<>I love the combination of a rich chocolate brown with white. There is something reassuring and comfortable about deep brown. It's not taupe or beige, it's espresso, chocolate fondue, buckhorn, willow, night owl, hedgehog, saddle leather, warm brownie, cocoa, earth, pumpernickel, root beer, auberge, java, mink, brown sugar, pine cone, bittersweet chocolate, mississippi mud, caviar, black bean soup (All Benjamin Paint Colors).
Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. While you're here, subscribe to this feed so you don't miss out.
banquette (n.) A long upholstered bench placed against or built into a wall
There is nothing more luxurious than banquette seating at your dining room table. It evokes images of dining in a fancy French Restaurant. Lingering at the table, good conversations, the family gathered together, taking the time to dine rather than snatch a quick meal at the counter, comfortable. It also serves as double duty seating in a dining room adjoining a living room. It makes the most of a small space and makes for a cozy seating area. Round tables, square tables, rectangular tables - all work. Seating for 2, 4, 6, or 8. Toss cushions or not. Curved banquettes, straight banquettes, L shaped banquettes, or U shaped - all are possible. There are so many possibilities. A suitable option for almost any room. Have fun and pick you favorite.
This banquette is particularly attractive in a corner bay window. Celerie Kemble House Beautiful Nov 07
Chad Eisner House Beautiful June 07
In a high traffic kitchen area a cleanable, durable outdoor fabric could be used for upholstery. Christopher Maya Inc
This kitchen has my favorite Kartel Ghost Chairs (I have nicknamed them the Cinderella Chair). They are so versatile and also very comfortable. They are particularly good in a small space as they visually don't take up a lot of space. They mix well in a contemporary or traditional setting. Elle Decor Nov 06
Notice the straight wings on the one side of this banquette. Frank Roop Design
image via Absolutely Beautiful Things
I like how Mariette Himes Gomez has used a tufted curved banquette in her NYC dining room. (picture above and below)
I particularly like the thick slab for the top of this table and the trumpet base. Kemble Interiors Inc
Harriett Maxwell Macdonald
House Beautiful
A sofa doubles as a banquette for dining in this room by Michael S Smith from his book Elements of Style.
Posh Design
Robyn Karp Interiors
Vicente Wolf
I have used both of these designs for banquette seating. You can vary the length and the fabrics. You can do a tight seat bed like the one below, or have a down filled seat cushion as above. You can make it with arms or armless.
Michael Devine has just launched his new 2008 fabric collection at the prestigious Maison & Objet Editeurs, which is held in Paris twice a year (in January and September). Michael has been getting quite allot of press in Domino, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful & Veranda to name just few for his striking hand screened fabrics. This master bedroom of Aerin Lauder's in her Long Island master bedroom featured in House and Garden 2007 features Michael's fabric.