Custom kitchen banquette seating with storage in Asheville, NC
One of our favorite projects to date was this custom U-shaped banquette seating which we installed in a local Asheville kitchen... and one of the reasons we love it is that the benches all have flip-top lids to access hidden storage inside!
Combine that with additional storage in one of the seat backs, plus the large bookshelf which we built to match the French Country style of the existing cabinets, and you have a hard-working yet rather elegant corner.
It all started when we got a call from a local designer whose customers were struggling with a small awkward dining nook.
The homeowners love to cook, and they wanted to turn this space into a cozy spot where their kids could lounge or do homework while Mom and Dad made dinner.
The other side of the dining nook had an odd little niche which held plain metal shelves. The homeowners requested a more attractive, custom bookshelf with a special space for their wooden wine racks.
The other side of the dining nook had an odd little niche which held plain metal shelves. The homeowners requested a more attractive, custom bookshelf with a special space for their wooden wine racks.
We started with a site visit, where we took many exact measurements of the space...
...plus photos of the cabinets so we could match the pinstriped faux finish that gave them their vintage "French Country" look...
...and photos of an existing bookshelf so we could match the trim details.
Back at our studio, Faith sketched a 3D model of the banquette design.
The nice thing about doing this as a custom project was that we could fir out the bookcase so that it didn't sit too deeply into the wall niche.
The customers were thrilled with the design, so we got started in our workshop. This was a painstaking process of double-checking every measurement as we built, because in a design like this, each piece must fit perfectly with the others.
Each of the bench seats is hollow inside to allow the homeowners to store less-used items such as serving platters. The seat back on the right side also has a flip-down lid to allow full access to the deep space beneath the bookcase.
We also sourced a perfect match for the trim...
We also sourced a perfect match for the trim...
...and found a heavy-duty flush-mount brass pull ring for the seat back lid.
Soon it was time to install, so the homeowners cleared the dining nook of (almost) everything.
With so many large pieces to wrangle, we enlisted the help of Faith's dad. He's a talented carpenter and did a great job helping out.
The final outcome is a cozy nook with a great view of the back yard. It reminded us of the snug restaurant booths that we've enjoyed over the years.
The wine racks fit into the shelves perfectly. And check out that heavy-duty lid hardware! These are soft-close lid hinges, similar to soft-close drawer hinges. They were really a pleasure to use.
The end result looks like it's always been a part of the room, and we think the homeowners (and their kids) will enjoy it for years to come.
This custom banquette seating boasts tons of storage, and it's a great solution for the awkward dining niches that are built into many Asheville kitchens.
If you've got an odd space that could use some thoughtful optimization, give us a call. We'll come up with a storage solution that looks like it belongs in your home.
If you've got an odd space that could use some thoughtful optimization, give us a call. We'll come up with a storage solution that looks like it belongs in your home.
