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.
Serving Elmhurst & nearby Villa Park, Lombard
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Elmhurst, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Elmhurst kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Elmhurst ZIP 60126
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Elmhurst
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 Elmhurst that usually means a straight bench, an L in a corner or a U in a bay.
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.
No storage near the table
The space under a bench is too good to waste. We build in drawers or hinged seats depending on how you'll use it.
Island seating that isn't working
If nobody stays long at the island, a built-in bench and table offers seating with a backrest.
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.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
A small table with chairs that bump the wall rarely gets used. A built-in bench along the wall makes the nook comfortable and keeps the walkway open.
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.
Not enough seats for the family
Benches fit an extra person or two compared with chairs, especially with kids, who slide in easily.
What's included
- 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 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 seatUnder-seat drawers or lids built into each bench section.
- Seat backs and trimAngled backs, paneling or beadboard and trim to suit the room.
- FinishingPaint or stain, filled and sanded for a furniture finish.
Finishes and options
Cushions and upholsteryPerformance fabrics or vinyl hold up best in a kitchen.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers for things you use often, hinged lids for seasonal storage.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openWood-paneled backs, tufted upholstery or a simple open back against the wall.
Pedestal and trestle tablesA center base keeps legs away from the bench so people can slide in.
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Kitchens like yours in Elmhurst: before and after
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Elmhurst
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Elmhurst. What we started with: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: 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. On site this meant measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus seat backs and trim.
Before
AfterVilla Park kitchen, 1950s ranch: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
This one is a 1950s ranch in Villa Park. Before: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: 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. The job covered measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus storage under the seat.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Villa Park →
Before
AfterAn Oak Brook raised ranch: before and after
The site: a raised ranch in Oak Brook. Before: orange-brown linoleum and a hanging swag lamp. 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. On site this meant measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus building the bench boxes.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Elmhurst
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 Elmhurst →
Before
AfterAn Elmhurst postwar Cape Cod: before and after
A new island in navy with a warm walnut butcher block top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Elmhurst →From first visit to final walk-through
- 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 estimateAn itemized estimate for the bench, storage, finish and any electrical or vent changes.
- Build and installBench boxes built and installed, finished, then cushions and table placed.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Elmhurst homeowners
Do you do the cushions?
We focus on the woodwork and can arrange cushions through an upholsterer if you'd like.
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.
What is a built-in kitchen bench called?
A banquette, or simply built-in bench seating.
Can a banquette have storage?
Yes, and it's one of the main reasons people choose built-in seating.
Are banquettes worth it?
They're worth it when the space is tight or awkward. In a big open dining room, chairs may be more flexible.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Elmhurst?
It depends on the scope. Elmhurst's rule in short: Elmhurst requires permits for building and construction projects; all permits are applied for through the City's Citizen Self-Service Portal. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building).
Do you work in my part of Elmhurst?
Yes. Our crews work across Elmhurst — ZIP 60126 — and nearby Villa Park, Lombard, Addison.
Working in Elmhurst
- A lot of Elmhurst kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elmhurst homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department (Building) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60126
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Elmhurst
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.