Dream Decorating: A Dining Table Banquette

Let me preface this story about dining table banquettes: Yesterday we were bopping around a vintage junk shop in a nearby town and found a set of four Herman Miller fiberglass chairs. They are the most perfect shade of grey-ish brown. I realized they would look amazing with the Chelsea Grey walls in our dining room.As you might recall, I purchased some 1920′s stackable bridge chairs in my single days that are now in great need of major repairs. The seats are as cute as all get-out, but the wood seat support under the leather upholstery is starting to deteriorate. They’ll make for fabulous extra seating once I have them refurbished, but they are not the most comfortable for long evenings around the dining table. Not to mention, (due to their petite size) they are not very comfortable for anyone who is any larger than I am.For years, I have had my eye out for the right replacement chairs, but I never would have considered the mid-century ones until I literally stumbled onto them yesterday. The purchase was a no-brainer. I knew that just one new Herman Miller side chair goes for nearly $300 at DWR, and I was about to walk away with a set of four vintage ones for less than that! I also eased my mind by finding a similar set of chairs on MidCenturyModern.org and another set in different colors on ebay. Both of which were priced at more than twice of the tag I held in my hand at the junk shop. How could I resist, really?Needless to say, this bargain find has started a whole slew of new ideas for me and our dining room – which, (no doubt) will end up costing more money than I ever would have spent decorating the dining room had I never found these awesome chairs. But that is how it goes, right? Enter: the banquette. Now we need one.  *winkwink*I mean -really- what would look better across the table from a set of Herman Miller chairs than a banquette? I am pretty sure nothing would. The lines of the flora banquette remind me of mid-century modern design, so now I hear it calling my name even louder than it was before.
To be honest, I have had my eye on the Flora Banquette from ROOM for ages. It’s mammoth in size. As shown at the ROOM studio, it’s about 8″ longer than our farm table [120”l x 27”d x 33”h] but can be made to order in any size. It’s got a kiln-dried frame, 8-way hand-tied springs, and you can make a choice of cushion fill. I like the idea that it is fully customizable. I’d add a skirt to the bottom and hidden wheels so that I could easily pull it out from the dining table. I already have the fabric picked out too. Mohair Supreme 451801 in Moss by Maharam.Images: Modern 50, French Quarters, Young House Love, The Laurel Hedge, ROOM, Architonic

Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / Dream Decorating and The Country House and Uncategorized

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18 Responses to “Dream Decorating: A Dining Table Banquette”

  1. vitania on 10 Jan 2011 at 10:54 am

    You are killing me with fabulous this morning ! I love the banquette, and I love the idea of paring them with the super cool HM chairs. You go Amy..

  2. Nancy on 10 Jan 2011 at 11:02 am

    Aaahh this has to be my favorite post! I love a good banquette! It would actually work quite perfectly in my apartment…now that you mention it!

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  4. Susan on 10 Jan 2011 at 11:19 am

    I love banquettes…plan on having one in our new house!

  5. Azure Elizabeth on 10 Jan 2011 at 11:29 am

    What a fabulous Idea! I love the Herman Miller chairs! They look so comfortable & isn’t that the way it goes? You just happen upon a prize that you were not expecting & it takes you into a whole new direction? That is how it works for me, & I savor the journey…even if that means more money spent down the road, we are always evolving & I believe our environment will always & should always reflect that.

  6. Jonathan Legate on 10 Jan 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Girl, you are talking my language with the mohair (my #1 choice for longevity), leather mid century modern chairs and farm table! Have you been poking around my house? LOL

  7. Lisa Goulet on 10 Jan 2011 at 1:51 pm

    I have been planning a banquette in my kitchen since we moved in. Just been waiting for the cash flow. They are so lovely and I’ve no doubt yours will be spectacular!

  8. ABCD on 10 Jan 2011 at 2:01 pm

    @lisa goulet – isn’t it always about the cash flow?!?! ;)

    I was wondering if I could get away with ordering the banquette, have it delivered, and through the grace of god the Mr wouldn’t notice anything different… HA!

    This is the sort of purchase you can’t just ‘sneak’ into the house.
    xoABCD

  9. Deborah Merriam on 10 Jan 2011 at 4:50 pm

    Those chairs are a killer find! Well done! Possibly the money saved on chairs can be earmarked for the perfect banquette?

    I also love how using a banquette lets you move a table closer to a wall, so your room feels bigger *and* cozier all at once. That’s a decorating power move!

  10. Nyla on 10 Jan 2011 at 5:36 pm

    I am SO coveting those chairs Amy! Great find.

  11. raina on 10 Jan 2011 at 10:55 pm

    Fab, can’t wait to see it all in place!

  12. diane on 11 Jan 2011 at 10:42 am

    I have always loved banquettes..both the look and comfy factor. May have to redo my breakfast room after this post!

  13. Torrie @ a place to share... on 11 Jan 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Love this post, especially the “ABCD!” part:).

  14. Catherine on 12 Jan 2011 at 10:41 am

    Love your banquette idea! And love ROOM. Go for it, Amy. No doubt it will look amazing.

  15. jeff on 20 Jan 2011 at 12:41 pm

    TLS by Design would love to help you with your banquette. Did you see yesterday on TW our winged versions which Louis Vuitton used for an event…under $1,000. 80% of what we do is custom at mid-market pricing. Love your SM presence and would appreciate the chance to work with you. Take care, Jeff

  16. ABCD on 20 Jan 2011 at 1:04 pm

    Thanks Jeff! I might just take you up on that. ;)
    xoABCD

  17. Dina on 20 Jan 2011 at 4:00 pm

    OMG those chairs are to die for, and when you add the banquette, well, I’m in heaven! We use my very first auction purchase a large mahogany Victorian sofa at our dining table, which is great for lounging when we have our dinner club over. Really love your choices, especially Chelsea Grey. Quit making me want to buy furniture, will ya? lol

  18. Maggie [The Freckled Citizen] on 26 Jan 2011 at 12:44 pm

    I just came back to this post (which I’d bookmarked), because a house we’re looking at would involve kitchen/dining room renovation and I love the idea of opening up the space into one large area that could incorporate a banquette. Here’s my question for you: are you envisioning your existing dining table in the space with the banquette and your HM chairs? This would be “the” dining room, correct, not an eat-in kitchen option in addition to a separate formal dining room? I’m wondering if by having this sort of arrangement it would be too casual for some affairs … although I adore it for everyday (and let’s be honest, a handful of formal dinners gets overruled by day-to-day use of a room anyway).

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