Banquettes, or built-in diner-style seating, can be a great solution for seating in a small area. Before you make the commitment, consider these factors:

One person on each side will be pinned-in. Just like when you are at a restaurant, when the person next to the wall needs to get up for some reason, the person on the open side will have to move.
The pictures in magazines can make uncomfortable seats look appealing.
A custom-built banquette is an expensive item, so you need to get it just right.

Common design mistakes include:

hard seat backs that are not sloped
window sills that press against your spine or neck
seat bottoms that are not deep enough to be comfortable
too-hard seat bottoms
too-small tables
table legs in the way of maneuvering in & out
not enough knee space

There are some guidelines for banquette seating, but the most important thing is to get it right for YOU.

CHALLENGE:

A tiny table, barely big enough for two, became impossible with a little one came along. The table was too small for basic place-settings, and the third person's chair would be far away from the table because there is no knee-space at the open side of the table.

TRIAL SOLUTION, ROUND 1:

Using a piece of 32" x 42" sheet of foam-core (available at art-supply stores) and chairs borrowed from the dining room, this mock-up allowed the homeowners to try the idea out. They determined that the basic idea was comfortable and functional, the table would be better a little longer (44"), the seat height is just right, and the subtle slope of the seat back works well. They also decided that a custom bench could be a little wider than the width of the two chairs together.

FOR ROUND 2, CLICK HERE.

FOR ROUND 3, CLICK HERE.