Interiors

New Banquette in a Large Foyer

A cozy dining nook with a built-in bench, a round table, black chairs, and a window seat with cushions. The room has dark wooden floors, a framed painting on the wall, and large windows with wooden blinds.

The foyer in the new home of this suburban Boston family was oversized — but not quite large enough to function as a living room. They wanted a landing area for mail and keys, but also hoped to use the space for overflow seating when hosting family for meals — or as occasional work-from-home space.

With a limited budget for this space, we prioritized the biggest-ticket item: building a custom built-in banquette that would function as both extra dining space and a work-from-home nook. We designed a seat with storage drawers to take advantage of under-seat space; the piece was built and installed by Ironwood Cabinets of Melrose.

A room with two windows, a bookshelf, and a staircase with a wooden handrail. The floor is wooden, and there are various items scattered, including cleaning supplies, papers, and tools.

BEFORE

A cozy dining nook with a wooden table, a floral table runner, a bowl of apples and pears, a stack of books, a teacup with a saucer, and an arrangement of white hydrangeas with greenery in a blue and white striped pitcher. Cushioned window seat with pillows and a framed winter landscape painting on the wall, with natural light filtering through a window with blinds.

We sourced most of the remaining furniture second-hand, and used other budget solutions like a battery LED conversion of a wall sconce so no electrician was necessary. A washable rug in a vintage style adds texture and softness to the traditional space, while being suitable for an entryway.

A living room with stairs, a mirror, a console table, and a plant. The mirror reflects a dining table with flowers, a wall light, and a picture. The hardwood flooring and a rug are visible.
A room with a staircase on the right, a mirror and a blue side table with decorative items on the left, a black chair in front, and a patterned rug on a dark wooden floor.

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