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
Reading Desk + Lounging L
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.
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cinzia alloccai would love love to sit at one of these windows now! and peppermint tea ..
jikitsoh yes! me too laura. 🙂 great place to curl up with a book and a cup of tea.
papernstitch-brittni
I love window seats ~ cozy corners to read ~ and stare out the window!!
Laura Trevey