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 Park Ridge & nearby Des Plaines, Glenview
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Park Ridge, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Park Ridge kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Park Ridge ZIP 60068
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Park Ridge
A banquette fits more people into a corner than a table and chairs ever will. Our finish carpenters build benches into Park Ridge 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.
Table that's hard to slide into
We size and position the table so you can slide along the bench without climbing over legs.
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.
Awkward kitchen corner
If a corner of the kitchen has no purpose, a built-in L-shaped bench and a table give it one.
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.
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.
What's included
- 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 boxesPlywood bench boxes built and fastened to the wall framing and floor.
- Storage under the seatDrawers in the bench face or hinged lift-up seats, as you prefer.
- Seat backs and trimBackrests and trim finished to match the kitchen or the nook.
- FinishingPaint or stain, filled and sanded for a furniture finish.
- Cushions and tableWe help size cushions and the table so the setup works together.
Finishes and options
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Pedestal and trestle tablesRound tables suit corners and bays; rectangular ones suit straight benches.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
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.
What the work looks like in Park Ridge homes
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar Cape Cod in Park Ridge
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Park Ridge. The kitchen as it was: 9-inch vinyl floor tiles and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. 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. The job covered sizing the bench and table, seat backs and trim, plus cushions and table.
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a postwar Cape Cod, Des Plaines
The site: a postwar Cape Cod in Des Plaines. 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. 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, storage under the seat, plus seat backs and trim.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterGlenview kitchen, 1950s ranch: built-in breakfast nook & banquette
The site: a 1950s ranch near The Park. Before: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: 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 outlets and heat registers, building the bench boxes, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Glenview →
Before
AfterPark Ridge 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 Park Ridge →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Park Ridge
A new island in dusty blue with a charcoal concrete-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Park Ridge →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 planWe measure, check outlets and vents and sketch the bench, table 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 Park Ridge homeowners
Can a banquette have storage?
Most of ours do: drawers for easy access or lift-up lids for larger items.
How deep and high should a banquette seat be?
Seat height with the cushion should match a dining chair so the table works. Depth depends on whether the back is angled or cushioned.
How long does it take to build a banquette?
Most banquettes are built and finished within a week or two from the start of work, plus cushion lead time.
What about outlets and heat vents behind the bench?
Both are common. We plan around them during measuring so the bench doesn't block power or airflow.
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.
Park Ridge contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Building contractors must register with the City each calendar year ($50 per firm). We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Park Ridge?
It depends on the scope. Park Ridge's rule in short: Park Ridge publishes permit guidelines by project type; contact the Permit Technicians to confirm whether a kitchen project needs a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed.
Do you work in my part of Park Ridge?
Yes. Our crews work across Park Ridge — ZIP 60068 — and nearby Des Plaines, Glenview, Skokie.
Working in Park Ridge
- A lot of Park Ridge kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Park Ridge homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Park Ridge building department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60068
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Park Ridge
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.