Banquette inspiration photo: BHG
Happy Monday! I hope you had a nice weekend. Last week I shared a new idea for our kitchen that I’m excited about. If you missed that post, it included inspiration photos and early thoughts on making the kitchen window flush with the counter.
Our kitchen is currently tucked into the back corner of the house, with the sink beneath a small window that looks out toward our neighbor’s new house and our side yard. That side yard is getting its own refresh, which is part of the larger plan for improving how the kitchen connects to the outdoors.
One change I’m determined to make is converting the existing exterior door into a Dutch door. I’m already hunting for the right door style and lining up a contractor so we can coordinate the door update with the side-yard project. A Dutch door will add charm and improve the connection between the kitchen and outdoor space.
One option I’m considering is moving the kitchen into the dining room so the sink could face the backyard and capture that view. The stove and refrigerator could go along the opposite wall. Because the wall behind the current dining room is where the basement stairs are, shifting plumbing and appliances will take some planning, but it could open up a more functional and pleasant layout.
We could open the wall between the current kitchen and dining room to improve flow. That wall could be softened with an archway as originally imagined, or removed entirely for a wide open plan. If the stove moves to the new location, that previously necessary wall may no longer be required, which creates opportunities to make the two rooms feel like one cohesive space.
Another layout possibility is a single, larger eat-in kitchen with counters lining the perimeter and the dining table positioned across from the sink. This arrangement has pros and cons, but it’s often the most practical solution when expanding the house isn’t an option. I can create inspiration boards and a floor plan to show how a full eat-in kitchen could work in our space.
The idea I want to highlight today, though, is adding a dining banquette in the corner. I’ve been determined to find room for a banquette because it creates a cozy, space-saving dining area that feels intimate and inviting.
A corner banquette would nestle the table into one corner of the room instead of placing it in the open workspace. A bench under the corner window—wrapping around where the sink and dishwasher currently sit—paired with a narrow, movable farmhouse table and a few chairs would create a comfortable spot for meals without crowding the kitchen work zones.
Banquette inspiration photo: Amber Interiors
With a corner banquette, some seats will require guests to scoot to get in and out, but the payoff is the view. From the bench you could look out the back window during the day or glance through the new kitchen into the living area. If scooting is an issue, chairs can be mixed in instead of extending the bench. In our small layout, built-in seating makes more sense than trying to fit a full table with chairs on all sides.
Going with a banquette means sacrificing a separate formal dining room, but in return we’d gain a larger, remodeled kitchen with a great view. That trade-off feels right to me and would likely appeal to future buyers, since many people prefer casual, open dining spaces today. If a formal dining room is desired down the road, a nearby bedroom could be converted into one.
We could also add built-in dish storage and a serving buffet along the back wall where the refrigerator sits now, giving the area a dining-room feel while keeping kitchen functions within reach. With the stove wall removed, there would be room to pass through to the Dutch door and to move around the table even when people are seated.
There is another entrance into this space from the hallway, so guests could access the dining area without passing through the main kitchen work zones. A plan that avoids bottlenecks makes daily life and entertaining much easier.
Overall, this concept feels like the best balance between functionality, aesthetics, and budget for now. After living here a few months, I’m clearer on what works in this house and which changes would deliver the most value and enjoyment.
I love the idea of making the most of our water, mountain, sky and sunset views—doing dishes while looking outside really feels like a small everyday luxury.
We’re not planning to reduce the generous living room; it’s a space we value and want to keep intact. Instead, updates there will be coordinated so the whole main level feels cohesive with the new kitchen and dining area.
Dining nook inspiration via BHG
It’s fun to reimagine a space, isn’t it?
More inspiration: My Lifelong Dream of a Banquette