A window seat ticks several dècor boxes for me. First, it's the ideal extra storage; our 1957 bungalow it's also a sun trap in the afternoon, so it's the perfect place to curl up with a good book and adds additional seating when space is at a premium - like in our living area. If you're are adding a window seat to your home, check out my design journey by editor Trudi Brewer.
We had an awkward corner in the open kitchen, dining area, a wasted space, gagging for a window seat. So with the help of my clever builder hubby, he created a fitted window seat out of scrap pine timber. Like ours, you can design your window seat with a lift-up-top with plenty of room inside for storage. The new window seat now doubles as a storage box for extra cushions, pool towels and kitchen appliances, and when painted Resene Half Black White, a cool white with a shadowy edge (the same colour on the walls and the windows), it blends into the wall. The next step was to choose an accent colour to draw your eye to the window seat and frame it. I decided on Resene Metallic in Goldmine.
The fabric
I wanted a fabric with a wow factor with a pattern and colour that would suit our 60's dècor vibe. Material that was spill-resistant and did not fade in the sun. I decided on a pop of colour that would tie in our art and my treasured apricot Lukeke pendant light. My go-to is New Zealand, a family-owned business, Warwick Fabrics, with showrooms in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. On the day I visited the Northshore branch, I understood why Warwick Fabrics is famous as a destination for the inspiring quality upholstery fabric I wanted. There are hundreds of options with interior design advice and a range of exquisite fabrics; after talking through my ideas and the look and feel of the existing dècor in our home, I finally settled on a graphic Warwick Fabrics called Jigsaw in melon.
Making the cushion
The type and quality of the foam will make or break your window seat. So a custom-made squab cushion is necessary for quality foam that won't sag is the way to go. Foam on a window seat cushion should be no thinner than 10cm high and dense to ensure the comfort- factor. Your window seat needs to be a place you want to curl up and read and take a lazy afternoon nap. Lou Ashford from Snick is a clever upholsterer. Working from Goldsworthy Studio, on Cross Street, Auckland. Snick (means a small notch or cut). Ashford specialises in custom-made squabs and intricate upholstery on vintage furniture. She combines a fashion design degree and training as a marine trimmer. She has exceptional attention to detail - and bonus, there was enough fabric to make three scatter cushions in the same Warwick Fabrics Jigsaw print.