A breakfast nook nobody uses
Nooks with loose chairs feel cramped. Fixed seating against the wall uses the space much better.
Serving Elgin & nearby St. Charles, Bartlett
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Elgin, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Elgin kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Elgin ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Elgin
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Elgin kitchens and nooks with drawers or lift-up seats underneath, set at a comfortable height for a standard dining table.
Table that's hard to slide into
Table legs in the way make benches miserable. A pedestal or trestle base lets people slide in from the side.
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.
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
A bay window is an ideal spot for a U-shaped or angled banquette. We build the bench to follow the bay so the table sits in the light.
Worn-out old banquette
An older built-in with failing cushions and loose boards can be rebuilt with new boxes, storage and fresh upholstery.
Bench that's uncomfortable to sit on
A bench that's too deep, too high or perfectly upright gets avoided. We set seat height, depth and a slight back angle with the cushion thickness in mind.
Awkward kitchen corner
Corners are hard to furnish. A corner bench uses both walls and leaves the outside of the table open for chairs.
Everything in a banquette build
- Measuring the nookWe measure walls, windows, bays, outlets and vents in the area.
- Sizing the bench and tableWe plan the bench layout and the table so people can slide in and sit comfortably.
- Outlets and heat registersOutlets relocated by an electrician and heat routed through a grille in the bench.
- Building the bench boxesSturdy frames anchored to studs so the bench doesn't move.
- Storage under the seatUnder-seat drawers or lids built into each bench section.
- FinishingPainted or stained to match the cabinets or as a deliberate contrast.
- Cushions and tableSeat and back cushions coordinated with an upholsterer, and a table chosen to fit.
Choices you'll make
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Pedestal and trestle tablesRound tables suit corners and bays; rectangular ones suit straight benches.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Before and after: kitchens near Elgin
Before
AfterAn Elgin two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Elgin. Before: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The main complaint was 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. On site this meant sizing the bench and table, building the bench boxes, plus finishing.
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1980s two-story: before and after
A 1980s two-story in St. Charles, a typical kitchen for St. Charles. What we started with: 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. On site this meant measuring the nook, finishing, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in St. Charles →
Before
AfterBartlett kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Bartlett. What we started with: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and two hanging glass pendants. The main complaint was 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 outlets and heat registers, storage under the seat, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Bartlett →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Elgin
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 Elgin →
Before
AfterElgin kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen island & peninsula installation
Finished: a new island in dusty blue with a dark soapstone-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Elgin →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 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 installWe build, finish and install the banquette, then make final adjustments with you.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Elgin homeowners
How long does it take to build a banquette?
Building and installing usually takes several days; cushions and the table may follow separately.
What is a built-in kitchen bench called?
Banquette is the common term, often used together with breakfast nook.
Can a banquette have storage?
Yes. We build drawers in the bench face or hinged seats that lift up.
What table works with a banquette?
We recommend a table with a center pedestal and size it to the bench length.
Do you do the cushions?
The seat is built to fit standard or custom cushions; we can coordinate the upholstery for you.
Elgin contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
City requires a notarized letter of intent from all licensed contractors; general contractors submit one for each licensed subcontractor. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Elgin?
It depends on the scope. Elgin's rule in short: No kitchen-specific rule; interior remodeling (including kitchens) uses the general Remodeling Permit Application. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court.
Do you work in my part of Elgin?
Yes. Our crews work across Elgin, including Gifford Park, West Side, Downtown — ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140 — and nearby St. Charles, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Elgin
- A lot of Elgin kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elgin homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Spring-Douglas Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Gifford ParkWest SideDowntown
ZIP 60123ZIP 60124ZIP 60120ZIP 60140
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Elgin
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.