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.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Highland Park, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Highland Park kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Highland Park
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Highland Park kitchens and nooks with drawers or lift-up seats underneath, set at a comfortable height for a standard dining table.
Outlet or heat register in the way
Covering a heat vent with a bench blocks the warm air. We route it through the toe kick or a front grille so the room still heats.
Awkward kitchen corner
If a corner of the kitchen has no purpose, a built-in L-shaped bench and a table give it one.
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.
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
An older built-in with failing cushions and loose boards can be rebuilt with new boxes, storage and fresh upholstery.
Empty bay window
If your kitchen has a bay, a banquette that fits its shape is one of the most natural uses for it.
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.
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 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.
- Seat backs and trimBackrests and trim finished to match the kitchen or the nook.
- FinishingPaint or stain, filled and sanded for a furniture finish.
Finishes and options
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.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers for things you use often, hinged lids for seasonal storage.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesThe shape follows the space: one wall, a corner or a bay window.
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette before and after — Highland Park homes
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Highland Park
This one is a postwar Cape Cod near St. John's. What we started with: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. 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. The job covered measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus building the bench boxes.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Northbrook
The site: a postwar Cape Cod near Techny. 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 sizing the bench and table, seat backs and trim, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Northbrook →
Before
AfterA Buffalo Grove 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near The Highlands. 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. Work included outlets and heat registers, building the bench boxes, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterA Highland Park 1950s ranch: before and after
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 Highland Park →
Before
AfterKitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in a postwar Cape Cod, Highland Park
A new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Highland Park →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 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 Highland Park homeowners
Banquette or kitchen island seating?
Island seating suits quick meals and guests; a banquette suits families who sit down together and want back support.
What is a built-in kitchen bench called?
Banquette is the common term, often used together with breakfast nook.
Can a banquette go against a window?
Often. The bench back stays under the sill, and we check that the window can still be opened.
How long does it take to build a banquette?
Building and installing usually takes several days; cushions and the table may follow separately.
How deep and high should a banquette seat be?
We plan the bench height around the cushion thickness and the table, and the depth around the backrest.
Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.