SaveA Reading by ÉlodieBench Cushions
A heathered navy bench cushion with burgundy piping, and how to order two fabrics without a mix-up
Élodie reads a studio photograph with its labels still on: body fabric, piping fabric, and the few words that get a two-fabric cushion right the first time.
Swatch strip measured from the photograph
- charcoal#312b3328%
- slate#515b6326%
- cream#f1f1ef19%
- pebble#abadad18%
- mist#e1e1e09%
The quick answer
To order a two-fabric custom bench cushion right the first time, name the body fabric and the piping fabric separately, by code, in one final message, and order the exact size of the bench as installed. Heathered navy with burgundy piping suits mudroom and hall benches: mixed yarns hide crumbs and pet hair, and a navy gusset hides shoe scuffs.
Swatch strip: navy, wine, and the room they want
- Heathered navy#2E3850The body. Mixed yarns break up the dark so crumbs and hair disappear.
- Burgundy#6B1E2CThe piping. A deep wine red, navy's oldest library partner.
- Studio white#F1F0ECThe backdrop. No lamp to warm the navy, no window to cool it.
- Dark walnut#4A3022A companion, not in the photo: the wood this pairing loves.
- Aged brass#A8864FA companion: hooks, knobs and lamp bases near a navy bench.
- Oxblood leather#5A2420A companion: book spines and a satchel set down on the seat.
Reading the labels: body, piping, and the line between them
Some photographs explain themselves. This one is a navy box cushion on a plain white sweep, with two circles drawn on it: one says body, the other says piping.
The body is a heathered navy linen-look weave. Look closely and it isn't one navy at all but a mix of yarns, some ink, some slate, a lighter thread running through. That mix is why it forgives crumbs and pet hair better than a flat navy, my friends.
The piping is burgundy, a deep wine. Navy with burgundy is an old, slightly collegiate pairing that sits naturally with dark wood, brass and leather-bound books. It is the palette of a library, not a beach house.
The gusset, the side wall, stays navy. On a hall bench that matters, because the side is where shoes scuff. Follow the lower cord along the length: it runs level end to end, a sign the foam inside is even.
There are no props, and that is the lesson. On a white sweep there is nothing to flatter the color. Daylight never lies; your screen sometimes does. So hold both swatches together against your own floor before you decide.
Ordering smartly, in five lines: - Name the body fabric by its code, labeled body. - Name the piping fabric by its code, labeled piping. - Measure the bench once it is installed, and order that exact size. - State the thickness as its own line; 4 in (10 cm) is the standard option. - Judge the two swatches side by side, in daylight, next to the wood they will live with.
Where would a navy bench live in your house: the mudroom, or the hall by the stairs? See entryway and mudroom bench cushions, the linen-look fabrics, how to measure a bench, and why swatches come first.
Pinned by Élodie: the labeled cushion
Four pins, from the heathered body to the lower cord that runs level along the whole length.
- Heathered navy body
Mixed yarns break up the dark surface and hide crumbs and pet hair.
- Burgundy piping
Navy with burgundy is a classic library pairing for dark wood rooms.
- Navy side wall
A dark gusset keeps scuffs from shoes out of sight on a hall bench.
- Lower cord run
The lower cord stays level along the length, a sign of even foam.
- Heathered navy bodyMixed yarns break up the dark surface and hide crumbs and pet hair.
- Burgundy pipingNavy with burgundy is a classic library pairing for dark wood rooms.
- Navy side wallA dark gusset keeps scuffs from shoes out of sight on a hall bench.
- Lower cord runThe lower cord stays level along the length, a sign of even foam.
A 47-inch bench, measured after it arrived
A buyer wrote in about a new entry bench, 47 in (119 cm) wide and 18.5 in (47 cm) deep. Should the cushion be an inch smaller, to be safe?
The workshop's advice was no: order the exact size for a full look. That meant the 18 x 48 in (46 x 122 cm) option at the standard 4 in (10 cm) thickness, with the true measurements written in.
The buyer did one wise thing more. They waited for the bench to arrive, measured the real thing, and then ordered two cushions. They shipped in 3 to 4 days, and the buyer's word for them was gorgeous.
An undersized cushion leaves a gap the eye finds at once, like a hem that stops short. More shapes and sizes live under custom bench cushions.
Buyer questions: linen with kids, a backrest alone, and softer backs
- A common question
Is linen a mistake for a kitchen banquette when there are kids and stains?
The workshop's answerNo, it's a practical choice, because the covers come off completely and can be washed, so a stain doesn't have to be permanent. Mid and darker tones hide everyday marks better than very light ones, and pure white is best avoided with kids. Linen holds up well in busy family kitchens.
- A common question
Can I order just a backrest, or a backrest with arms, and skip the seat cushion?
The workshop's answerYes. A backrest on its own, 13 in (33 cm) high by 50 in (127 cm) wide, has been quoted, and so has a 63 in (160 cm) wide backrest with two armrests and no base. If it's hard to picture, the workshop can point you to listings that show the backrest as part of a set.
- A common question
Should the backrest be solid foam like the seat, or something softer?
The workshop's answerEither works. The backrest can be solid foam to match the seat, or filled with shredded foam, which is softer and more like a pillow. Throw pillows are filled with shredded foam too, foam broken into small pieces, for a soft, plump feel.
On the cutting table: navy with burgundy
| Cushion | Box bench cushion in two fabrics |
|---|---|
| Body | Heathered navy linen-look weave |
| Piping | Burgundy contrast cord |
| Gusset | Navy, to hide shoe scuffs |
| Edge | Box edge; lower cord level along the length |
| Buyer's bench | 47 x 18.5 in (119 x 47 cm), two cushions at exact size |
| Thickness | 4 in (10 cm), the standard option |
| Order line | Body code and piping code, labeled, in one message |
| Best for | Mudroom, hallway and entry benches beside dark wood |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Élodie’s workshop
A fabric reads one way at noon and another at dusk. Mention your light, and the workshop will weigh it with you. — Élodie
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.
A two-fabric bench cushion goes right the first time when the order names two codes, one labeled body and one labeled piping.
Élodie
Questions buyers ask next
What is the difference between body fabric and piping fabric?
The body fabric covers the top, bottom and sides of the cushion. The piping fabric wraps the thin cord sewn into the edge seams. They can be the same fabric, called self piping, or two different ones for a contrast outline.
Does a navy cushion show dust and pet hair?
A flat, solid navy shows pale lint and light hair quickly. A heathered navy, woven from mixed yarns, breaks up the surface so crumbs and hair blend in, which makes it the better choice for a busy hall bench.
What goes with navy and burgundy in a room?
Dark wood, brass, leather and books. The pairing is traditional and a little collegiate, so it looks at home in a paneled hall, a study or a mudroom with wood floors, and less so in a pale, airy room.
With color and care — Élodie
More photographs to read
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
Save
