Design features come and go. And this one is making a trendy return, less for its stylish aesthetic and more for its ability ...

A pink timber volume shaped to look like a house works triple duty as a dining bench, seating nook and storage unit in this open-plan kitchen designed by Office S&M.

“A built in bench seat in the corner of a dining room frees up a large amount of space; and awkward, normally unusable spaces or nooks can have storage cupboards built into them.” ...

With the option of built-in storage beneath and upholstered cushions on top, a banquette is both functional and relaxed. Jane Ussher/NZ House & Garden "You could fit lots of kids on a bench seat.