• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

February 26, 2013

How to build a window seat with storage

How to build a window seat with storage from At The Picket Fence

One of my favorite features of my recent kitchen remodel,  is my window seat.  I was sad that it wasn’t part of the Better Homes and Gardens feature, and I’ve had several people ask to see the “rest of the kitchen”, which is where the window seat sits.

There’s something special and romantic about a window seat.  And, even better a window seat with lots of storage!

How to build a window seat with storage atthepicketfence.com

For several years now I had envisioned a window seat in the bay window area of my kitchen.  We have a beautiful 2 acre backyard, and I imagined sitting up in a window seat drinking coffee and looking out over the farm land and woods behind my house.

I could see, in my mind,  The Girl sitting on the seat in the warm afternoon sun reading a book curled up with her dog. While underneath the seat resided all of my tall vases, awkward hard to store kitchen gadgets, and my three tiered cupcake carrier.

Once I had convinced Bama Boy to allow me to remodel the kitchen, my second demand request, after tearing out the non functioning planning desk, was building my window seat.

He in turn begged convinced our neighbor, Will “The Tool Man” Taylor, who I introduced to you in my board and batten bath remodel, to help him build it.

Which, translated means: Will built it and Bama Boy “assisted.”  But, regardless of who actually built the window seat, I now have one…and I am one happy gal!

Several of you asked if I would be sharing details on how we built it.  Since, I was not actually involved in the step by step building, I will show you lots of pictures.  Hopefully they will give you a good idea on how this was built.

First step in the process is framing out the window seat.

 window-seat-9

The bay is about 8ish feet long.  We used 2X4’s to make the frame.  I think it took about six.

window-seat-8

 Now we were dealing with two issues with the location of the window seat. Can you guess what they are?  I’m sure you see them.  Yep, a vent and an outlet.

window-seat-10

Here’s what we did.  First, we left the outlet intact, but put the back support above it.  That way I can still access it if I need it.  The vent required some thought.

So, here’s how we solved the dilemma.  We constructed a box out of plywood that directed the airflow to the front of the window seat.  The sides and top were glued and nailed, for a tight fit and then caulked.  This would prevent any loss of heat or air from the vent into the window seat, and would keep a nice flow out the front into the room.  A perfect solution!  So, if you have nixed the idea of a window seat because of a vent in the location, this solution should remove any hesitancy!

Now a window seat is a wonderful luxury, but storage is a necessity.  I did not want a window seat if I could not take advantage of the space underneath for storage.  Enter the window seat door.

attaching piano hinge

We used a nice piece of birch to construct the window seat.  We measured the space between the 2X4 braces and the boys cut a door out of the plywood.  Then we attached the longest piano hinge we could find.  You can purchase these at Lowe’s or Home Depot.  This hinge was the perfect length, but if you find it’s a little long for your window seat door it can be cut to fit.

Attaching the hinge properly takes a little bit of effort and will take more than one person.  It will also be a little “tight” for awhile, which is why there is a gap between the door and the sides, but will loosen up over time (and with bottoms sitting on it. grin)

Next you will need to decide what you want to “face” the front with. You can choose a nice piece of plywood and built boxes along the front. I’ve seen these online.  But since we are trying to achieve a french farmhouse look, we used beadboard.  You will need to cut the sheets to fit and then apply construction adhesive to the support braces.

You will want to make sure that you cut a hole in your beadboard paneling to allow the vent cover to fit in snugly but still be removable to vacuum out the vent box as needed.  The left panel fit right to the edge of where the cover would be, but we did jigsaw out the right side panel to accommodate the other side of the vent cover.

 

Don’t worry about seams.  Caulk is your friend!

After your window seat is constructed.  You will need to add baseboard to run along the front of your window seat as well as nice trim to finish off all of the edges.

 

We chose a beaded trim that is used for screen doors.  It was nice and flat and the perfect size to run along the front of the actual seat as well as along the back of the seat by the wall which covered up any gaps and imperfections due to the walls not being perfectly straight..imagine that! 😉

Here is the trim painted, but still not caulked along the back.  Make sure that you caulk all visible gaps as a final step to building your window seat. This will give it a nice finished professional look. Give your window seat, trim and beadboard several coats of paint.

