Interior Obsessions – the Window Seat

Last week’s look at the summer home got me thinking about lounging and relaxation areas within the home. Although we tend to lounge around in bed or on the sofa, a great place to spend time thinking, reading or just taking it easy is a well-appointed window seat. This space offers both comfort and a connection to the outdoors – light to read by, and possibly a bit of a breeze. Window seats come in all shapes and sizes, although they typically top off at around 18-20 inches off the floor for the easiest use. The seat can span from wall to wall, or just sit within the confines of the window. Typically you would include either a cushion or some pillows for comfortable seating. Any style is possible here, from down-home country to rustic simplicity to sleek and modern, it all depends on how it’s finished.

Window seats can be built into the architecture of a space, carved out of a thick wall, pushed out from the main space, or just added as a bench area. One great way to create a window seat area along a straight wall is to frame your window with shelving or cabinetry. This can be floor to ceiling, or just a mid-wall height, something that will be able to visually enclose the window space. Then add a bench-level seat between – it can be a slab piece suspended between the two, open shelving, drawers or lift-up storage. Add something soft like a cushion or pillows to make the space really inviting. If you have the room, your window seat can be nice a deep to accomodate a twin mattress, and double as a sleeping area! Any way you make it, a window seat is a cozy, inviting addition to your modern home.

(above) Rustic Stone and Plaster

Fully Padded + Simple Cottage

Modern Plywood Box

Reading Desk + Lounging L

Exterior Glass Box

Amy wrote this post. She is the designer and owner of FormFire Glassworks, where she creates modern lampwork glass beads and jewelry, and by day designs custom homes for a small firm in Southern California. You can follow her twitter @formfireglass.