Not enough seats for the family
When everyone can't sit at once, a banquette along the wall usually adds seats without enlarging the table area.
Serving Wheaton & nearby Glen Ellyn, Winfield
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Wheaton, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Wheaton kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Local crews working in Wheaton ZIP 60189, 60187
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Wheaton
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 Wheaton that usually means a straight bench, an L in a corner or a U in a bay.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No storage near the table
Banquette seats can hide drawers or lift-up lids for table linens, placemats, games or seasonal dishes.
Awkward kitchen corner
An L-shaped banquette tucks into a corner and seats more people than chairs could, with storage under both runs.
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 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 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
Pedestal and trestle tablesA center base keeps legs away from the bench so people can slide in.
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesStraight benches for a wall, L-shapes for corners and U-shapes for bays.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette before and after — Wheaton homes
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Wheaton
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Wheaton Center. What we started with: oak parquet and a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was a bay window with no real place to sit. Finished kitchen: 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.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1960s ranch in Glen Ellyn
The site: a 1960s ranch in Glen Ellyn. The kitchen as it was: 9-inch vinyl floor tiles and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. 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 measuring the nook, outlets and heat registers, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Glen Ellyn →
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Winfield
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Winfield, a typical kitchen for Winfield. The kitchen as it was: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. 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 measuring the nook, building the bench boxes, plus storage under the seat.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Winfield →
Before
AfterPantry Design & Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Wheaton
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 Wheaton →
Before
AfterKitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in a 1990s two-story colonial, Wheaton
A new island in dusty blue with a black honed granite top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Wheaton →The project, step by step
- 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 estimateYou get a written quote listing every part, including cushions if we coordinate them.
- Build and installWe build, finish and install the banquette, then make final adjustments with you.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Wheaton homeowners
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.
How deep and high should a banquette seat be?
Close to a regular dining chair, measured with the cushion on. We plan the depth and back angle so you're not perched or slouched.
What is a built-in kitchen bench called?
Usually a banquette. You'll also hear breakfast nook, booth seating or built-in bench.
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.
Banquette or kitchen island seating?
If you want a real table, a banquette. If you want counter space plus a few stools, an island.
Wheaton contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Yes: contractors register online with the City; $75 fee, renewed annually. We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Wheaton?
Yes. Our crews work across Wheaton, including Downtown Wheaton, Wheaton Center, Danada Square area — ZIP 60189, 60187 — and nearby Glen Ellyn, Winfield, Glendale Heights.
Working in Wheaton
- A lot of Wheaton kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Wheaton homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Downtown WheatonWheaton CenterDanada Square area
ZIP 60189ZIP 60187
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Wheaton
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.