Here is my completed window seat in my kitchen makeover! It’s a favorite place for people to sit and the 8 feet of storage has not disappointed!

Kitchen Remodel from At The Picket Fence

Here are all of the links to the full kitchen makeover if you’d like to see all of the other projects we tackled! 

See you back here soon…at the picket fence.

signature 1

37 Comments Filed Under: Beadboard, DIY, Good Ideas, Kitchen Remodel, Tutorials Tagged With: DIY, window seat

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Chocolate and Mint Shamrock Brownies
Next Post: Make your own Anthropologie Inspired Spice Jars »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. amy says

    February 26, 2013 at 4:04 PM

    That’s fabulous! I dream of doing something just like that. I love how you have it with a round table…your kitchen just keeps getting better!
    Amy

    Reply
  2. Michele says

    February 26, 2013 at 4:32 PM

    Oh that is just marvelous! It looks GREAT in your space- yay!

    Looks AWESOME! Well done, boys! Well envisioned, Heather!

    Reply
  3. kristin says

    February 26, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    Oh this is gorgeous! Love the step by step tutorial, thank you! I pinned it to my “niche upstairs” board….I dream of a built in bench lots of storage and shelves on the side…Can Bama Boy and neighbor help a girl out 🙂 I’m a pretty good cook 🙂
    XO
    Kristin

    Reply
  4. Atta Girl Amy says

    February 26, 2013 at 4:46 PM

    What a great project, and great to have a friend like Will to assist/lead the construction.

    Of course, my favorite part of this post is reading about your fantasies of how this window seat would make your life even more fabulous. And I’m sure it has!

    Reply
  5. jessica@fourgenerationsoneroof says

    February 26, 2013 at 5:59 PM

    Great project! I just added to the BHG pinterest home blogger board 🙂

    Reply
  6. Rani @ La Maison Jolie says

    February 26, 2013 at 6:26 PM

    What a fabulous project! It looks fantastic! xx

    Reply
  7. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    February 26, 2013 at 7:42 PM

    Thanks for such a great tutorial, Heather! I would love a window seat anywhere in my home!!! Yours is fabulous incorporated into your eating area!!! LOVE it… as usual!

    Reply
  8. Debbie says

    February 27, 2013 at 2:26 AM

    It’s just plain lovely as is your whole kitchen. I have window seats in the dormer windows of one of the girl’s rooms. I love them. I think there is just a homey feel to a window seat.

    And question: I realize that between the job loss absence and the kitchen remodel absence I have been, well, too absent. What is the status of the move? Did I miss something?

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      February 27, 2013 at 6:47 AM

      Hi Debbie. I’m still here in the house. It hasn’t sold yet. 🙁 Hoping spring will bring out the buyers. We’re 8 months into this, never thought I’d still be here! One of the downsides of living in a rural area, just not as many buyers that want land. Thanks for your sweet words about the kitchen.

      Reply
  9. Lauren @ The Endearing Home says

    February 27, 2013 at 4:20 AM

    Thanks for sharing this great tutorial, I have always wanted a window seat in my home, I think they make a room feel so cozy. I loved seeing your kitchen in BHG, your entire kitchen is beautiful and huge!

    Reply
  10. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    February 27, 2013 at 6:00 AM

    Oh Heather…not only is the window seat fabulous, but the view is fantastic…I would be sitting in that area all day!…Beautiful job…

    Reply
  11. Cynthia says

    February 27, 2013 at 6:57 AM

    Oh my gosh Heather, this is so gorgeous and the rest of the kitchen is beautiful. Love the fabric for the curtains. Very warm and inviting.

    Cynthia

    Reply
  12. Judy says

    February 27, 2013 at 7:55 AM

    I just love that window seat. It’s such a cozy place to hang out. Great idea to add storage.

    Reply
  13. Thistle says

    February 27, 2013 at 8:09 AM

    Ummmm…..LOVE this idea….totally facebooking and sharing today! You are such a ROCK STAR!!!!!

