Awkward kitchen corner
Corners are hard to furnish. A corner bench uses both walls and leaves the outside of the table open for chairs.
Serving Aurora & nearby Batavia, Warrenville
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Aurora, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Aurora kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Aurora ZIP 60506, 60502, 60505, 60504, 60503
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Aurora
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Aurora kitchens and nooks with drawers or lift-up seats underneath, set at a comfortable height for a standard dining table.
No room to pull out chairs
Chairs need space behind them to slide out. A bench against the wall needs none, so the same table fits in a tighter spot.
Island seating that isn't working
Sometimes a banquette is the better choice instead of island stools, especially for families who eat together every day.
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.
Table that's hard to slide into
The table matters as much as the bench. Its edge should slightly overlap the seat and its base should stay out of your knees.
Empty bay window
Bays tend to become dead space with a plant or a chair in them. Built-in seating that follows the angles turns them into the best seat in the house.
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.
Bench that's uncomfortable to sit on
Comfort comes from the numbers: seat height with the cushion, a depth that supports your legs and a back that leans a little. We plan those before building.
What the project covers
- Measuring the nookWe measure walls, windows, bays, outlets and vents in the area.
- Sizing the bench and tableSeat height, depth, back angle and table size planned together.
- Outlets and heat registersOutlets relocated by an electrician and heat routed through a grille in the bench.
- Storage under the seatDrawers in the bench face or hinged lift-up seats, as you prefer.
- Seat backs and trimBackrests and trim finished to match the kitchen or the nook.
- FinishingPaint or stain, filled and sanded for a furniture finish.
- Cushions and tableWe help size cushions and the table so the setup works together.
Finishes and options
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers for things you use often, hinged lids for seasonal storage.
Cushions and upholsteryPerformance fabrics or vinyl hold up best in a kitchen.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesThe shape follows the space: one wall, a corner or a bay window.
Pedestal and trestle tablesRound tables suit corners and bays; rectangular ones suit straight benches.
Kitchens like yours in Aurora: before and after
Before
AfterAn Aurora 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near West Side. Before: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and two hanging glass pendants. 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. The job covered sizing the bench and table, outlets and heat registers, plus storage under the seat.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Batavia
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Batavia. Before: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: an empty corner with a wobbly table nobody used. After: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. The job covered measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus outlets and heat registers.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Batavia →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Warrenville
A 1980s two-story in Warrenville, a typical kitchen for Warrenville. 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. Work included sizing the bench and table, outlets and heat registers, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Warrenville →
Before
AfterAurora kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: pantry design & installation
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 Aurora →
Before
AfterAn Aurora two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
Finished: a new island in dusty blue with a black honed granite top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Aurora →How your banquette build goes
- Send photos of the spaceA few photos of the corner, bay or nook and rough measurements are enough to start.
- 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 Aurora homeowners
Do you do the cushions?
The seat is built to fit standard or custom cushions; we can coordinate the upholstery for you.
What is a built-in kitchen bench called?
Usually a banquette. You'll also hear breakfast nook, booth seating or built-in bench.
Can a banquette have storage?
Yes, and it's one of the main reasons people choose built-in seating.
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.
Banquette or kitchen island seating?
Island seating suits quick meals and guests; a banquette suits families who sit down together and want back support.
Aurora contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must be registered/licensed with the City (application, required testing if applicable, proof of insurance naming the City as additional insured). Homeowners may act as own contractor if owner-occupied 6+ months with a Homeowner Liability Waiver. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Aurora?
It depends on the scope. Aurora's rule in short: Interior remodels, structural changes and interior plumbing always need a permit; electrical/mechanical may. We handle the permit when one is needed with Division of Building and Permits, City of Aurora.
Do you work in my part of Aurora?
Yes. Our crews work across Aurora, including Near Eastside, Tanner, Riddle Highlands, Palace Street — ZIP 60506, 60502, 60505, 60504, 60503 — and nearby Batavia, Warrenville, Naperville.
Working in Aurora
- A lot of Aurora kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Aurora homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Near EastsideTannerRiddle HighlandsPalace StreetWest SideFar East Side
ZIP 60506ZIP 60502ZIP 60505ZIP 60504ZIP 60503
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Aurora
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.