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.
Serving Villa Park & nearby Elmhurst, Lombard
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Villa Park, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Villa Park kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Villa Park ZIP 60181
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Villa Park
We build banquettes as built-in furniture, not as kits: plywood boxes fastened to the wall, faced and finished to suit your kitchen, with cushions or upholstered seats on top. In Villa Park that usually means a straight bench, an L in a corner or a U in a bay.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
Nooks with loose chairs feel cramped. Fixed seating against the wall uses the space much better.
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.
Awkward kitchen corner
If a corner of the kitchen has no purpose, a built-in L-shaped bench and a table give it one.
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.
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.
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.
Worn-out old banquette
A dated banquette with flattened cushions can often be refaced and re-cushioned, or replaced if the frame is weak.
Everything in a banquette build
- Measuring the nookWe measure walls, windows, bays, outlets and vents in the area.
- 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.
- 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.
- FinishingPainted or stained to match the cabinets or as a deliberate contrast.
- Cushions and tableSeat and back cushions coordinated with an upholsterer, and a table chosen to fit.
Materials and options
Painted or stained woodA painted or stained finish chosen to match or contrast with the kitchen.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
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.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette before and after — Villa Park homes
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Villa Park
The site: a 1950s ranch in Villa Park. What we started with: vinyl in a checker pattern and a dome ceiling light. What bothered the owners most: an empty corner with a wobbly table nobody 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 building the bench boxes, seat backs and trim, plus cushions and table.
Before
AfterAn Elmhurst postwar Cape Cod: before and after
This one is a postwar Cape Cod in Elmhurst. The kitchen as it was: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. What bothered the owners most: an empty corner with a wobbly table nobody 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, storage under the seat, plus seat backs and trim.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Elmhurst →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1970s tract home in Oak Brook
A 1970s tract home in Oak Brook, a typical kitchen for Oak Brook. The kitchen as it was: orange-brown linoleum and a hanging swag lamp. 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. Work included seat backs and trim, finishing, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Villa Park
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 Villa Park →
Before
AfterA Villa Park 1960s ranch: before and after
Finished: a new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Villa Park →The project, step by step
- 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 installBench boxes built and installed, finished, then cushions and table placed.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Villa Park homeowners
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.
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 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.
Do you do the cushions?
The seat is built to fit standard or custom cushions; we can coordinate the upholstery for you.
How much does a built-in banquette cost?
Length, storage type, finish and upholstery drive the price. We put it in writing once we've seen the space.
Do I need a Villa Park-registered contractor for banquette build?
No general contractor registration described. Homeowners acting as own general contractor submit a form and homeowner's insurance copy. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Villa Park?
It depends on the scope. Villa Park's rule in short: Permit required for adding, replacing or relocating plumbing fixtures, electrical or HVAC systems, and for moving or building walls. We handle the permit when one is needed with Permitting Division, Community & Economic Development.
Do you work in my part of Villa Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Villa Park — ZIP 60181 — and nearby Elmhurst, Lombard, Addison.
Working in Villa Park
- A lot of Villa Park kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Villa Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Permitting Division, Community & Economic Development handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60181
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Villa Park
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.