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.
Serving Lombard & nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Lombard, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Lombard kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Lombard ZIP 60148
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Lombard
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Lombard kitchens and nooks with drawers or lift-up seats underneath, set at a comfortable height for a standard dining table.
Kitchen open to the family room with no defined dining spot
A built-in bench can define a dining area in an open kitchen without adding walls.
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
The space under a bench is too good to waste. We build in drawers or hinged seats depending on how you'll use it.
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.
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.
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
When everyone can't sit at once, a banquette along the wall usually adds seats without enlarging the table area.
What's included
- 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 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 seatDrawers in the bench face or hinged lift-up seats, as you prefer.
- Seat backs and trimAngled backs, paneling or beadboard and trim to suit the room.
- FinishingPainted or stained to match the cabinets or as a deliberate contrast.
Materials and options
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Painted or stained woodA painted or stained finish chosen to match or contrast with the kitchen.
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette before and after — Lombard homes
Before
AfterLombard kitchen, 1950s ranch: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
The site: a 1950s ranch in Lombard. The kitchen as it was: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. The reason for the call: 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 measuring the nook, sizing the bench and table, plus building the bench boxes.
Before
AfterA Glen Ellyn 1960s ranch: before and after
A 1960s ranch in Glen Ellyn, a typical kitchen for Glen Ellyn. What we started with: 9-inch vinyl floor tiles and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. 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. The job covered building the bench boxes, storage under the seat, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Glen Ellyn →
Before
AfterAddison kitchen, postwar bi-level: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
A postwar bi-level in Addison, a typical kitchen for Addison. Before: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. 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. The job covered measuring the nook, storage under the seat, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Addison →
Before
AfterA Lombard 1960s ranch: 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 Lombard →
Before
AfterA Lombard 1950s ranch: before and after
A new island in dusty blue with a charcoal concrete-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Lombard →From first visit to final walk-through
- Send photos of the spaceA few photos of the corner, bay or nook and rough measurements are enough to start.
- 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 Lombard homeowners
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?
A straight bench costs less than a U-shaped bay build. We quote every part separately after the visit.
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.
What about outlets and heat vents behind the bench?
We don't cover vents or outlets. An electrician relocates outlets and we build a grille into the bench for the heat.
What is a built-in kitchen bench called?
A banquette, or simply built-in bench seating.
Do Lombard condo associations need to approve banquette build?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a Lombard-registered contractor for banquette build?
Contractors must register with the Village: $100 fee, valid 1 year, online or via Building Division; insurance certificate with at least $300,000 liability coverage. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Lombard?
It depends on the scope. Lombard's rule in short: Village requires a building permit for new structures and updates to existing structures; replacing interior doors and fixtures at the same size with no structural change needs no permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development and Building.
Do you work in my part of Lombard?
Yes. Our crews work across Lombard — ZIP 60148 — and nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, Addison.
Working in Lombard
- A lot of Lombard kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building Division, Community Development and Building handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60148
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Lombard
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.