Empty bay window
If your kitchen has a bay, a banquette that fits its shape is one of the most natural uses for it.
Serving Oak Brook & nearby Villa Park, Lombard
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Oak Brook, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Oak Brook kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Oak Brook ZIP 60523
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Oak Brook
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Oak Brook kitchens and nooks with drawers or lift-up seats underneath, set at a comfortable height for a standard dining table.
Worn-out old banquette
An older built-in with failing cushions and loose boards can be rebuilt with new boxes, storage and fresh upholstery.
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.
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.
Island seating that isn't working
Sometimes a banquette is the better choice instead of island stools, especially for families who eat together every day.
Outlet or heat register in the way
Wall outlets behind a banquette are moved to the side or above the seat back; we bring in an electrician for that part.
Kitchen open to the family room with no defined dining spot
In an open plan, a banquette against a wall or the back of an island gives the eating area its own place.
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.
What the project covers
- 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.
- 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
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesThe shape follows the space: one wall, a corner or a bay window.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers for things you use often, hinged lids for seasonal storage.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Painted or stained woodA painted or stained finish chosen to match or contrast with the kitchen.
Before and after: kitchens near Oak Brook
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a raised ranch, Oak Brook
The site: a raised ranch in Oak Brook. The kitchen as it was: orange-brown linoleum and a hanging swag lamp. The reason for the call: a breakfast nook that never got used. Finished kitchen: 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, seat backs and trim, plus finishing.
Before
AfterA Villa Park 1950s ranch: before and after
The site: a 1950s ranch in Villa Park. Before: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. The main complaint was 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. On site this meant outlets and heat registers, building the bench boxes, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Villa Park →
Before
AfterAn Elmhurst 1960s ranch: before and after
A 1960s ranch in Elmhurst, a typical kitchen for Elmhurst. The kitchen as it was: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. The main complaint was a breakfast nook that never got used. Finished kitchen: 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, outlets and heat registers, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Elmhurst →
Before
AfterAn Oak Brook 1970s split-level: before and after
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 Oak Brook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1970s split-level in Oak Brook
A new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Oak Brook →How your banquette build goes
- 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 installWe build, finish and install the banquette, then make final adjustments with you.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Oak Brook homeowners
What table works with a banquette?
A pedestal or trestle table, so legs don't get in the way. Round for corners and bays, rectangular for straight benches.
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.
Can a banquette go against a window?
Yes. We set the back height below the windowsill so the window still opens and the trim stays visible.
Are banquettes worth it?
For small eat-in areas, usually yes. They seat more people in less space and add storage under the seat.
What about outlets and heat vents behind the bench?
Outlets are moved to stay accessible, and floor or wall registers are vented through the bench so the room still heats.
Oak Brook contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Oak Brook does not require contractor registration; no village-specific requirements for residential alterations. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Oak Brook?
It depends on the scope. Oak Brook's rule in short: Village publishes a Residential Permit Requirement Listing; its Residential Alteration category requires contract/scope of work, architectural plans and plat of survey. We handle the permit when one is needed with Development Services (Building).
Do you work in my part of Oak Brook?
Yes. Our crews work across Oak Brook — ZIP 60523 — and nearby Villa Park, Lombard, Elmhurst.
Working in Oak Brook
- A lot of Oak Brook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Oak Brook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development Services (Building) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60523
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Oak Brook
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.