Using drawer units to build a banquette
DIY specialist and renovator Natasha Dickins of Little Red Industries took six Multistore single-drawer units and transformed them into custom designer seating with wow factor.
Here’s how she did it…
Sitting in a banquette or booth makes you feel part of something special. It has a cosy, comfy, casual vibe and that’s what I wanted to create in this area.
I also wanted to add drawers for shopping bags, tablecloths and board games while hiding the phone line and switches in the corner of the room.
So I flexed my woodworking skills to install seating with storage and a tactile timber feature that’s right on trend for kitchens and built-in nooks.
I set out six white Multistore Storage single-drawer units in an L shape, allowing for clearance to open them at the corner. At 608mm wide x 430mm deep x 330mm high they’re the perfect size to frame up for seating.
Making a template helped me move from planning to building. I used it to work out the angle of the backrests, how far from the wall the drawer units should be, and the width of the shelf along the top.
TIP I discovered 10° is a comfortable angle to sit against, so anything that slopes in this build, including the fluted detail in the corner, has a bevelled edge to match.
After taking out the drawers, I joined the units with 30mm-long screws, drilling four through each side. The sides are 15mm thick, so don’t over-screw, or use 25mm screws to avoid protruding through the other side.
TIP I filled in the gap between the units in the corner by cutting a piece of pine to fit and painting it white.
Drawer units aren’t designed to take heavy weight, so I’ve reinforced them with a frame of structural pine. The framing sits over the joins so is supported by the side of the units. It’s then attached to framing that is secured into the wall studs to ensure there is no movement.
TIP I used a stud finder to locate the wall studs and marked them with tape.
I bought Tasmanian oak panels from Bunnings and based the design around their standard 22mm-thick, 1800mm-long x 405mm-wide dimensions. To minimise dust, I moved the woodworking outside, cutting the bevelled edges of the panels with a track saw. The joinery is finished with rounded-over edges and corners, then sealed in clear marine-grade Monocel Gold varnish for a smooth, durable finish.
TIP The bevelled edges help the backrests sit neatly against the seats.
The fluted detail is created with 30mm-wide Tasmanian oak half-round dowel cut to fit under the seat and backrest. I secured it to the drawer unit and framing with adhesive and 15mm brads, shot into the side of the dowel using a nail gun with an air compressor.
In the corner there’s a curved drop-in seat that lifts out for access to the phone line and switches. The shelf above it has a cable duct to hide cords for the modem. It also provides a brace for the fluted timber detail, which I attached in starburst shape and sealed with varnish.
I left the gap between the banquette and wall until the end, building a simple box to drop in as extra display storage. It’s installed on framing with a white pine kick-board that matches the shadow line of the drawer units.
The biggest surprise is how big the banquette makes the room feel! Here’s how it sizes up… The shelf along the back is 800mm up from the floor, the seat is 410mm high, and I’m planning to add 75mm-thick upholstered cushions.
Words and pictures courtesy of Little Red Industries. To see Natasha’s full step-by-step build of the banquette click here.