    Have an awesome day!
    karianne

    Reply
  14. jp says

    February 27, 2013 at 9:04 AM

    How wonderful that you now have that gorgeous window seat and more storage to boot!

    Reply
  15. Sharon B. says

    February 27, 2013 at 9:25 AM

    I love a window seat and yours looks so pretty and inviting! Makes me want to crawl up with a good book and a cup of coffee and stay there all morning. 🙂 Very nice job. Sharon

    Reply
  16. Angelina says

    February 27, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    Oh this is FABULOUS!!! I LOVE window seats. Yet, I’ve never had one 🙂 Hopefully one day! I always pictured getting comfy with a good book and sitting there all day enjoying the Sweet Bliss 🙂 I love the tutorial.
    xo
    Angelina

    Reply
  17. Jessica @ Mom 4 Real says

    February 27, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    I would love to have one of these built in our breakfast nook! Just gorgeous!

    Reply
  18. Michael Reddin says

    February 27, 2013 at 11:07 AM

    It is as pretty to see “in person” as it is in pictures! Great job, Heather! Love, Mom

    Reply
  19. Jill Flory says

    February 27, 2013 at 12:18 PM

    Your kitchen is so lovely! I love the buffet across from the window seat.

    Reply
  20. Jane @ Cottage at the Crossroads says

    February 27, 2013 at 2:23 PM

    Oh gosh! I love your nice, long window seat with the incredible view outside! I love how you’ve balanced it with the round table. Just gorgeous and who knows, maybe it will be in another magazine!

    Reply
  21. Leslie Stewart @ House on the Way says

    February 28, 2013 at 6:29 PM

    Thanks so much for the tutorial! Your window seat looks awesome!

    Reply
  22. Lorraine@MissFlibbertigibbet says

    March 1, 2013 at 2:37 PM

    Looks wonderful Heather! The guys did a great job! I agree…BH&G should have included it!

    Reply
  23. Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating says

    March 5, 2013 at 6:32 AM

    That looks so nice! I don’t have a window seat, but I have a similar banquette in my breakfast room, and I absolutely love it. The built-in seating saves space, and the extra storage is so handy!

    Reply
  24. szybka pożyczka na dowód says

    August 28, 2013 at 10:53 AM

    Just wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity
    on your post is just excellent and that i can suppose you are knowledgeable in
    this subject. Well together with your permission allow me to grasp your feed to keep up to date with imminent post.
    Thank you a million and please keep up the gratifying work.

    Reply
  25. laptop repairs says

    September 24, 2013 at 7:27 AM

    I know this web page provides quality based posts and other stuff, is there any
    other web page which presents these information in quality?

    Reply
  26. chwilówki na konto says

    October 13, 2013 at 11:28 PM

    Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with?
    I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a hard time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
    The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
    P.S My apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!

    Reply
  27. hostgator Coupons says

    October 18, 2013 at 7:53 AM

    Hi there! I just want to give you a big thumbs up for the great info you have got here on this
    post. I’ll be coming back to your website for more soon.

    Reply
  28. https://phillipluchini.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/best-acne-treatment-products-quick-ways-on-how-to-get-rid-of-acne-367 says

    November 2, 2013 at 7:06 AM

    I enjoy your way of writing, good information, thank you for posting.

    Reply
  29. Drakensang Cheat says

    November 21, 2013 at 5:25 PM

    Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
    I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my
    end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
  30. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rubicontwentyone.interestingfactsapp says

    March 18, 2014 at 4:18 AM

    Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and come
    with approximately all vital infos. I’d like to look extra posts like this .

    Reply
  31. criminal lawyers in orlando says

    August 19, 2014 at 8:28 AM

    It’s an amazing piece of writing designed for all the internet viewers; they will get advantage
    from it I am sure.

    Reply
  32. goji pro ivete sangalo says

    August 27, 2014 at 2:57 AM

    Amazing issues here. I’m very glad to peer your article.
    Thank you so much and I’m having a look forward to touch you.

    Will you please drop me a mail?

