Not enough seats for the family
When everyone can't sit at once, a banquette along the wall usually adds seats without enlarging the table area.
Serving Addison & nearby Wood Dale, Itasca
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Addison, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Addison kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Addison ZIP 60101
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Addison
Bay windows, empty corners and the end of a kitchen run are where banquettes work best. In Addison we measure the space, plan seat depth and table clearance, and deal with the outlets and heat registers in the wall behind before we build.
Bench that's uncomfortable to sit on
If an old banquette feels like a church pew, we rebuild it with a sensible seat depth and an angled back.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
A small table with chairs that bump the wall rarely gets used. A built-in bench along the wall makes the nook comfortable and keeps the walkway open.
No room to pull out chairs
Built-in seating saves the clearance chairs need, which is often what makes a small eat-in area work.
Awkward kitchen corner
An L-shaped banquette tucks into a corner and seats more people than chairs could, with storage under both runs.
No storage near the table
Banquette seats can hide drawers or lift-up lids for table linens, placemats, games or seasonal dishes.
Island seating that isn't working
If nobody stays long at the island, a built-in bench and table offers seating with a backrest.
Kitchen open to the family room with no defined dining spot
When the dining table floats in the middle of the room, building a bench against a wall anchors it.
Everything in a banquette build
- Measuring the nookWe measure walls, windows, bays, outlets and vents in the area.
- Sizing the bench and tableWe plan the bench layout and the table so people can slide in and sit comfortably.
- Outlets and heat registersOutlets relocated by an electrician and heat routed through a grille in the bench.
- Building the bench boxesPlywood bench boxes built and fastened to the wall framing and floor.
- Storage under the seatUnder-seat drawers or lids built into each bench section.
- Seat backs and trimBackrests and trim finished to match the kitchen or the nook.
- Cushions and tableSeat and back cushions coordinated with an upholsterer, and a table chosen to fit.
Finishes and options
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openWood-paneled backs, tufted upholstery or a simple open back against the wall.
Cushions and upholsteryPerformance fabrics or vinyl hold up best in a kitchen.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette before and after — Addison homes
Before
AfterAn Addison 1950s ranch: before and after
This one is a 1950s ranch in Addison. What we started with: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. The reason for the call: an empty corner with a wobbly table nobody used. The result: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. The job covered sizing the bench and table, building the bench boxes, plus seat backs and trim.
Before
AfterItasca kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Itasca Historical District. Before: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The main complaint was a breakfast nook that never got used. After: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. On site this meant sizing the bench and table, outlets and heat registers, plus storage under the seat.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Itasca →
Before
AfterA Villa Park postwar Cape Cod: before and after
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Villa Park. The kitchen as it was: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: a breakfast nook that never got used. After: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. Work included measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus storage under the seat.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Villa Park →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a postwar bi-level, Addison
Finished: the closet next to the kitchen rebuilt as a pantry with solid wood shelves, pull-out baskets on the bottom and a light.
Pantry Design & Installation in Addison →
Before
AfterAddison kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen island & peninsula installation
What changed: a new island in dusty blue with a charcoal concrete-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Addison →How your banquette build goes
- Send photos of the spaceShow us the space and tell us how many people you want to seat.
- Measure and planWe measure, check outlets and vents and sketch the bench, table and storage.
- Written estimateYou get a written quote listing every part, including cushions if we coordinate them.
- Build and installBench boxes built and installed, finished, then cushions and table placed.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Addison homeowners
What table works with a banquette?
We recommend a table with a center pedestal and size it to the bench length.
What about outlets and heat vents behind the bench?
We don't cover vents or outlets. An electrician relocates outlets and we build a grille into the bench for the heat.
How much does a built-in banquette cost?
A straight bench costs less than a U-shaped bay build. We quote every part separately after the visit.
How deep and high should a banquette seat be?
We plan the bench height around the cushion thickness and the table, and the depth around the backrest.
Banquette or kitchen island seating?
If you want a real table, a banquette. If you want counter space plus a few stools, an island.
Addison contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Addison does not require contractor registration, but trade licenses and a Letter of Intent must be submitted with each permit application. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Addison?
It depends on the scope. Addison's rule in short: Addison's Building Division states building permits are required by code for all work; most applications are reviewed within 10 business days through the online portal. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building & Zoning).
Do you work in my part of Addison?
Yes. Our crews work across Addison — ZIP 60101 — and nearby Wood Dale, Itasca, Villa Park.
Working in Addison
- A lot of Addison kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Addison homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department (Building & Zoning) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60101
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Addison
Pull-Out Shelves & Cabinet OrganizersRoll-out shelves and organizers built to fit your existing cabinets.
Pantry Design & InstallationPantry cabinets, closet conversions and walk-in shelving, built to fit.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula InstallationNew islands and peninsulas with seating and storage.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.