Best of the Week: 27 Window Seats With the Best View in the House
Bay window seats weren't always about developers eking out more sellable floor area – as these homes prove otherwise
Once upon a time, a bay window seat was a plus point in real estate. It meant a cosy nook to escape to with a good book and a piping cuppa during a rainy day, or simply a semi-enclosed seat to watch the world outside go by. They became a selling point: a breakfast nook cocooned by a bay window, a reading niche, a framed bench with a stunning view.
These days, however, we’re more often presented with a bay window that we‘re hard-pressed to use. While architects and designers find clever ways to utilise the bay window, such as cantilevering a study desk off it, or building a platform bed onto it, we rarely find inspiration in this architectural feature. Let these homes from around the world help you get inspired – and perhaps feel nostalgic – about bay window seats again.
These days, however, we’re more often presented with a bay window that we‘re hard-pressed to use. While architects and designers find clever ways to utilise the bay window, such as cantilevering a study desk off it, or building a platform bed onto it, we rarely find inspiration in this architectural feature. Let these homes from around the world help you get inspired – and perhaps feel nostalgic – about bay window seats again.
2.
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Designer: Anna-Marie Chin Architects Ltd
Features: Two words – that view. The window seat may be frills-free in this home – it’s a seating extension of the living area – but it’s the best spot to look out to that stunning lake and mountain view.
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Designer: Anna-Marie Chin Architects Ltd
Features: Two words – that view. The window seat may be frills-free in this home – it’s a seating extension of the living area – but it’s the best spot to look out to that stunning lake and mountain view.
3.
Location: Munich, Germany
Designer: Architekturbüro Gappmaier
Features: The contemporary log cabin and Scandinavian styling of this window seat complete the gorgeous snow-capped mountain view of this home.
Location: Munich, Germany
Designer: Architekturbüro Gappmaier
Features: The contemporary log cabin and Scandinavian styling of this window seat complete the gorgeous snow-capped mountain view of this home.
4.
Location: Singapore
Designer: Greg Shand Architects
Features: We may not have mountain views, but our little island’s got swanky water ones, like this Sentosa Cove bay window that looks out to private berths. Imagine napping here, or enjoying a cool drink before heading out to dinner.
22 nap nooks show that this cosy spot is here to stay
Location: Singapore
Designer: Greg Shand Architects
Features: We may not have mountain views, but our little island’s got swanky water ones, like this Sentosa Cove bay window that looks out to private berths. Imagine napping here, or enjoying a cool drink before heading out to dinner.
22 nap nooks show that this cosy spot is here to stay
5.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: Altereco Design
Features: No view? No problem. This house creates a lush green one right outside this sunny window seat, which is part of the kitchen. It’s the perfect spot for a snack, or even a spot of yoga before breakfast.
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Designer: Altereco Design
Features: No view? No problem. This house creates a lush green one right outside this sunny window seat, which is part of the kitchen. It’s the perfect spot for a snack, or even a spot of yoga before breakfast.
6.
Location: Sydney, Australia
Designer: Stephen Collins Interior Design
Features: The Aussies do know how to create a view! This window bench, which can be enclosed by sliding window panels, looks out to an internal courtyard. This idea is easily applicable to our shophouses, which already have that courtyard/airwell.
Location: Sydney, Australia
Designer: Stephen Collins Interior Design
Features: The Aussies do know how to create a view! This window bench, which can be enclosed by sliding window panels, looks out to an internal courtyard. This idea is easily applicable to our shophouses, which already have that courtyard/airwell.
7.
Location: New York, USA
Designer: Kathleen Walsh Interiors, LLC
Features: There are two window seats in this photo – one that’s strategically placed for when you’re giving yourself a facial or pedicure, and one where you’re soaking. Both have treetop views!
Location: New York, USA
Designer: Kathleen Walsh Interiors, LLC
Features: There are two window seats in this photo – one that’s strategically placed for when you’re giving yourself a facial or pedicure, and one where you’re soaking. Both have treetop views!
8.
Location: Toronto, Canada
Designer: Robinson Residential Design
Features: This blue + chintz + country style is combined with a window bench that looks comfortably accessorised. Any teenage girl would adore sitting and emoting on that window bench – and any adult (man or woman) would not be able to resist feeling a twinge of romance.
