corner to furnish.  They are also tres chic.  Let’s look…

An odd shape space proves no problem when banquette seating is created for a dining room.

Kit Kemp is one of my favorite designers.  Endlessly creative with an artists touch, her design for the Brasserie Max in The Covent Garden Hotel in London is splendid.   Love the banquettes!

Pairing a 19th century painting, unframed, with contemporary furnishings creates a moody atmosphere in Brasserie Max.  Had the painting been framed, it would take on a whole different vibe and dominate the space.

Full disclosure:  not into tufted seat cushions, I find them uncomfortable.

A leather covered banquette ensures your entry and exit slide will be smooth.

More of David Kleinberg’s Manhattan apartment can be seen in this article here.  I love his sense of humor, respect for design and refined style.

Vibes from India, Venice, Turkey, and France inspired the design of this pool house.   I imagine some sort of smoking goes on in here.  The walls are hand-stenciled and the custom tile floors, after those in the Taj Mahal, were fabricated at the owners company, Studium.

The pool house reminded me of Elsie de Wolfe’s famous rooms at the Villa Trianon.    Elise de Wolfe is known for being the first American interior designer and lived a most interesting and colorful life.

Jeffrey Bilhuber’s book “Design Basics, Expert Solutions for Designing The House of Your Dreams” is a great resource from an immensely talented designer.   Any book that showcases floor plans gets a top rating from me.

Another view of the breakfast room from the kitchen.  Love how personalized this kitchen is from the antique tiled floor to the pot filler on the wall above the ceramic vessel.

If you love framed artwork – really love it – hard – like the resident below – this is the room for you.   The art and books give me visions of ivy climbing up the side of houses and covering everything.

This antique settee would be perfect for banquette seating or as textile inspiration.  The textile application is well executed and the combination of patterns is divine.

So if you think a banquette would work for you there are a number of quality manufacturers who make semi-custom or custom ones.  Contact your interior designer as they will have the best resources.   Working with an interior designer ensures you get the best fit, fabric, and fantastic personal look you deserve.