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.
Serving Bolingbrook & nearby Woodridge, Naperville
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Bolingbrook, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Bolingbrook kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Bolingbrook ZIP 60440, 60490
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Bolingbrook
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 Bolingbrook that usually means a straight bench, an L in a corner or a U in a bay.
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.
Worn-out old banquette
A dated banquette with flattened cushions can often be refaced and re-cushioned, or replaced if the frame is weak.
Kitchen open to the family room with no defined dining spot
In an open plan, a banquette against a wall or the back of an island gives the eating area its own place.
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.
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.
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
Stools at an island don't suit small kids or long meals. A banquette nearby gives a proper table and back support.
Everything in a banquette build
- 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.
- Building the bench boxesSturdy frames anchored to studs so the bench doesn't move.
- Storage under the seatDrawers in the bench face or hinged lift-up seats, as you prefer.
- Seat backs and trimAngled backs, paneling or beadboard and trim to suit the room.
- FinishingPaint or stain, filled and sanded for a furniture finish.
Materials and options
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Pedestal and trestle tablesA center base keeps legs away from the bench so people can slide in.
Painted or stained woodA painted or stained finish chosen to match or contrast with the kitchen.
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.
Kitchens like yours in Bolingbrook: before and after
Before
AfterA Bolingbrook 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Westbury. Before: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and two hanging glass pendants. What bothered the owners most: 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. Work included measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus storage under the seat.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Woodridge
A 1980s two-story near The Ridge, a typical kitchen for Woodridge. The kitchen as it was: oak parquet and a brass chandelier over the nook. What bothered the owners most: not enough seats around the kitchen table. 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, building the bench boxes, plus seat backs and trim.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Woodridge →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Lisle
The site: a 1980s two-story near The Meadows. What we started with: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The reason for the call: a breakfast nook that never got used. Finished kitchen: a built-in banquette bench with storage drawers and cushions under the window, with a round pedestal table. The job covered outlets and heat registers, storage under the seat, plus seat backs and trim.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Lisle →
Before
AfterA Bolingbrook 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
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 Bolingbrook →
Before
AfterBolingbrook kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen island & peninsula installation
What changed: a new island in terracotta with a warm walnut butcher block top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Bolingbrook →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 Bolingbrook homeowners
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.
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.
How much does a built-in banquette cost?
Length, storage type, finish and upholstery drive the price. We put it in writing once we've seen the space.
Are banquettes worth it?
If you have a corner, bay or nook that's going unused, a banquette is one of the most practical ways to use it.
What table works with a banquette?
We recommend a table with a center pedestal and size it to the bench length.
Do I need a Bolingbrook-registered contractor for banquette build?
The Village has a Contractor Registration form on its permit portal. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Bolingbrook?
It depends on the scope. Bolingbrook's rule in short: Permits are required for new construction, renovations, additions, alterations and repairs and must be obtained before work starts. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division (Community Development), Village of Bolingbrook.
Do you work in my part of Bolingbrook?
Yes. Our crews work across Bolingbrook, including Westbury, Colonial Village, Heritage Creek — ZIP 60440, 60490 — and nearby Woodridge, Naperville, Lisle.
Working in Bolingbrook
- A lot of Bolingbrook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Bolingbrook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Building Division (Community Development), Village of Bolingbrook handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
WestburyColonial VillageHeritage Creek
ZIP 60440ZIP 60490
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Bolingbrook
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.