Empty bay window
Bays tend to become dead space with a plant or a chair in them. Built-in seating that follows the angles turns them into the best seat in the house.
Serving Schaumburg & nearby Roselle, Hoffman Estates
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Schaumburg, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Schaumburg kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Schaumburg ZIP 60193, 60173, 60194, 60195
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Schaumburg
Bay windows, empty corners and the end of a kitchen run are where banquettes work best. In Schaumburg we measure the space, plan seat depth and table clearance, and deal with the outlets and heat registers in the wall behind before we build.
Not enough seats for the family
Benches fit an extra person or two compared with chairs, especially with kids, who slide in easily.
Awkward kitchen corner
Corners are hard to furnish. A corner bench uses both walls and leaves the outside of the table open for chairs.
Kitchen open to the family room with no defined dining spot
When the dining table floats in the middle of the room, building a bench against a wall anchors it.
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.
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.
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.
No storage near the table
Under-seat storage turns the bench into a cabinet. Drawers are easier to reach than lift-up lids when people are sitting.
Everything in a banquette build
- Measuring the nookWe measure walls, windows, bays, outlets and vents in the area.
- Sizing the bench and tableWe plan the bench layout and the table so people can slide in and sit comfortably.
- Outlets and heat registersAnything in the wall or floor behind the bench is moved or vented through it.
- 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.
- Cushions and tableWe help size cushions and the table so the setup works together.
Finishes and options
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers for things you use often, hinged lids for seasonal storage.
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Cushions and upholsteryPerformance fabrics or vinyl hold up best in a kitchen.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Pedestal and trestle tablesA center base keeps legs away from the bench so people can slide in.
Before and after: kitchens near Schaumburg
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1980s two-story, Schaumburg
This one is a 1980s two-story near Town Square. What we started with: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and two hanging glass pendants. 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. Work included sizing the bench and table, outlets and heat registers, plus storage under the seat.
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1970s split-level, Roselle
A 1970s split-level in Roselle, a typical kitchen for Roselle. Before: orange-brown linoleum and a hanging swag lamp. What bothered the owners most: 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, storage under the seat, plus seat backs and trim.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Roselle →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Itasca
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near South Side. The kitchen as it was: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. 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. Work included measuring the nook, outlets and heat registers, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Itasca →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Schaumburg
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 Schaumburg →
Before
AfterA Schaumburg 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
A new island in dusty blue with a dark soapstone-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Schaumburg →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 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 Schaumburg homeowners
Do you do the cushions?
We focus on the woodwork and can arrange cushions through an upholsterer if you'd like.
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?
Outlets are moved to stay accessible, and floor or wall registers are vented through the bench so the room still heats.
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.
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.
Schaumburg contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must register with the Village; out-of-town contractor license $125/year (includes $10 Schaumburg Business Association fee), runs through Dec 31. We take care of that before work starts.
Can you do banquette build in a Schaumburg condo?
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 you work in my part of Schaumburg?
Yes. Our crews work across Schaumburg, including Weathersfield, International Village, Woodfield area, Olde Schaumburg Centre — ZIP 60193, 60173, 60194, 60195 — and nearby Roselle, Hoffman Estates, Hanover Park.
Working in Schaumburg
- A lot of Schaumburg kitchens date from the 1970s. 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.
- Live in the Olde Schaumburg Centre Overlay District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
WeathersfieldInternational VillageWoodfield areaOlde Schaumburg CentreTown Square
ZIP 60193ZIP 60173ZIP 60194ZIP 60195
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Schaumburg
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.