Kitchen open to the family room with no defined dining spot
A built-in bench can define a dining area in an open kitchen without adding walls.
Serving Arlington Heights & nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Arlington Heights, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Arlington Heights kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Arlington Heights ZIP 60004, 60005
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Arlington Heights
We build banquettes as built-in furniture, not as kits: plywood boxes fastened to the wall, faced and finished to suit your kitchen, with cushions or upholstered seats on top. In Arlington Heights that usually means a straight bench, an L in a corner or a U in a bay.
Outlet or heat register in the way
Wall outlets behind a banquette are moved to the side or above the seat back; we bring in an electrician for that part.
No storage near the table
Under-seat storage turns the bench into a cabinet. Drawers are easier to reach than lift-up lids when people are sitting.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
Nooks with loose chairs feel cramped. Fixed seating against the wall uses the space much better.
Awkward kitchen corner
Corners are hard to furnish. A corner bench uses both walls and leaves the outside of the table open for chairs.
Worn-out old banquette
An older built-in with failing cushions and loose boards can be rebuilt with new boxes, storage and fresh upholstery.
Not enough seats for the family
A bench seats people closer together than chairs. For families, that often means one more seat at the same table.
Empty bay window
If your kitchen has a bay, a banquette that fits its shape is one of the most natural uses for it.
What's included
- Measuring the nookA visit to measure the space and note anything in the walls behind the bench.
- Sizing the bench and tableSeat height, depth, back angle and table size planned together.
- Outlets and heat registersAnything in the wall or floor behind the bench is moved or vented through it.
- Storage under the seatUnder-seat drawers or lids built into each bench section.
- Seat backs and trimAngled backs, paneling or beadboard and trim to suit the room.
- FinishingPainted or stained to match the cabinets or as a deliberate contrast.
- Cushions and tableWe help size cushions and the table so the setup works together.
Finishes and options
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openWood-paneled backs, tufted upholstery or a simple open back against the wall.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Painted or stained woodA painted or stained finish chosen to match or contrast with the kitchen.
Pedestal and trestle tablesRound tables suit corners and bays; rectangular ones suit straight benches.
Before and after: kitchens near Arlington Heights
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights postwar Cape Cod: before and after
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Arlington Heights. Before: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. The reason for the call: a breakfast nook that never got used. The result: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. Work included sizing the bench and table, seat backs and trim, plus cushions and table.
Before
AfterPalatine kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine. Before: oak parquet and a brass chandelier over the nook. The reason for the call: a bay window with no real place to sit. Finished kitchen: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. The job covered storage under the seat, seat backs and trim, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Palatine →
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, 1950s ranch: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
This one is a 1950s ranch in Des Plaines. Before: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. The reason for the call: an empty corner with a wobbly table nobody used. Finished kitchen: 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 finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a postwar Cape Cod, Arlington Heights
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 Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Arlington Heights
What changed: a new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Arlington Heights →From first visit to final walk-through
- Send photos of the spaceShow us the space and tell us how many people you want to seat.
- Measure and planA visit to measure and draw the layout, seat heights and storage.
- Written estimateAn itemized estimate for the bench, storage, finish and any electrical or vent changes.
- Build and installBench boxes built and installed, finished, then cushions and table placed.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Arlington Heights homeowners
What about outlets and heat vents behind the bench?
Both are common. We plan around them during measuring so the bench doesn't block power or airflow.
Banquette or kitchen island seating?
Island seating suits quick meals and guests; a banquette suits families who sit down together and want back support.
How deep and high should a banquette seat be?
Close to a regular dining chair, measured with the cushion on. We plan the depth and back angle so you're not perched or slouched.
How long does it take to build a banquette?
Most banquettes are built and finished within a week or two from the start of work, plus cushion lead time.
Can a banquette go against a window?
Yes. We set the back height below the windowsill so the window still opens and the trim stays visible.
Arlington Heights contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The Village of Arlington Heights contractor license number must be listed on permit applications; homeowners doing their own work file a Homeowner as General Contractor form. We take care of that before work starts.
Do Arlington Heights condo associations need to approve banquette build?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Arlington Heights?
It depends on the scope. Arlington Heights's rule in short: Remodel permit applications (shown here via a basement remodel checklist dated 2020) require a building permit application, plans and a contractor proposal; plumbing and electrical permit applications are added if applicable. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Life Safety Department.
Do you work in my part of Arlington Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Arlington Heights — ZIP 60004, 60005 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Arlington Heights
- A lot of Arlington Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building & Life Safety Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60004ZIP 60005
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Arlington Heights
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.