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.
Serving Crystal Lake & nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Crystal Lake, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Crystal Lake kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Crystal Lake ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Crystal Lake
Bay windows, empty corners and the end of a kitchen run are where banquettes work best. In Crystal Lake 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
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.
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.
No storage near the table
Banquette seats can hide drawers or lift-up lids for table linens, placemats, games or seasonal dishes.
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.
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.
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.
Awkward kitchen corner
An L-shaped banquette tucks into a corner and seats more people than chairs could, with storage under both runs.
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 tableWe plan the bench layout and the table so people can slide in and sit comfortably.
- Outlets and heat registersAnything in the wall or floor behind the bench is moved or vented through it.
- Building the bench boxesPlywood bench boxes built and fastened to the wall framing and floor.
- 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.
Materials and options
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.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesThe shape follows the space: one wall, a corner or a bay window.
Pedestal and trestle tablesA center base keeps legs away from the bench so people can slide in.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
What the work looks like in Crystal Lake homes
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1980s two-story, Crystal Lake
A 1980s two-story near Wedgewood, a typical kitchen for Crystal Lake. Before: oak parquet and a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was a bay window with no real place to sit. The result: 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 finishing.
Before
AfterA Lake Zurich 1980s two-story: before and after
The site: a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich. Before: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. 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. On site this meant seat backs and trim, finishing, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1970s split-level in Hoffman Estates
A 1970s split-level in Hoffman Estates, a typical kitchen for Hoffman Estates. The kitchen as it was: orange-brown linoleum and a hanging swag lamp. 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 measuring the nook, outlets and heat registers, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Hoffman Estates →
Before
AfterCrystal Lake kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: pantry design & installation
What changed: 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 Crystal Lake →
Before
AfterKitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in a 1980s two-story, Crystal Lake
A new island in terracotta with a warm walnut butcher block top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Crystal Lake →The project, step by step
- 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 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 Crystal Lake homeowners
Can a banquette go against a window?
Windows are a great backdrop. We plan the seat back around the sill height.
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.
How much does a built-in banquette cost?
It depends on size, shape, storage, finish and any electrical or vent work. You get a written, itemized estimate after we measure.
Do you do the cushions?
We size the cushions and coordinate them with an upholsterer, or build the bench for cushions you buy.
How deep and high should a banquette seat be?
Seat height with the cushion should match a dining chair so the table works. Depth depends on whether the back is angled or cushioned.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Crystal Lake?
It depends on the scope. Crystal Lake's rule in short: Kitchen alteration handout (Nov 2019) requires a contractor list and two sets of plans showing floor plans, electrical layout, structure and plumbing changes; inspections for rough electrical, plumbing, framing, insulation and final. We handle the permit when one is needed with City of Crystal Lake Community Development - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Crystal Lake?
Yes. Our crews work across Crystal Lake, including Downtown, Coventry, Four Colonies, The Villages — ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098 — and nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Crystal Lake
- A lot of Crystal Lake kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Crystal Lake 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.
DowntownCoventryFour ColoniesThe VillagesWedgewoodBurtons Bridge
ZIP 60014ZIP 60012ZIP 60098
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Crystal Lake
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.