Can I ask a stupid question about kitchen benches/banquettes?

[heydoggie]

We have a built-in bench/banquette (sp?) arrangement in our kitchen and a windowsill that's deep enough to be a window seat.

I want to get bench cushions for both of these but can't figure out what kind of fabric to use. I have a toddler who still reliably spills things down herself and hope to have another baby, so anything we put should either be washable/wipeable/all of the above. But when I look online I see either built-in fabric bench cushions, or ones that don't seem washable - i.e. ones where it clear there isn't a cover you can unzip and wash.

Its the one area of doing up our house where my internet searches just aren't answering the questions I have.

If you have a bench cushion arrangement and small children, what do you do, what is it made from and where did you get it!?

I have a bench cushion with a zip in the cover - I had it made by a local woman who makes curtains and cushion covers. There are also sellers on Etsy who can make to your order, ie dimensions, choice of fabric, zip etc.

Mine’s made from washable velvet (Omega II by Linwood) but that’s not going to be very suitable for a dining bench... I would suggest matte oilcloth like these then you could go for something less wipeable on the window seat.

Get a local upholsterer to make them. We're in the trade and make them all the time. We use a medium density dacron wrapped foam, and then make a removable zipped cover.

You can use any fabrics that are machine washable, the Linwood one above is fine or something like Romo Linara. Or go for a soft handle vinyl, Warwick fabrics are good for this.

Google bench seat cushions.

Thanks both - I have googled bench seat cushions but most of what comes up looks like plain cotton: I agree it should be washable but I'm not going to throw them in the wipe after every meal. Washable velvet sounds amazing, though matte oilcloth is probably more practical! Would it not be kind of crinkly when you sat down though?

Thanks for some names of specific fabrics to google though. I was going to go with local upholsterer or possibly family member to make them but the fabric was flummoxing me. (Equally buying something ready-made would be an option if there's something suitable)

I had one made in velvet which is washable, a local lady made it. I wish I had bought a spare cover for it actually.

Yes true the oilcloth could be a bit crinkly though the one I linked to is more drapey than the classic plasticky oilcloth. But still won’t be the most comfy fabric ever.

Romo Linara might be a better shout. Loads of colours, tough and washable. Romo, Warwick and Linwood are all companies with a good range of hard wearing fabrics for not silly prices. Many upholsterers or curtain makers will have accounts with them.

Do you have a local forum - if so you can ask for recommendations of upholsterers or cushion makers on there.

Agree you should consider getting a second cover for spare.

PS if you find the maker first, they may well have fabrics they can suggest and samples to show you, which saves you trawling online and paying for samples to be sent.

Any decent upholsterer will have pattern books - we pay a small fortune for our library of them and have over 1000 books currently. And if they have accounts, you can get samples for free rather than paying if you go through them.

It's a good idea to get a spare cover made if you're choosing a washable fabric.