A Banquette Dining Table Solution for Teju

Posted on: August 10th, 2011 | 5 Comments




In our last post we introduced Teju, and the design challenges he is facing with his new home in Pune India. Today we are going to suggest a solution for the dining room. In our previous analysis of the floor plan we noted that the main space is labeled as a combination living/dining room. Like many houses in North America, however, this is a misnomer. The reality is that this space is not well suited to accommodate the furniture requirements for both living and dining. It is simply too narrow and short. To make this space work properly we think Teju needs to relocate the dining table to another part of the house.


Fortunately, there is a hidden opportunity by the stair. It is located in a two storey volume that opens up to the second floor. This part of the floor plan is not currently being assigned to a specific use and is probably intended for circulation. Our suggestion is to redesign the handrail of the stair with a piece of built-in furniture to create a banquette style bench for the table. This means that the dining table can be placed close by the stair and still allow a zone of circulation.


Watch the video to see our design solution. In our next post we will discuss our ideas for the layout of Teju’s living space.

Teju’s Dining Table Solution:

  • Anonymous

    Hello John and Matthew,

    It does make a lot of sense to have the dining table and built in
    seating in this location, I had come up with 2 options, 1 with dining
    table in this location but with chairs between the staircase and the
    table and a bench on other side of the table which can be used for
    dining and from the living room side but to accommodate the  chair with
    space for circulation for the staircase behind it the dining table width
    was getting compromised.

    I would like to submit the options that I have worked on and would welcome any comments on them.

    P.S.- Teju is ‘she’ not ‘he’.I have done my bachelors in architecture
    from India but have been out of touch for quite some time. The new house
    has given me a good
    opportunity to touch base again and slow home website has been a
    great inspiration and sort of a go to reference for good
    detailing.

    Teju

  • Terri

    John and Matthew,
    Being a banquette aficionado,  I have to say I like your solution to Teju’s dining space dilemma. The back of the bench being integrated into a storage option is particularly good. Storage can also be built into the bench’s base, a la boat lockers. Also, this integration registers that this is a space, not a traffic zone, and people wilI just travel around it with ease. All in all, a nice solution!

  • Matthew North

    Hi Terri – we did think of you when we came up with this idea! It is interesting how the banquette can solve the space crunch in this plan. Typically one would think of a banquette as being located against an outside wall, but by creating an edge with the stair, a good result can be achieved here. I also like the “boat locker” storage idea under the seating. Again, making use of every square inch.

  • Matthew North

    Hi Terri – we did think of you when we came up with this idea! It is interesting how the banquette can solve the space crunch in this plan. Typically one would think of a banquette as being located against an outside wall, but by creating an edge with the stair, a good result can be achieved here. I also like the “boat locker” storage idea under the seating. Again, making use of every square inch.

  • Matthew North

    Hi Teju – we are looking forward to seeing your submissions for what you have designed for your dining space! The idea of the chairs up against the stairs and a bench on the other side sounds interesting and I would like to see a plan or model of this. Sorry we thought you were a “he” and not a “she”! We made sure we go it right for tomorrow’s episode when we talk about your living room!