Steele's Road House by Neiheiser Argyros. Photo by Lorenzo Zandri.
Window seats have long been valued for their unique combination of functionality and aesthetic charm.
They transform ordinary windows into cosy nooks that are perfect for reading, relaxing, or enjoying a conversation.
In contemporary UK homes, architects are elevating this traditional feature, incorporating it into cutting-edge designs to enhance modern living. From sleek urban extensions to countryside retreats, these window seats showcase the perfect balance of form and function.
Photo by Chris Wharton.
This extension by Benjamin Wilkes Architecture includes a large picture bi-fold window overlooking the rear garden. Deep-set reveals house a built-in leather banquette seat inside and a brick-clad plinth outside.
Photo by Jim Stephenson.
Oliver Leech Architects extended a Victorian terrace to create an open kitchen with a skylight and a window seat overlooking a stepped rear garden.
Photo by Tim Crocker.
Mustard Architects added a concrete window seat, geometric tiles, and a plywood storage wall to this renovated and extended home.
Photo by Anna Pamphilon.
Named Lacy Brick after the protruding and recessed bricks used to create the extension's external walls, this project by Pamphilon Architects features a glazed corner window seat, perfect for reclining.
Photo by Lorenzo Zandri.
This project by Neiheiser Argyros incorporates a built-in seating nook lit by a large window overlooking an elevated terrace.
Photo by Nick Dearden.
Emil Eve Architects closely collaborated with the builder to craft high-quality timber joinery, including an L-shaped window bench under a glazed screen at the rear of the extension.
Photo by Adelina Illiev.
Edwards Rensen included a window seat in this London extension, providing the owners with a favourite spot for reading while feeling connected to the garden.
Photo by Anne Schwarz.
Studio 1 Architects built a window seat into a large window with a slot rooflight above. White-washed ash slats line the walls and continue across the ceiling.
Photo by Lorenzo Zandri.
Architecture for London renovated this Edwardian house with natural materials. A window seat made from grey limestone and pale oak sits between the living area and kitchen.
Photo by Ståle Eriksen.
O'Sullivan Skoufoglou Architects designed this gardener’s home with ash-lined interiors and a deep-set window seat overlooking the garden.
Photo by Alan Williams.
Platform 5 Architects added a structural glass oriel window complete with day bed to this glazed side return extension project.
Photo by Jerry Florez.
Pensaer extended Allotment Cottage with a timber-frame design, adding a façade with a built-in outdoor bench and window seat with storage underneath.
Photo by Taran Wilkhu.
Emil Eve Architects gave a contemporary twist to a traditional bay window with a sliding sash and a built-in seating area lined with terracotta tiles.
Photo by Luca Piffaretti.
Mike Tuck Studio rebuilt the outrigger and added a side extension featuring a curved ceiling and a built-in window seat.
Photo by David Barbour.
Ann Nisbet Studio transformed a stone ruin in Scotland into a modern home, incorporating a large picture window with a seat to frame views of the landscape.
Photo by French+Tye.
Bradley Van Der Straeten Architects created a terrazzo-finished window seat at the end of the kitchen run, merging with the bold, vibrant interior.
Photo by Ståle Eriksen.
EBBA Architects included a rich dark wood kitchen and matching window seat in this project which contrasts a white painted double height extension.
Photo by Christian Brailey.
Christian Brailey Architects designed this prefabricated timber-framed extension to grond floor studio flat with a deep Douglas fir window reveal that doubles as a seating area.
Photo by Edmund Sumner.
Rise Design Studio crafted a warm living space with natural materials, including a small window seat tucked into the corner of the kitchen extension.
Photo by Ståle Eriksen.
Proctor and Shaw Architects added a large window seat next to a bio-ethanol fireplace in this house renovation and extension.
Photo by Lorenzo Zandri.
TYPE designed this 45-square-metre extension with a glazed ash and Douglas fir rear elevation, complete with an integrated window seat.
Photo by Martin Kaufmann.
Gras Studio GRAS Studio transformed a derelict cottage in the Scottish Highlands into a retreat, with a living room window seat that extends to meet the open hearth.
Photo by The Modern House.
James Alder Architects created a garden flat extension with sliding glass doors and a window seat around a dining area, seamlessly connecting the interior to the garden patio.
Photo by The Modern House.
McLaren Excel designed this minimalist extension using concrete for its aesthetic qualities and thermal mass, with an L-shaped window seat set into a protruding section of the rear facade.
Photo by Sonn.
Sonn Studio added a sunken seating area against the glazed rear elevation of this tropical modernist-inspired extension, enhancing its connection to the garden.
About the Author
Aron Coates is an architect with over two decades of experience, working on projects ranging from historic building restoration to contemporary home design.