    Reply
  33. helpdesk.onsitetechnicalsupport.com says

    August 27, 2014 at 12:33 PM

    After I initially left a comment I appear to have clicked on the
    -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on each
    time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment.
    Perhaps there is a means you can remove me from
    that service? Thanks a lot!

    Reply
  34. Jessi says

    January 7, 2017 at 11:33 AM

    I love your bench!! I’m gonna make one in my bedroom!! The pics are super helpful!! Thx

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Almost the Best of 2013 - At The Picket Fence says:
    December 30, 2013 at 3:00 AM

    […] How to Build a Window Seat with Storage […]

    Reply
  2. Build a Window Seat - First Home Love Life says:
    March 2, 2014 at 1:16 PM

    […] YouTube videos and read a few different online tutorials from other bloggers, like this one from Heather At The Picket Fence. Hers was a bay window built in, and she wasn’t attaching it to cabinets so it was a little […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Take the Quiz

Stay updated!

Get all the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Must Reads

Recent Posts

  • Painted Staircase Handrail Makeover March 4, 2021
  • A New French Country Dining Table February 3, 2021
  • Open Now December 17, 2020
  • Tradition and a Christmas Home Tour December 9, 2020
  • Tabletop Hot Cocoa Station November 29, 2020

Get all the latest straight to your inbox

Footer

Instagram

I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 y I've been watching our cherry trees bloom for 12 years now and every year I ohhhh and ahhhh over the blossoms like it's the first time I've ever seen them. I gush and I take photos (that look exactly like the ones I took the year before and the year before that) and I make my family come outside and look at them with me which you know they just LOVE to do. 😉 I think that is one of the main reasons why I love spring so much. On the one hand, it's predictable and yet, on the other hand, it still feels like such a surprise after the long months of barren branches.

And yesterday, as I was staring at the gorgeous blossoms for the umpteenth time, I couldn't help but think that I hope this is how I feel when our lives return to some semblance of normalcy.

I hope that the predictable feels special and that the typical feels anything but. I hope that I ohhh and ahhh over the simple things I've realized I've taken for granted. And, most of all, I hope that feeling doesn't go away for a very, very long time! 💗
Are you living with great expectation friends? Bec Are you living with great expectation friends? Because He is risen!

Happy Easter from my home to yours!
Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to Lemon bars all ready for tomorrow! It’s going to be a different kind of Easter for sure but some things don’t change. Have you been baking and getting ready for tomorrow? What’s one thing on your menu that you have to have every year?
If this is Good Friday, why doesn’t it feel so “good”? It all seems backward doesn’t it?

What could be good about the unspeakable pain he suffered? What could be good about the shame and betrayal?

Easter Sunday is so joyful, bright and cheery. Shouldn’t that be the day we call “good”? It just feels so much better!

But, I don’t know how to rejoice over His resurrection, unless I have felt the pain of His death. I have realized that in life the sweetest victories are the ones which were realized after a pain-filled journey.

And, so it is with Good Friday. I know there will be victory over death, but I can’t skip ahead in the story.

Jesus knew what was coming. He knew what he would experience. And he knew why he would go through it. He did it for me. He did it for you.

Do you know that? Have you felt it down in the very core of your soul? 
Sometimes it makes me squirm a bit. Why would anyone do that for me?

Well, because, I can’t do it for myself!

There is nothing I can do to earn that kind of love and mercy.

That is why it is called GRACE.

His grace is freely given. We don’t have to pay for it. He paid the price for us already.

Do you remember that movie from years ago called “Ransom”? A couple’s young son was kidnapped and the parents went to hell and back trying to find him and pay the “ransom” demanded by the kidnappers.

Well, Jesus is our “ransom”. (1 Timothy 2:6) His life was the payment.

Why is it called “Good Friday”? Because that wasn’t the end of the story….
.
…It was just the beginning!
Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house Raise your hand if there’s a table in your house that’s become the landing zone for ALL THE THINGS! 🙋🏻‍♀️🤪 I’ve never been more thankful for our rarely used dining room table as it’s become command central for school books and laptops and games.

Where are things collecting in your house right now?
“Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every si “Sighing, tears, frustration, anger.” Every single one of these emotions has made their way through our home in recent days and, my guess is, they have in your home too.

