It's a year this week since I wrote about our kitchen banquette and called it the best decision we made in the renovation. I still think that.
When I wrote that piece, the sheepskin bench pads were almost an afterthought, something soft to finish the corner. Looking back, they're the part people mention most. A bare bench is somewhere you perch for a quick breakfast. Put sheepskin and an extra layer of padding on it and people stay for the whole evening.
I also owe some of you an apology. Everything in that kitchen sold out, and a lot of you have been waiting far longer than I'd have liked. Thank you for being so patient. The sheepskin bench pads, seat pads and cushions are finally back, and there are two new colours of seat pad.
Juliet's dining area
One of the nicest parts of this year has been seeing how other people use the pieces in their own homes. Interior designer, Juliet Wittett (@juliet.loves.interiors) used our sheepskin seat pads to soften her dining area.
Her space is very different to ours. Ours is dark navy and has a rustic, industrial feel. Hers is light and calm, with pale wood, white walls, spindle-back chairs and a built-in bench under open shelves full of plants. The sheepskin works in both. On her chairs and bench it takes the hard edges off a room that's quite crisp and clean, and makes it look and feel like somewhere you'd want to sit for a long lunch or dinner.
Why sheepskin on a bench
Last year I said I'd rather layer textures than colours, and Juliet's room is a good example. Wood, plaster, plants and sheepskin are all close in tone but completely different to touch, and that's what makes it feel warm rather than flat.
Sheepskin is comfortable all year round, which surprises people. Wool breathes, so it's warm on a cold morning but doesn't feel sticky in summer. The short, curly wool we use is dense enough that a hard bench actually feels like a proper seat.
The oatmeal bench pad
This is the one people have been asking about most. It's short-hair sheepskin in a soft oatmeal over a foam cushion that holds its shape. It has a non-slip base underneath, which matters more than you'd think on a banquette, where everyone is shuffling in and out all day.
There are two sizes:
35 x 108cm, £145, available now
32 x 120cm, £155, arriving early November
When you measure, take the length and depth of the seat. If your banquette is L-shaped, treat each side as its own run. I'd leave a little gap at each end rather than going right to the edge, because it looks neater. If your bench is quite deep, pull the pad forward to where you actually sit and fill the space behind with cushions.
Seat pads, and two new colours
Most banquettes have chairs on the other side of the table, so we make round seat pads to go with them. They're 37cm across, which fits most dining and kitchen chairs. They have the same foam and non-slip base as the bench pad, and they're £35 each.
Oatmeal matches the bench pad exactly. It's the one to pick if you want everything to feel calm and pulled together.
Chestnut is new. It's a warm brown that looks lovely with oak and pine, or in a room with terracotta, rust or deep red in it.
Fossil is new too. It's a cooler grey, so it suits painted chairs, black or grey frames, concrete floors and lighter, more modern, industrial designed kitchens. It looks just as good on a bar stool as on a dining chair.
I'm often asked if you can mix them, and yes, you can. Oatmeal on the bench with Chestnut on the chairs keeps everything warm. Oatmeal with Fossil feels a bit fresher. It's the same texture in a different colour, which is the rule I always come back to.
Something to lean on
The one weak spot of a built-in bench is the back. A wall is fine for a quick breakfast, but not for a long Sunday lunch. What you need are lumber cushions to make the area feel more comfortable.
Our large sheepskin cushions are 80 x 40cm, with sheepskin on one side and heavy flax linen on the other. I like to mix them with our smaller rectangle cushion, 56 x 28cm to add some variety in size. Line two or three along the back and no one is leaning on bare wall.
Looking after them
Give them a good shake now and then, outside if you can. If something spills, blot it straight away rather than rubbing. For a proper clean they need to go to the dry cleaner. Look after them and they'll last for years, which is really the point.
A few questions I get asked
What size bench pad do I need?
Measure the length and depth of your bench. Ours come in 35 x 108cm and 32 x 120cm. Choose the one that sits just inside your seat, and use one per side on an L-shaped banquette. And they dont have to fit perfectly in length, in fact i think they look nice with a bit of space at each end.
Will the seat pads fit my chairs?
They're 37cm round, which fits most standard dining and kitchen chairs. Measure your seat at the widest point if you're not sure.
Do they slide about?
No. They have a non-slip base, so they stay put on chairs, stools and benches.
Isn't sheepskin too warm in summer?
No. Wool breathes, so it feels warm in winter but not hot in summer.
Which colour should I choose?
Oatmeal if you want it to match the bench pad, Chestnut for warm woods and warmer rooms, and Fossil for painted or darker furniture and lighter, modern spaces.
How do I clean them?
Shake them out, blot spills, and dry clean when they need it.
When is the longer bench pad coming?
The 32 x 120cm size arrives in early December, request an email notification when they arrive by adding your email address on the product page. The 35 x 108cm is available now.
A year on, I'd still tell anyone doing up a small kitchen to build in a banquette to create the cosiest kitchen corner that you'll never want to leave.
Ayshea x
Leave a comment