A Reading by RosaWindow Seat Cushions
An ivory velvet window seat cushion that borrows a few porch habits
Rosa keeps a notebook for every window seat she's sat on. This page is an all-ivory built-in, and half of her notes came from the porch.
SaveThe quick answer
An indoor window seat cushion should borrow two habits from outdoor cushions: plan for sun, and plan to take the cover off. From indoor upholstery, borrow the soft fabric and the tailored fit. Here that means ivory velvet on a firm core so it doesn't dent, a seat depth that stops at the edge of the base, and seats priced before backs.
Notebook page: the ivory seat over the shaker drawers
Pull up a chair, because this one fooled me for a minute. Everything in the photo is ivory, oatmeal or warm white, and it still doesn't look flat.
Proportion. The window seat cushion is roughly a quarter of the drawer height below it. Thick enough to feel like a little daybed, thin enough to leave the sill clear. A band of light oak runs between cushion and drawers, and the floating oak shelf above repeats it, so the upholstery and the cabinetry never blur together.
Piping. Ivory self piping outlines the box edge. Against white cabinetry it doesn't shout. It just draws the front line so the seat reads tailored.
Color against light. The light is diffused winter window light, hushed and warm. Pale velvet shows every dent in that kind of light, which is why the core underneath has to be firm enough for the top to come back smooth when someone gets up.
Props, and why they're there. - Two ivory velvet pillows in the same cloth, so seat and back read as one upholstered piece. - An oatmeal chunky knit throw with fringe, one shade darker, which gives an all-neutral corner some depth. - White ceramic vases with dried bunny-tail grass and wheat on the shelf, for texture and a hint of gold. - Round brass knobs on the shaker drawers, picking up that gold and warming the ivory. - The white casement window, the light everything else is arranged around.
Porch people learned long ago that sun and hands wear a cushion faster than sitting does. A window seat lives half on the porch whether it knows it or not. If your nook faces south, read window seat cushion fading in the sun before you pick a color. Which way does your window face?
Pinned by Rosa: five notes on an all-ivory nook
Five pins, from the velvet seat and its tone-on-tone edge down to one round brass drawer knob.
- Ivory velvet seat
Pale velvet shows every dent, so a firm foam core keeps the top smooth after someone gets up.
- Tone-on-tone piped edge
Ivory piping gives the seat a tailored outline that stays quiet against the white cabinetry.
- Matching velvet pillow
Pillows in the same ivory velvet make seat and backrest read as one upholstered piece.
- Oatmeal knit throw
The knit is one shade darker than the cushion, which gives an all-neutral scheme some depth.
- Round brass drawer knob
Small brass accents warm the ivory and pick up the gold of the dried grasses on the shelf.
- Ivory velvet seatPale velvet shows every dent, so a firm foam core keeps the top smooth after someone gets up.
- Tone-on-tone piped edgeIvory piping gives the seat a tailored outline that stays quiet against the white cabinetry.
- Matching velvet pillowPillows in the same ivory velvet make seat and backrest read as one upholstered piece.
- Oatmeal knit throwThe knit is one shade darker than the cushion, which gives an all-neutral scheme some depth.
- Round brass drawer knobSmall brass accents warm the ivory and pick up the gold of the dried grasses on the shelf.
Borrowed from the porch, borrowed from the parlor
| Habit | Where it comes from | What it does on this window seat |
|---|---|---|
| Plan for the sun | Porch | A seat by the glass takes daylight every day, so the color choice has to allow for it |
| A cover that comes off | Porch | Pale velvet near a window gets handled; a removable case is easier than a new cushion |
| Build for the worst day | Porch | A firm core keeps pale velvet from holding dents after a long read |
| A soft hand | Parlor | Velvet and a chunky knit make it a place to stay, not just to perch |
| Tone-on-tone piping | Parlor | A quiet outline against white cabinetry |
| One shade warmer than the paint | Parlor | Keeps the seat from vanishing into a white built-in |
Six pieces, one budget, and a smarter first order
A buyer in the US wrote to the workshop about a long L-run of built-in seating with backs. They wanted two tufted seat cushions in sky blue velvet, 73 x 24 x 4 in (185 x 61 x 10 cm) and 136 x 24 x 4 in (345 x 61 x 10 cm), plus two back cushions at 73 x 19 x 3 in (185 x 48 x 7.6 cm) and 136 x 19 x 3 in (345 x 48 x 7.6 cm).
The workshop split each 136 in piece into two, which made six pieces in all. The quote came back higher than the buyer had hoped. Instead of arguing, the workshop asked what their budget was and suggested ordering just the seats.
That's porch wisdom, neighbor. You can sit on a seat without a back for a season and find out whether you need one. Back cushions nearly double a banquette budget, so price the seats alone first. The window seat cushions atlas and the reading nook cushions room show more built-ins, and the velvet swatches are the place to find your ivory.
Buyer questions: notches, stripe direction, and how tall a seat with a back stands
- A common question
My window seat needs a notch cut out. Does that cost more than a plain rectangle?
The workshop's answerNo. The notched version was priced the same as the rectangle for a 109.25 x 25 in (277.5 x 63.5 cm) cushion, 4 in (10 cm) thick. The buyer ordered the rectangle size and noted in the personalization box that a custom drawing had been sent.
- A common question
Which way do the stripes run on your striped fabrics, and can the piping follow them?
The workshop's answerThe striped fabrics run vertically, and you can ask for vertical stripes on the piping as well. Just say so when you order.
- A common question
If the back cushion stands on the seat cushion, how tall is the whole set?
The workshop's answerThe seat cushion is 4 in (10 cm) thick and the standard backrest is 16 in (41 cm) high, so together they stand 20 in (51 cm) when the back sits on the seat. The backrest height can be changed; one was made 15 in (38 cm). Fit the seat depth to the space too: 22 in (56 cm) instead of 24 in (61 cm) avoided a 2 in (5 cm) overhang.
On the cutting table: the ivory built-in
| Product | Window seat cushion, rectangle, box edge |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Ivory velvet |
| Piping | Self piping, ivory on ivory |
| Foam | Firm core so pale velvet doesn't hold dents |
| Seat plus back | 4 in seat + 16 in standard backrest = 20 in (51 cm) |
| Depth rule | Stop at the edge of the base; no overhang |
| Pillows | Two in the same ivory velvet |
| Order first | Seats, then backs if they're still wanted |
| Best for | Built-in reading nooks with drawers or storage below |
Have it made
Have this made — ask Rosa’s workshop
Every good cushion I know started with a long porch chat. This is the short version: leave your number and the workshop will call. — Rosa
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.
An ivory velvet window seat cushion needs a firm core: pale pile shows every dent, and soft foam leaves a hollow after each reader gets up.
Rosa
Questions buyers ask next
Will ivory velvet change color on a sunny window seat?
Any fabric that sits in daily sun changes over time, and a window seat gets more sun than most seats in a house. Filtering the brightest hours with a sheer or shade slows it, and a removable cover makes it easy to check and clean.
Should back cushions rest on the window seat cushion or on the base behind it?
Either works, but it changes the numbers. When the back rests on the seat, it stands taller and takes its own thickness out of the depth you sit on. Decide where it will stand before choosing the seat depth.
How do I keep an all-ivory reading nook from looking flat?
Use texture instead of color. Here it is plush velvet on the seat, a chunky knit throw one shade darker, glazed ceramic and dried grasses on the shelf, and small brass accents on the drawer knobs to warm the whole range.
Porch light's on — Rosa