Location: Toronto, Canada
Designer: Robinson Residential Design
Features: This blue + chintz + country style is combined with a window bench that looks comfortably accessorised. Any teenage girl would adore sitting and emoting on that window bench – and any adult (man or woman) would not be able to resist feeling a twinge of romance.
9.
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Designer: Form Collective
Features: Two window seats flank the study desk, and offer green views that invite you to go out for a walk (or run, or bike ride). They’re also a good spot for a friend or sibling hang out at with you while you edit your YouTube video.
16 family study rooms that maximise their space
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Designer: Form Collective
Features: Two window seats flank the study desk, and offer green views that invite you to go out for a walk (or run, or bike ride). They’re also a good spot for a friend or sibling hang out at with you while you edit your YouTube video.
16 family study rooms that maximise their space
10.
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Features: This window seating disguises the heating radiator of this home, while at the same time providing casual seating for afternoon tea.
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Features: This window seating disguises the heating radiator of this home, while at the same time providing casual seating for afternoon tea.
11.
Location: Odense, Denmark
Designer: Christoffersen & Weiling Architects
Features: It can’t get as Danish-cool as this, with the gorgeous-yet-forbidding sea steps away from this window seat-cum-day bed. Who wouldn’t want to cuddle up in here?
Location: Odense, Denmark
Designer: Christoffersen & Weiling Architects
Features: It can’t get as Danish-cool as this, with the gorgeous-yet-forbidding sea steps away from this window seat-cum-day bed. Who wouldn’t want to cuddle up in here?
12.
Location: Paris, France
Designer: WILD Rénovation
Features: The mix of old-school European architecture with sleek, contemporary furniture gives this window dining spot a boutique restaurant effect. It even features a view of Parisian balconies.
Location: Paris, France
Designer: WILD Rénovation
Features: The mix of old-school European architecture with sleek, contemporary furniture gives this window dining spot a boutique restaurant effect. It even features a view of Parisian balconies.
13.
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Susanna Cots
Features: The window literally frames the view – and the dining bench – in this eat-in kitchen. Sleek and modern, it sets up the green from outdoors (and the vases indoors) as a focal point.
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Susanna Cots
Features: The window literally frames the view – and the dining bench – in this eat-in kitchen. Sleek and modern, it sets up the green from outdoors (and the vases indoors) as a focal point.
14.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Designer: Heartland
Features: When your window bench ends with a miniature tree sprouting from a planter box, your boutique Japanese restaurant ambience is complete.
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Designer: Heartland
Features: When your window bench ends with a miniature tree sprouting from a planter box, your boutique Japanese restaurant ambience is complete.
15.
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Designer: Ahlstrands
Features: The window bench allows a sizeable dining table to be set up in this narrow space with its long, one-wall kitchen.
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Designer: Ahlstrands
Features: The window bench allows a sizeable dining table to be set up in this narrow space with its long, one-wall kitchen.
16.
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Designer: Dipen Gada and Associates
Features: How cool is this dining room? The window bench may seem superfluous, but it completes the space with its grillwork and cushions echoing the colourful ceiling panels.
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Designer: Dipen Gada and Associates
Features: How cool is this dining room? The window bench may seem superfluous, but it completes the space with its grillwork and cushions echoing the colourful ceiling panels.
17.
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Designer: Dorrington Atcheson Architects
Features: This window seat is the ultimate hangout pod for a child with an active imagination. Think of the Jumanji-style adventures outside that window, even as climbing up to the seat itself involves a three-step climb up the slatted wall-ladder.
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Designer: Dorrington Atcheson Architects
Features: This window seat is the ultimate hangout pod for a child with an active imagination. Think of the Jumanji-style adventures outside that window, even as climbing up to the seat itself involves a three-step climb up the slatted wall-ladder.
19.
Location: Moscow, Russia
Designer: Interior Design Studio by Alexander Poberezhny
Features: Part window seat, part platform daybed, this is the perfect space to decompress in. It’s so Zen, even just the act of ascending that short flight of stairs – with its muted neutral palette and various sources of green – has a calming effect.
