A cozy corner, a great book, a hot cup of tea, and a view of fall’s impossibly colorful foliage.
These are the allure of the window seat — and it does not get old.
“I’ve been in business for 19 years and I’ve done tons of window benches in all different styles for my clients,” said Shannon Murray, of Shannon Murray Interiors in Rye. “My clients love them. I’ve even had a client request I make a window seat for their dog.”
Window seats are nothing new and have a storied history. They first debuted in the early 1700s in the Georgian homes of the British elite. Meant to fill the tall, narrow space of the large sash windows that were in favor at the time, these mini sofas became a popular fixture in affluent homes.
Today’s window seats are far more intricate, with many featuring custom woodwork, colorful wallpaper, and storage built into the bench.
Emily Manheimer, who moved into her Rye home five years ago, enlisted Erin Coren, of Curated Nest Interiors in Cos Cob, Conn., to build her a window bench almost the size of a twin bed. With cozy pillows and built-in light fixtures, she said, her window seat is the perfect place to snuggle up with her children and read.
“Oh yes, we use it,” she said. “It’s extra cozy in winter, but it is also equally great in summer and fall.” It’s their favorite seat in the house.
Murray said she builds many as reading nooks and many as dining areas for clients looking to maximize space in an awkward corner.
“For me, an important question when building a window seat is: How is it going to function and how can my client get the most out of this space?” she said. Custom window benches in kitchens have become a popular fixture in many Rye homes, and Murray is often asked to design them.
Murray said she has built all kinds of window seats for clients, including one client who wanted the window seat to double as a guest bed in his office.
Prices for designing and building window seats range widely. Depending on the wood used, the style of carpentry and the upholstery, the cost of a custom window bench can start at $3,000 and go up from there, Murray said.
Jennifer Ma of Dwell and Oak Interior Design in Bronxville, who also has built many window seats for customers in Rye, says she loves the seats most for how useful they are.
“Window seats are easy to design because they are standard design guidelines with the measurements — they are truly my favorite, because they can really add a lot of functionality into the home, especially if you have kids,” she said. “You are able to store things underneath, which helps it make a multi-functional storage piece.”
Ma cautions that not all window seats provide the needed depth and comfort for lounging, advising that sometimes they are a better fit for “upright sitting.” She recommends using plenty of pillows to give the seat a fuller look.
However window seats are used, they provide an undeniable allure. And whether you are lounging, eating, or just plain sitting, they often provide the best seat in the house.