Flashback Friday: Banquette Edition

First of all, what is a banquette? Don’t feel ashamed if you’re not familiar, as I for one had to google the definition prior to my start! A banquette is just an upholstered bench that (usually) sits along a wall (you’ll see many of these in restaurants and hotels alike). Though tufting is a popular style among these types of pieces, it’s not a necessary trait. Here at Creative Style Furniture, we’ve had the pleasure of making many banquettes in the past, and we’re here to show you them today!

Let’s take a look at the above. Though it’s not placed against a wall, it still has an upholstered back and seat (allowing for maximum comfort). As long as you have something soft to lean against, it’s probably a banquette.

A breakfast nook is the perfect example! This custom piece for Alicia Summers Interiors encapsulates all the aspects of a banquette (plus it looks cute). There’s slight tufting along the back (which itself is placed against the wall), and a smooth surface for sitting.

Another prime example by our friend yet again, Alicia Summers Interiors. This time, we get to see what a smooth surface looks like all around (upholstery tip: tufting can help prolong the life of a piece, but going without can help cut on costs).

Not all nooks need to be breakfast nooks! Any space can be immediately transformed into a cozy alcove with the help of upholstery. What you see above, doubles as a great argument for custom. By going this route, you’re able to create something made specifically for the home! No more trying to find a unicorn that just so happens to fit in your home’s awkward corner.

Now here is tufting done right (yes, we made it & yes, we’re biased). Tufting (while also pretty) is a great technique used to reinforce fabric to a piece of furniture. When it’s tufted, it’s not going anywhere. The gold velvet seen on this banquette, makes for a nice accent against the grey around it.

Talk about regal! This upholstered wall/banquette adds an extra layer of functionality to an otherwise normal staircase (notice how we didn’t say boring, just normal). This kind of upholstery is usually done on site, in order to ensure every curve is accounted for. Looks great doesn’t it?

Another great 2 in 1! This client chose an opulent fabric to compliment the iron railing and chandelier. Though the velvet material might not appear as inviting, trust that this banquette was made to be used. Sit to your heart’s content!

It may seem like we upholstered this wall, but what you see before you is an actual piece of furniture (though not as easy to move). This banquette has legs and fits perfectly in between both (also custom) built ins.

Here we have tufting and nail heads galore! This particular client wanted to do this corner justice, and we think they nailed it (pun intended).

Last, but certainly not least, we have one more custom banquette on the roster! This is yet another commercial space that opted for an upholstered wall (as you can see, it really adds cohesion to the banquette). We can see why it’s a popular choice amongst designers and clients alike.

We hope you enjoyed our mini deep dive into banquettes! Need one for yourself? Be sure to request an estimate today by emailing us directly at design@creativestylefurniture.com and a member of our team will be in touch.