Location: Moscow, Russia
Designer: Interior Design Studio by Alexander Poberezhny
Features: Part window seat, part platform daybed, this is the perfect space to decompress in. It’s so Zen, even just the act of ascending that short flight of stairs – with its muted neutral palette and various sources of green – has a calming effect.
20.
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Stefan Relic & Paul Valchich
Features: This is such a cheery – and clever – way to squeeze a dining space into a small kitchen. The window seat naturally creates the breakfast nook, and at the same time provides surfaces from which to hang some plants.
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Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Stefan Relic & Paul Valchich
Features: This is such a cheery – and clever – way to squeeze a dining space into a small kitchen. The window seat naturally creates the breakfast nook, and at the same time provides surfaces from which to hang some plants.
10 ways to place air plants around the home
21.
Location: West Midlands, England
Designer: Sharps Bedrooms
Features: The window bench perfectly frames a coastal view for this all-neutral bedroom. It’s got a good variety of throw cushions that look comfortable, not intimidating (as many bay window setups have).
Location: West Midlands, England
Designer: Sharps Bedrooms
Features: The window bench perfectly frames a coastal view for this all-neutral bedroom. It’s got a good variety of throw cushions that look comfortable, not intimidating (as many bay window setups have).
22.
Location: Kent, England
Features: There’s a lovely country view outside, and a cheerfully chic Orla Kiely feature wall inside – but the window bench itself seems fun! You can hop out the window and join to the balcony, enjoy a board game, or play hide-and-seek with the family pet.
Location: Kent, England
Features: There’s a lovely country view outside, and a cheerfully chic Orla Kiely feature wall inside – but the window bench itself seems fun! You can hop out the window and join to the balcony, enjoy a board game, or play hide-and-seek with the family pet.
23.
Location: Chicago, USA
Designer: Centered By Design
Features: An arched window in an attic-like bedroom is everything a voracious reader would like as their cosy corner.
Location: Chicago, USA
Designer: Centered By Design
Features: An arched window in an attic-like bedroom is everything a voracious reader would like as their cosy corner.
24.
Location: Providence, USA
Designer: Jacob Talbot - Fine Homebuilders
Features: His-and-hers bathroom vanities are separated by this window seat. It creates a focal point and gives balance to a room that could otherwise feel claustrophobic due to its sloped ceiling. The fresh view outside is reinforced by the minty colour combination used inside.
Location: Providence, USA
Designer: Jacob Talbot - Fine Homebuilders
Features: His-and-hers bathroom vanities are separated by this window seat. It creates a focal point and gives balance to a room that could otherwise feel claustrophobic due to its sloped ceiling. The fresh view outside is reinforced by the minty colour combination used inside.
25.
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Designer: Baden Baden Interior
Features: Built-in side tables. The designer of this window seat has thought about user needs well, providing a perch for candles or a cuppa.
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Designer: Baden Baden Interior
Features: Built-in side tables. The designer of this window seat has thought about user needs well, providing a perch for candles or a cuppa.
26.
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Designer: Johnson + McLeod Design Consultants
Features: When you’ve got a statement window like that round one at the end of this room, it only makes sense to build a window seat beneath it.
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Designer: Johnson + McLeod Design Consultants
Features: When you’ve got a statement window like that round one at the end of this room, it only makes sense to build a window seat beneath it.
27.
Location: Berlin, Germany
Designer: BCO Architekten
Features: A contemporary window bench that can seat both human and man’s best friend, this is the best spot from which to beg for food scraps straight off the kitchen worktop and dining table, and at the same time bark at passersby. Fido approves.
TELL US
If your home has a bay window, what have you done to it? Share a photo in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Location: Berlin, Germany
Designer: BCO Architekten
Features: A contemporary window bench that can seat both human and man’s best friend, this is the best spot from which to beg for food scraps straight off the kitchen worktop and dining table, and at the same time bark at passersby. Fido approves.
TELL US
If your home has a bay window, what have you done to it? Share a photo in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Location: Singapore
Designer: Design Intervention
Features: A clear view of our iconic CBD skyline – what’s not to like? Add to this a pick-me-up colour palette of bright blues with pops of yellow, and the stylistic flourish of Missoni-print cushions, and we’re transported to a cool, chic getaway.