DIY Projects & Crafts Upholstered Banquette Create your very own built-in bench, which looks lovely in a breakfast or reading nook. By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter Website An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Published on September 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Dane Tashima To cover this built-in bench with made-to-measure custom-upholstered cushions, we looked to Stitchroom, which offers a slew of styles, fabrics, and color options—you supply your dimensions and check out. We opted for the "Andie" and "Skylar" Banquette Cushions (from $1,500 for a set, stitchroom.com) and the "Alex" Throw Pillow in Arctic Blush Cotton Velvet ($75, stitchroom.com) and Mustard Knit Chenille ($70, stitchroom.com). But if you don't have an existing base, you can craft a simple wooden one like ours. Get the how-to below. What You'll Need Materials Plywood, 4 feet by 8 feet by ¾ inch Circular saw and guide 18 #8 1¼-inch screws 9 large L brackets (each 3 inches or larger) 4 small L brackets (each 2 inches) 98 #8 ¾-inch screws Fine sandpaper Furniture wax Instructions Cut plywood into the following pieces: one 17 by 72 inches (front of bench); one 19¼ by 70½ inches (bench top); two 19¼ by 17 inches (sides of bench); one 16¼ by 14 inches (middle support); and two 2 by 34 inches (support strips) Using 1¼-inch screws, attach the two support strips to the upper reverse side of your 17-by-72-inch piece (front of bench), aligning them (with space in between) so there is ¾ inch of space at the top and outer edges. Attach one side using two large L brackets and ¾-inch screws. Repeat with the second side. Attach the middle support, centering it between the two sides, using two large L brackets and ¾-inch screws. Attach the bench top to the two sides and the middle support using the remaining three large L brackets and ¾-inch screws Use the four small L brackets and ¾-inch screws to tighten the seam between the front and top of bench. Sand and apply furniture wax.