Island seating that isn't working
If nobody stays long at the island, a built-in bench and table offers seating with a backrest.
Serving Wood Dale & nearby Itasca, Elk Grove Village
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Wood Dale, IL
We build banquette benches and breakfast nooks in Wood Dale kitchens, with storage under the seat and a table sized to fit.
- Kitchen remodels across Wood Dale ZIP 60191
- One project manager from drawings to final walk-through
- Permits and inspections handled for you
Eat-in kitchen problems a banquette solves in Wood Dale
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 Wood Dale that usually means a straight bench, an L in a corner or a U in a bay.
No room to pull out chairs
When chairs hit the wall or the island every time someone stands up, a banquette on one or two sides solves it.
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.
Not enough seats for the family
Benches fit an extra person or two compared with chairs, especially with kids, who slide in easily.
A breakfast nook nobody uses
Nooks with loose chairs feel cramped. Fixed seating against the wall uses the space much better.
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.
Worn-out old banquette
A dated banquette with flattened cushions can often be refaced and re-cushioned, or replaced if the frame is weak.
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.
What the project covers
- 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 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.
- 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 tableWe help size cushions and the table so the setup works together.
Choices you'll make
Cushions and upholsteryLoose cushions or fixed upholstered seats in durable, cleanable fabric.
Backs: paneled, upholstered or openThe back can be solid wood, cushioned or the wall itself with a cushion.
Painted or stained woodPaint-grade wood that matches the cabinets, or stained wood for a furniture look.
Drawers vs. lift-up seatsDrawers are easier to reach; lift-up seats hold more but need people to stand.
Straight, L-shaped and U-shaped banquettesThe shape follows the space: one wall, a corner or a bay window.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette before and after — Wood Dale homes
Before
AfterA Wood Dale postwar bi-level: before and after
A postwar bi-level in Wood Dale, a typical kitchen for Wood Dale. The kitchen as it was: brick-pattern sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light. 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, outlets and heat registers, plus finishing.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Itasca
This one is a 1980s two-story in Itasca. The kitchen as it was: beige sheet vinyl and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: an empty corner with a wobbly table nobody used. After: 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, building the bench boxes, plus finishing.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Itasca →
Before
AfterBuilt-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in a 1960s ranch, Elk Grove Village
A 1960s ranch in Elk Grove Village, a typical kitchen for Elk Grove Village. Before: 9-inch vinyl floor tiles and a round fluorescent ceiling ring. 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. The job covered seat backs and trim, finishing, plus cushions and table.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette in Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterWood Dale 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 Wood Dale →
Before
AfterA Wood Dale postwar Cape Cod: before and after
A new island in dusty blue with a creamy quartzite-look quartz top and seating.
Kitchen Island & Peninsula Installation in Wood Dale →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 installWe build, finish and install the banquette, then make final adjustments with you.
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette questions from Wood Dale homeowners
Can a banquette have storage?
Yes, and it's one of the main reasons people choose built-in seating.
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.
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.
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 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.
Wood Dale contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors (general, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc.) must register with the City before a permit is issued. Requires Certificate of Insurance ($2,000,000 public liability) naming the City, state license/IDPH registration if applicable. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for banquette build in Wood Dale?
It depends on the scope. Wood Dale's rule in short: A permit is required for any alteration or repair of a building. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department.
Do you work in my part of Wood Dale?
Yes. Our crews work across Wood Dale — ZIP 60191 — and nearby Itasca, Elk Grove Village, Addison.
Working in Wood Dale
- A lot of Wood Dale kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Wood Dale homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60191
Built-In Breakfast Nook & Banquette nearby
Other kitchen services in Wood Dale
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.