Looking for Upholstery Help for Banquette Seating (DC)

[Anonymous]

I’m having a banquette built in my DC home and I’m looking for a place to purchase (or someone local who can create a custom) cushion or upholstery for it.

The banquette will be built mostly from plywood, so I want to make sure the seating is actually comfortable and not just a wood box with a thin pad on top. Ideally, I’m looking for someone who can help with:

Recommending the right type and thickness of foam/whatever goes inside

Selecting durable but attractive fabric (open to suggestions!)

Constructing a professional-looking, well-fitted cushion (or multiple cushions, depending on design)

Creating a clean, modern cushion design—possibly with subtle piping for a polished finish (but nothing too ornate)

Should be kid friendly so probably something I can wash/remove or is stain resistant.

If you've worked with anyone great on a similar project, or if you're a local upholsterer yourself, I'd love your recommendations!

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

I ordered mine from etsy. Many sellers there who will send you fabric samples or will work with fabric you choose and send to them. Locally it will likely cost you 3x as much and the result won't necessarily be better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ordered mine from etsy. Many sellers there who will send you fabric samples or will work with fabric you choose and send to them. Locally it will likely cost you 3x as much and the result won't necessarily be better.

Thanks. I will take a look. What size was yours and what did you end up spending? Do they send just the fabric or with it filled?

Can you share the seller you used?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ordered mine from etsy. Many sellers there who will send you fabric samples or will work with fabric you choose and send to them. Locally it will likely cost you 3x as much and the result won't necessarily be better.

Thanks. I will take a look. What size was yours and what did you end up spending? Do they send just the fabric or with it filled?

Can you share the seller you used?

We needed a bench cushion and it was about $400 for a 9 foot cushion with piping. It was filled and arrived rolled in a very large box. I had no issues straightening it. It fits exactly. I just wish I went with a 2” instead of a 3” because our bench is quite tall and the foam compresses less than I expected it would. The seller was NCPatioCushions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a banquette built in my DC home and I’m looking for a place to purchase (or someone local who can create a custom) cushion or upholstery for it.

The banquette will be built mostly from plywood, so I want to make sure the seating is actually comfortable and not just a wood box with a thin pad on top. Ideally, I’m looking for someone who can help with:

Recommending the right type and thickness of foam/whatever goes inside

Selecting durable but attractive fabric (open to suggestions!)

Constructing a professional-looking, well-fitted cushion (or multiple cushions, depending on design)

Creating a clean, modern cushion design—possibly with subtle piping for a polished finish (but nothing too ornate)

Should be kid friendly so probably something I can wash/remove or is stain resistant.

If you've worked with anyone great on a similar project, or if you're a local upholsterer yourself, I'd love your recommendations!

Thanks in advance!

Etsy sellers and such are fine, but they’re just local workrooms in different locations. I’m not sure there’s enough price advantage to be worth it.

The workrooms tend to be mom and pop shops, and most of their business is repeat, professional customers like designers. So it’s a little harder to learn about and access them. Some of them see an opportunity and have started to try to tap the random homeowners online.

A couple Maryland options to check out: Yi’s Interior, Designer Workroom, Will’s Home Decorating.

Honestly though I don’t think a wood banquet with a seat cushion is going to be *that* comfortable no matter what you do. Just be realistic about what you can achieve. Fine for kids breakfasts, but dinner guests may decline dessert. I think the angle of the back might be a lot more important than the foam.

With these local workrooms, I think it’s possible you could walk in and find someone who has built 475 banquettes and gives you great guidance and possible to walk in and someone is willing to take crankily take your exact instructions and nothing else.

That’s kind of the cost of DIY. So if you can, give yourself ample time to learn and consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m having a banquette built in my DC home and I’m looking for a place to purchase (or someone local who can create a custom) cushion or upholstery for it.

