No room to pull out chairs
When chairs hit the wall or the island every time someone stands up, a banquette on one or two sides solves it.
Serving Buffalo Grove & nearby Arlington Heights, Palatine
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Buffalo Grove, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Buffalo Grove kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Buffalo Grove ZIP 60089
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Buffalo Grove
Bay windows, empty corners and the end of a kitchen run are where banquettes work best. In Buffalo Grove 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.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
Nooks with loose chairs feel cramped. Fixed seating against the wall uses the space much better.
Worn-out old banquette
If the existing bench sags or wobbles, we take it out and build a new one fastened properly to the wall.
Table that's hard to slide into
We size and position the table so you can slide along the bench without climbing over legs.
Outlet or heat register in the way
An outlet or a floor register behind the bench needs a plan. We relocate outlets to stay accessible and carry the heat through a grille in the bench face.
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.
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.
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.
What the project covers
- 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.
- FinishingPaint or stain, filled and sanded for a furniture finish.
- Cushions and tableSeat and back cushions coordinated with an upholsterer, and a table chosen to fit.
Materials and options
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Painted or stained woodA painted or stained finish chosen to match or contrast with the kitchen.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Pedestal and trestle tablesA center base keeps legs away from the bench so people can slide in.
Kitchens like yours in Buffalo Grove: before and after
Before
AfterA Buffalo Grove 1980s two-story: before and after
The site: a 1980s two-story near Windfield. What we started with: 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. Work included measuring the nook, outlets and heat registers, plus finishing.
Before
AfterArlington Heights kitchen, 1950s ranch: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
The site: a 1950s ranch in Arlington Heights. What we started with: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. 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. On site this meant outlets and heat registers, building the bench boxes, plus storage under the seat.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterLake Zurich kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Lake Zurich, a typical kitchen for Lake Zurich. 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 sizing the bench and table, finishing, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterA Buffalo Grove two-story colonial from the 1990s: 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 Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterA Buffalo Grove two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
Finished: a new island in terracotta with a warm walnut butcher block top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Buffalo Grove →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 installWe build, finish and install the banquette, then make final adjustments with you.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Buffalo Grove homeowners
What table works with a banquette?
Tables with a central base are easiest to slide in and out of. The edge should overlap the seat a little.
How long does it take to build a banquette?
Building and installing usually takes several days; cushions and the table may follow separately.
Do you do the cushions?
The seat is built to fit standard or custom cushions; we can coordinate the upholstery for you.
What about outlets and heat vents behind the bench?
Outlets are moved to stay accessible, and floor or wall registers are vented through the bench so the room still heats.
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.
Buffalo Grove contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in the Village must register annually; $75 per trade, no fee for state-licensed contractors. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Buffalo Grove?
It depends on the scope. Buffalo Grove's rule in short: Permit required to replace or modify a kitchen, including replacing cabinetry; replacing a sink or faucet needs a plumbing permit even in the same location; electrical must meet the 2017 NEC. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Services, Building & Zoning Services.
Do you work in my part of Buffalo Grove?
Yes. Our crews work across Buffalo Grove, including The Highlands, Green Knolls, Windfield, Didier Farms — ZIP 60089 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Palatine, Lake Zurich.
Working in Buffalo Grove
- A lot of Buffalo Grove kitchens date from the 1980s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Buffalo Grove homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Services, Building & Zoning Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
The HighlandsGreen KnollsWindfieldDidier Farms
ZIP 60089
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Buffalo Grove
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.