It’s week 3 of our kitchen remodel and we had some great things happen this week. If you are just joining us you can catch up by starting HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Let the record reflect that 4 weeks without countertops and a dishwasher could be motive for a serious crime. Especially if your husband keeps putting everything (I mean everything) on your desk because it is the only flat solid surface on the first floor. It would send the most patient of people over the edge.
Our house looks and feels like this.
It’s a good lesson for us though. Now, we can empathize with our clients who are going though the same thing when we are working in their homes.
This week, our fabulous carpenter installed new soft close slides on all the drawers, built a new stove hood, trimmed out the island, and built a custom banquette.
I had a banquette before from Ballard Designs. It was cozy, so I knew I wanted another one. When we have people over, that’s where everyone wants to sit. So, in designing the new kitchen we had our new one built to fit the entire back wall of the kitchen- 13 feet. It’s a doozy. And so comfortable.
I fell in love with the one Erin Williamson designed and used in her kitchen makeover. She was kind enough to post a photo of her bench design on her blog and we used it to build ours.
Like almost exactly.
Our carpenter built it, and then we had it upholstered. The two came together to install it.
The seat lifts up to reveal hidden storage underneath.
The fabric on our old banquette stained and ripped. So we wanted to make sure we made good selections this time. We choose a Crypton Perfomance Fabric for the seat.
It’s supposed to be pretty indestructible. For the back, we chose a heavy weight upholstery fabric and treated it with (affiliate link) Vectra fabric protector. It is supposed to make the fabric bullet proof.
I’m so in love with this banquette.
Tomorrow, our new countertops will be installed. I had selected honed Carrera Marble, but every slab I saw was really, really gray with very little white. At the very last second, I changed my mind and went with this Snow White Marble.
I’ve never heard of this marble before. I need to do some research to share with you. It is very white with lots of long grey veins. Love it! It will be honed too. (sanded down so that it is more matte and not super shiny)
Tile goes in next week.
It’s really fun planning and repurposing this cabinetry from our client’s kitchen for our kitchen. Here is a cabinet the way it was installed in her kitchen.
Here is where the two glass cabinets are going in our kitchen. We are building a drawer underneath to raise the cabinets up off the ground. Can’t wait to show you next week.
Plumbing will also be installed on Monday. I will finally have my beloved dishwasher back along with a super-splurge (affiliate link)—A NUGGET ICE MAKER– that makes ice like you get at Sonic.
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Sherry says
We are getting ready to build a house and I have plans for a banquet island, U-shaped. I was wondering now that you have yours done, is it comfortable for both adults and kids. We are grandparents in our 60’s and have our 4 grandsons often. We’re planning the banquet mostly for them but we will sit there often too.
Thanks for your help.
Dana Tucker says
Yes!! We love it so much. Everyone always gravitates to it! You will love yours!
Whitney says
Thank you for sharing your process and “paying it forward” by also sharing your banquette with the world. 🙂
I’m trying to design one and am curious how you mashed up Erin Williamson’s design, a bench lift storage area, and such plush padding in the upholstery. Would you please report back on how easy it is to get to the storage and how all the pieces fit?
Thank you!
PS How do you like that ice maker?!?
Dana Tucker says
Whitney that banquette is my very favorite thing in my house. I’m glad you love it! Unfortunately the storage is a bust because of the countertop on the left. It only lifts so high. The storage on the right is hard to access because of my kitchen table. So, for me, the storage is a no-go. The ice machine is my second favorite thing and worth every expensive penny!!! Best of luck with your banquette!!
Whitney Lemons says
Thank you for the reply! It makes me smile that both choices bring you so much joy.
I’ll keep brainstorming on how to make the storage work since my 2 designs use the same space as either a walk-in pantry or an L shaped banquette. Rarely-used small appliance storage would be welcome in the banquette if I can figure it out.
As far as the ice maker, I think everyone in our home (and any guests, too) would claim it was their favorite choice no matter what else I decide! 🙂
Jane says
Hi! Love the banquette! We had a house fire last fire and are currently in the rebuild phase. Yeah… it has taken 9 months between fire and rebuild! I have planned a 10’ built in banquette with no obstructions. What type of hardware did you use for you storage lift system?
Tania says
Do you know how they secured the back cushion to the wall or to the seat cushion?
Dana Tucker says
We worked with a professional upholsterer and carpenter to have the banquette custom made and installed. I’m not exactly sure how they installed it. Sorry!
Dana Tucker says
So sorry about your fire! We just have hinges on it and it lifts open.