I finally decided how to furnish our new built-in dining nook banquette. I always knew the basics—table, chairs and the banquette—but I waited until the renovation felt finished so I could choose pieces that suit the space and the flow of our main floor.
Our built-in banquette sits where the kitchen stove used to be, now positioned between the living room and kitchen. We love the new layout and the added built-in storage from the renovation. The dining area functions as part of the kitchen, creating a flexible space that works well for our family. The built-in bookcases make the nook feel especially cozy.
I recently rearranged the living room furniture and the layout finally feels right. With that settled, I turned my attention to the dining banquette and the furniture choices for that area.
My approach to furniture is to use what we already have whenever possible. We used our previous dining table for over a decade, and rather than buying new, we often refreshed what we already owned. When we moved, many pieces went to our children, and the house we bought came with a table and chairs, which helped as we settled in. Now, after remodeling, we could test whether our existing furniture would work in the new space.
Making decisions was slow because we had to move furniture and boxes into the dining room several times for painting. Clearing the space was essential to visualizing the final layout. Once it was cleared, decisions became easier. We added a new rattan serving cart recently, which was an easy choice and fits the space perfectly.
What helped guide our furniture choices:
1. Our existing table fits the new room well. It’s sturdy, has a leaf so it can be round or extended to an oval, and the center support works better with a banquette than four legs would.
2. The table needs a refresh—either paint or a re-stain of the top—but that project didn’t justify buying a new table. It’s feasible to update what we have when we have time.
3. New tables can be expensive, and since the current table works, replacing it felt unnecessary. Trendy or “more beautiful” styles aren’t reasons enough to spend on something new.
4. Once the chairs were placed at the table, it became clear the chairs would have more impact on the room’s look than the table. That pushed me to focus on new chairs rather than replacing the table.
New slipcovered chairs
With the vision clear, I decided on the style of chairs I wanted: two Parsons chairs with slipcovers. I had given our previous slipcovered chairs to our daughter, and although she might have returned them, I wanted a different color and pattern for this house.
I found the Parsons frames secondhand but they were already sold. Ready to move forward, I ordered two new chair frames and two blue striped slipcovers in Downey Blue fabric. The slipcovers were delayed until close to Christmas, but the chair frames arrived sooner. To have usable chairs right away, I bought a second set of slipcovers on sale that ship immediately.
Ordering two sets of slipcovers means I can switch looks seasonally. The black-and-white ticking stripe will serve as a fall/winter option and the blue stripes for spring/summer. Having two sets gives flexible styling without sewing custom covers myself.
Mix-and-match chairs
To balance cost and create an eclectic look, I bought only two Parsons chairs and found a set of rattan chairs to fill the other seats. The mix of slipcovered Parsons and rattan chairs creates a relaxed, layered style that suits the open main floor.
Two final decisions remain:
Window treatments. We currently use woven shades from the living room, but we don’t have enough for all the windows. In this open area a coordinated look is ideal. For safety with children and pets, cordless options are a priority.
Upholstered bench cushion. Right now the bench has a temporary cushion and pillows. I planned to order a custom cushion earlier, but I waited so I could coordinate the bench fabric and throw pillows with the chair slipcovers. Finding a local slipcover maker has proven difficult, and lead times are long, so I’m exploring an interim solution that will work well until a custom cushion is ready.
If you have recommendations for a reliable local slipcover maker, I’d love to hear them. For now, pillows are fine and I’ll share the bench solution soon.
* UPDATE! Our dining chairs arrived—you can see them in the related post on the blog. *
Catch up on more posts about our home in the blog category for “My New House,” and subscribe to the free newsletter to receive home inspiration and updates directly to your inbox.
Wall paint colors: Beach Glass Benjamin Moore, and Classic Light Buff Sherwin Williams