A street-facing picture window on the front of this midcentury h…
A street-facing picture window on the front of this midcentury home remodel gets a contemporary upgrade with a protruding steel frame to incorporate seating. Residential Architect, March-April 2012
Bal House, Menlo Park, Calif. Terry & Terry Architecture, Berkeley, Calif.
Tim Bies
Large windows offer expansive views of rugged central Idaho in a…
Large windows offer expansive views of rugged central Idaho in all directions from this home’s open floorplan. The window seat is designed as a spot to take in the scenery—or a nap. Residential Architect, March-April 2009
Outpost, central Idaho Olson Kundig Architects, Seattle
David J. Swift
This bump-out perch connects a playroom to the great outdoors th…
This bump-out perch connects a playroom to the great outdoors through floor-to-ceiling windows and an operable side panel. Leather cushions top a set of drawers to create additional seating and storage. Custom Home, Summer 2013
Stephen Snyder Home, Jackson, Wyo. Carney Logan Burke Architects, Jackson
Whit Preston
This built-out window’s glulam interior frame makes for a cozy…
This built-out window’s glulam interior frame makes for a cozy alcove along the hallway connecting the kitchen to the master bedroom in this Texas ranch-house remodel. The window daylights a previously dark space while its bench complements the recessed bookcase installed in the opposite wall. Builder, June 2013
Residence, Texas Furman + Keil Architects, Austin, Texas
Mike Sinclair
…
Architect David Dowell, AIA, turned a small attic into a child’s bedroom by raising its recessed roof and adding a glassy dormer to let light in and offer a private nook to read or play. Residential Architect, March-April 2012
Tyler Residence, Leawood, Kan. el dorado, Kansas City, Mo.
Robert Brewster
Four cottage-style windows span one wall of this New England hom…
Four cottage-style windows span one wall of this New England home, giving architects room for a window seat without distracting from the space’s traditional appeal. Builder, 2013
Private Residence, Boston Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Boston
Timothy Hursley
A steel box-frame window on the second story of this suburban re…
A steel box-frame window on the second story of this suburban remodel offers space for an inset bench that serves as a perch for observing goings on indoors and out. Residential Architect, May-June 2010
L-Stack House, Fayetteville, Ark. Marlon Blackwell Architect, Fayetteville, Ark.
It’s more than a spot to curl up with a book on a lazy afternoon. A spacious window recess fitted with warm wood and soft cushions can subtly increase a room’s usable area while showering the space in daylight. From classic cozy to sleek contemporary, window seats can offer a place for pause in hallways and bedrooms or add seating to large living rooms and kitchens. Wherever you plan to place your nook, consider these installations for inspiration:
Hallie Busta is a former associate editor of products and technology at ARCHITECT, Architectural Lighting, and Residential Architect. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University's Medill school and a LEED Green Associate credential. Previously, she wrote about building-material sales and distribution at Hanley Wood. Follow her on Twitter at @HallieBusta.