I SO needed this reminder today from the new book ‘Adore’ by @sarahagertywrites.

Adoration isn’t just sitting at His feet gazing longingly with stars in my eyes. It’s bringing my fears and my sorrows and gray roots in my hair that desperately needs to be colored and my messy house and all of the things that threaten to send me over the edge right now and laying them down before Him, soaking up His word and His presence so that when I stand back up, I am changed for having spent the time adoring the ONE who is... Healer, comforter, peace-giver, deliverer, redeemer.

What do you need to bring to Him today? I’ll share mine in the comments and I’d love to hear from you too!
I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole I’ve always loved evenings, but since this whole lockdown thing began, I’ve come to appreciate this time of day even more.

It feels the most...normal. Daytime is strange and foreign right now. My husband has taken over our home office, I’m suddenly taking over the responsibility of managing my kids’ distance learning and let me just say that teaching 7th grade algebra to my daughter is hugely ironic since I struggled with math all the way through school. I’m trying to do my own work but it feels utterly futile with the constant interruptions which take precedence right now. In the daytime, I’m constantly reminded of how upside down life feels.

But, in the evening, I cook dinner like I’ve always done and we gather around the table like we’ve always done and we laugh and tell stories and then clean up and play games or go on a walk or watch a show. And that feels SO gloriously normal.

So now I love evenings even more than I ever did before and I’m so grateful for this little chunk of time where the rhythms we established years ago are helping to sustain us now when so much of life feels outside of our control.

What feels ‘normal’ to you right now? Whatever it is, keep doing it. 🌿
When I was in college I would frequently call home When I was in college I would frequently call home and pour my heart out to my mom, sharing with her all that was happening in my life in that completely unfiltered way that you can talk with the person who potty trained you. These phone calls usually took place at night and my mom would patiently listen as I vented frustrations about professors, roommates, boyfriends and the food in the cafeteria. And, inevitably, they would end with my mom saying, “Everything seems worse when you’re tired. Try not to overthink things or make any major decisions tonight, especially when you are feeling emotional.” Dear friends, may I pass along this advice to you today?

If you don’t absolutely HAVE to make a decision right now, I want to encourage you to wait until life gets back to normal. If you are finding yourself over-analyzing relationships and family dynamics, I want to encourage you to remember that everything seems more dramatic when looked at under a microscope. And, let’s face it, being homebound with our loved ones non-stop makes us all feel like lab rats in an experiment.

If you are tempted to quit a job, start a business, start homeschooling permanently, stop homeschooling permanently, move to a new city, buy a farm, quit pursuing your dream, join a commune or make any other major life decision just…wait. Because, if it is in fact the right decision, it will be made even clearer once our lives return to their ‘regularly scheduled programming’. Instead, in this strange season, let’s all just take a deep, collective breath and let it out slowly, releasing the anxiety that threatens to overtake us. Let’s help each other maintain some perspective and not slip into a posture of over-thinking every little thing in our lives. Let’s remember that the enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to use this time when things feel dark to manipulate us into thinking that aspects of our lives are worse than they actually are.

My prayer for you in these days is that you will have the clarity to know what is true and that you will be filled with peace even while we live in this season of so many unknowns.
Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking thes Raise your hand if you’re doing more baking these days! 🙋🏻‍♀️ I’m trying to avoid gaining the #corona15 but my daughter and I LOVE baking together and it does help to pass the time plus it counts as a science lesson right?

If you’re able to find flour in the stores (for the love people please stop overbuying!) and you’re doing more baking at your house too you need to add this apricot bread to your list of new recipes to try!

Normally I’d point you to my blog for the directions but I’m going to do you a solid and leave the full recipe in the comments.

What have you baked so far during this time of social distancing? I’d love some new ideas!
There are a LOT of people out walking in our neigh There are a LOT of people out walking in our neighborhood right now (but still social distancing!) and she decided that she wanted to bring them some joy and put a smile on their face when they pass by our house. Also, the square with ‘say no to coronavirus’ is priceless. 😂 I just love her so much!
Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 At The Picket Fence