Island seating that isn't working
If nobody stays long at the island, a built-in bench and table offers seating with a backrest.
Serving Mount Prospect & nearby Des Plaines, Arlington Heights
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Mount Prospect, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Mount Prospect kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Mount Prospect ZIP 60056, 60005
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Mount Prospect
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Mount Prospect kitchens and nooks with drawers or lift-up seats underneath, set at a comfortable height for a standard dining 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.
Outlet or heat register in the way
An outlet or a floor register behind the bench needs a plan. We relocate outlets to stay accessible and carry the heat through a grille in the bench face.
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.
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.
No room to pull out chairs
Built-in seating saves the clearance chairs need, which is often what makes a small eat-in area work.
Awkward kitchen corner
An L-shaped banquette tucks into a corner and seats more people than chairs could, with storage under both runs.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
If the eat-in corner collects mail instead of people, the seating is the problem. A banquette makes it a place you want to sit.
Everything in a banquette build
- 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 boxesPlywood bench boxes built and fastened to the wall framing and floor.
- 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.
- Cushions and tableWe help size cushions and the table so the setup works together.
Materials and options
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openWood-paneled backs, tufted upholstery or a simple open back against the wall.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Kitchens like yours in Mount Prospect: before and after
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1950s ranch, Mount Prospect
This one is a 1950s ranch in Mount Prospect. Before: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box 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. On site this meant storage under the seat, seat backs and trim, plus cushions and table.
Before
AfterA Des Plaines 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch in Des Plaines. Before: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: 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. On site this meant sizing the bench and table, seat backs and trim, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1960s ranch, Elk Grove Village
The site: a 1960s ranch in Elk Grove Village. Before: 9-inch vinyl floor tiles and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. 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. Work included sizing the bench and table, storage under the seat, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterMount Prospect kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: 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 Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterMount Prospect kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: kitchen island & peninsula installation
What changed: a new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Mount Prospect →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 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 Mount Prospect homeowners
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.
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.
Can a banquette have storage?
Most of ours do: drawers for easy access or lift-up lids for larger items.
How long does it take to build a banquette?
The carpentry is usually done in days. Paint curing and upholstery add a bit of time.
Banquette or kitchen island seating?
Island seating suits quick meals and guests; a banquette suits families who sit down together and want back support.
Do Mount Prospect 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 Mount Prospect-registered contractor for banquette build?
A Contractor's License is required for general contractors (and listed trades); $200, valid one year, applied for through the online portal. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Mount Prospect?
It depends on the scope. Mount Prospect's rule in short: Kitchen remodels need a permit and a code review (about 10 business days). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services.
Do you work in my part of Mount Prospect?
Yes. Our crews work across Mount Prospect — ZIP 60056, 60005 — and nearby Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Mount Prospect
- A lot of Mount Prospect 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 Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60056ZIP 60005
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Mount Prospect
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.