A Reading by MaggieBanquette & Kitchen Nook Cushions
A blush-stripe banquette cushion on a teal kitchen bench, and the thickness that fits it
Right, then. A kitchen bench is furniture you eat at, so its cushion answers to the table first and to the eye second.
SaveThe quick answer
A banquette cushion for a kitchen nook is usually best at 3 in (7.5 cm) for a neat, low profile or 4 in (10 cm) for everyday comfort. Measure from the floor to the underside of the table first, because every inch of cushion is an inch less knee room. On a tight built-in, say the size is a hard limit.
Newport ·
Dear nook builder,
A letter about the teal bench and its pink stripe
I have your photograph on my cutting table, and I like it more each time I look. A teal tongue-and-groove bench closes the end of a teal Shaker kitchen run, and on it sits a banquette cushion in a blush multi-stripe: blush and rose, with hairlines of lilac and green. Self piping, box edge, no fuss.
Pink against teal is a near-opposite pairing, so nobody needed a third bright color. The base is painted to match the cabinets and gets out of the way; the cushion brings all the contrast. That is the trick for a bench built as part of a kitchen run.
Now proportion, which is where I learned most by getting it wrong. The cushion here sits low and neat, closer to a window-seat profile than a sofa. On a kitchen bench that is right. You eat here. Every inch of cushion lifts you an inch closer to the underside of the table, and knees notice before eyes do.
The pillows do depth work too. Cognac linen at the back gives the soft palette weight. A floral block print holds both teal and pink. A small rose diamond-weave lumbar in front repeats the stripe. A standard back pillow is about 4 in (10 cm) thick, and it takes those 4 in out of the seat depth.
My checklist before you order: - Seat height of the bench, bare. - Floor to the underside of the table. - Seat depth, wall to front edge. - How many pillows will lean on the wall.
Potted herbs, green apples, a bottle of olive oil: a kitchen that gets used. How tall is your table? Send that number with the rest. More on kitchen nook cushions and banquette thickness and table height.
Pinned by Maggie: five things I'd keep from the teal banquette
Five pins, from the blush stripe on the seat to the herbs on the counter.
- Blush multi-stripe
Pink against teal is a near-opposite pairing, so no third bright color is needed.
- Cognac linen pillow
A deep brown at the back gives the soft palette depth.
- Floral block print
This pillow holds both teal and pink, tying cabinets to cushion.
- Diamond lumbar
A small rose weave in front echoes the cushion stripe.
- Potted herbs
Fresh herbs on the worktop keep the kitchen look lived-in.
- Blush multi-stripePink against teal is a near-opposite pairing, so no third bright color is needed.
- Cognac linen pillowA deep brown at the back gives the soft palette depth.
- Floral block printThis pillow holds both teal and pink, tying cabinets to cushion.
- Diamond lumbarA small rose weave in front echoes the cushion stripe.
- Potted herbsFresh herbs on the worktop keep the kitchen look lived-in.
Four thicknesses on a kitchen bench
| Thickness | What it does | My note |
|---|---|---|
| 2 in (5 cm) | The thinnest standard foam cushion | A pad for a bench already at the right height |
| 3 in (7.5 cm) | A neater, lower profile | Suggested for bench seats and window seats |
| 4 in (10 cm) | The standard for everyday seating | Check knee room under the table first |
| 5 in (12.5 cm) | The plumpest standard option | Best where no table needs clearing |
Half an inch on a built-in
A family ordered two cushions for a built-in breakfast nook: linen L-07, no piping, 3 in (7.5 cm) thick, at 19 1/2 x 69 in and 19 1/2 x 57 in (49.5 x 175 cm and 49.5 x 145 cm). When they arrived, the tape said about 20 x 68 and 20 x 56 in.
The workshop explained that vacuum-packed foam needs 3 to 4 days to settle, and that half an inch sits inside normal handmade tolerance. The family waited out the expansion, measured again, and asked for a remake, because the cushions were for a fixed built-in.
I'd have asked too. On a loose bench, half an inch is nothing. Between two walls it is everything. So say it in the order: this size is a hard limit.
- Sizes
- 19 1/2 x 69 in and 19 1/2 x 57 in (49.5 x 175 cm and 49.5 x 145 cm), 3 in (7.5 cm) thick
- Fabric
- Linen L-07, no piping
The lesson: For tight built-ins, say the size is a hard limit and re-measure only after the foam has fully expanded.
Buyer questions: an old fabric, a small quote, cut-outs
- A common question
Can you match the fabric of a cushion I ordered from you a while ago?
The workshop's answerOlder fabrics may no longer be carried, but the range is much wider now. Look at the velvet and soft-fabric charts for a close tone, ask for close-up photos to hold against your existing cushion, and note that linen options are still available.
- A common question
Could you quote a window seat cushion of about 13 x 35 3/8 in (33 x 90 cm)?
The workshop's answerThe workshop sent a quote, and the buyer re-checked the measurements and found that a standard listed size worked instead.
- A common question
My old cushions have cut-outs so they fit around the furniture frame. Should I measure those too?
The workshop's answerYes. Send exact measurements including every indentation, and confirm the backrest size for each piece as well.
On the cutting table: the teal kitchen bench
| Piece | Kitchen banquette cushion, box edge, one run |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Blush multi-stripe linen with lilac and green hairlines |
| Piping | Self piping |
| Thickness | 3 in (7.5 cm) for a low profile; 4 in (10 cm) standard |
| Foam | 32-density, about 2.0 lb/ft³ (32 kg/m³), wrapped in polyester wadding |
| Stripes | Run front to back by default; the roll is about 55 in (140 cm) wide |
| Tolerance | About 1/2 to 1 in (1 to 2 cm); flag it if the bench sits between walls |
| Care | 86°F (30°C) gentle cycle, inside out, air dry |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Maggie’s workshop
I once cut a lovely cushion two inches short, and I have not forgotten it. That is why the workshop goes over your measurements with you on the phone. — Maggie
Leave your details and the workshop will call you to confirm measurements, fabric, foam and piping. No prices, dates or payment on this page: it is a request, not an order.
On a kitchen banquette, every inch of cushion thickness is an inch less knee room under the table. Measure floor to the table's underside first.
Maggie
Questions buyers ask next
How firm are banquette back pillows compared with the seat?
Softer. Standard back pillows are about 16 in (40 cm) tall and 4 in (10 cm) thick, filled with shredded foam in an inner cover, while the seat is firm 32-density foam. Remember that the pillows take their thickness out of the seat depth.
Which way do stripes run on a long banquette cushion?
Front to back, by default. The fabric roll is about 55 in (140 cm) wide, so a long cushion with lengthwise stripes would need a seam. Stripes are matched on one face only, so turn that face out.
Is a 3 in cushion comfortable enough for a kitchen bench?
For meals and short sits, yes: 3 in (7.5 cm) of 32-density foam keeps a firm, level seat and a neat profile. If the bench doubles as a reading spot, 4 in (10 cm) is the standard for everyday comfort.
Can I order a banquette cushion to a fixed maximum size?
Yes. Write that the size is a hard limit because the bench sits between walls. Handmade cushions can vary by about 1/2 to 1 in (1 to 2 cm), so tell the workshop before cutting, not after delivery.
Stitch straight — Maggie
P.S. Measure from the floor to the underside of your table before you pick a thickness. Knees keep score long after the paint is dry.
Striped and plaid benches in green, blue and pink rooms
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