The banquette will be built mostly from plywood, so I want to make sure the seating is actually comfortable and not just a wood box with a thin pad on top. Ideally, I’m looking for someone who can help with:

Recommending the right type and thickness of foam/whatever goes inside

Selecting durable but attractive fabric (open to suggestions!)

Constructing a professional-looking, well-fitted cushion (or multiple cushions, depending on design)

Creating a clean, modern cushion design—possibly with subtle piping for a polished finish (but nothing too ornate)

Should be kid friendly so probably something I can wash/remove or is stain resistant.

If you've worked with anyone great on a similar project, or if you're a local upholsterer yourself, I'd love your recommendations!

Thanks in advance!

Etsy sellers and such are fine, but they’re just local workrooms in different locations. I’m not sure there’s enough price advantage to be worth it.

The workrooms tend to be mom and pop shops, and most of their business is repeat, professional customers like designers. So it’s a little harder to learn about and access them. Some of them see an opportunity and have started to try to tap the random homeowners online.

A couple Maryland options to check out: Yi’s Interior, Designer Workroom, Will’s Home Decorating.

Honestly though I don’t think a wood banquet with a seat cushion is going to be *that* comfortable no matter what you do. Just be realistic about what you can achieve. Fine for kids breakfasts, but dinner guests may decline dessert. I think the angle of the back might be a lot more important than the foam.

With these local workrooms, I think it’s possible you could walk in and find someone who has built 475 banquettes and gives you great guidance and possible to walk in and someone is willing to take crankily take your exact instructions and nothing else.

That’s kind of the cost of DIY. So if you can, give yourself ample time to learn and consider.

Thanks. Have you used those Maryland options? What's the main differences? Are there particular designers who are less cranky than others?

I was thinking the company would provide the cushion for the seat and back. The banquette is also only on one side of the table (as planned) so if there's certain people who don't like that style they can always move to a regular seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Honestly though I don’t think a wood banquet with a seat cushion is going to be *that* comfortable no matter what you do. Just be realistic about what you can achieve. Fine for kids breakfasts, but dinner guests may decline dessert. I think the angle of the back might be a lot more important than the foam.

Some furniture stores like Crate and Barrel are selling (non-custom) dining banquette's now. It wouldn't really work for my space perfectly, but do you find those considerably more comfortable if you've tried both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ordered mine from etsy. Many sellers there who will send you fabric samples or will work with fabric you choose and send to them. Locally it will likely cost you 3x as much and the result won't necessarily be better.

Yes, this. I had some pillows made on Amazon this way. I chose the size and the fabric and they sent the finished items to me. I love them and no one has the same pillows that I do.

[Anonymous]

Looney and Sons in Fairfax

[Anonymous]

I’m all for doing a lot of interior design on my own. I order “for the trade” items and choose my own fabrics.

But I wouldn’t attempt what you’re describing. Too risky.

[Anonymous]

I really like sparkle upholstery in Alexandria.

[Anonymous]

Oil cloth or clear plastic slipcovers.
Oil cloth under table for spills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m all for doing a lot of interior design on my own. I order “for the trade” items and choose my own fabrics.

But I wouldn’t attempt what you’re describing. Too risky.

What's risky about ordering cushions?

[Anonymous]

I can't recommend an upholsterer as I did it myself, but I will put in a plug for Revolution fabrics: https://revolutionfabrics.com/

Easy to get samples, the fabrics are high quality, and I found a good range of options for our specific use (needed something durable, stain resistant, and cat claw resistant for dining chairs). I spoke with them online and wound up with a range of sample options, and then ordering was easy and delivery was efficient. The price is really good which made it easy to over order, which I prefer to do rather than take a chance on running short (I also have extra fabric tucked away in case we ever have to reupholster one of these chairs).

We've had the chairs for over a year now and the fabric looks like new. And yes, the cat has tried to change that and has not succeeded! Huge win as he absolutely destroyed the previous upholstery.

[Anonymous]

I used cushionsource.com and picked out a nice velvet from their selection.