Custom Banquettes & Nooks in Chicago

Maximize Your Kitchen’s Footprint.

We design custom-fitted bench seating with hidden storage, turning awkward corners into your family's favorite breakfast spot.

Trusted by 250+ Chicago Families
5.0 (48) on Google
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Reclaim Your Kitchen. Multiply Your Storage.

Don’t let a tight kitchen layout dictate how your family gathers. Traditional chairs waste valuable square footage. Custom banquettes not only provide comfortable seating but add a massive amount of hidden storage exactly where you desperately need it most.

  • Flip-Top or Drawer Storage: Maximize capacity with smooth pull-out drawers or deep, hidden flip-top lids beneath the seats.
  • Custom Backs & Profiles: We design and build benches with or without custom wood backs, ensuring the piece is perfectly contoured to your existing walls.
  • Painted or Stained: Match your existing kitchen cabinetry flawlessly with our high-end painted or natural stained finishes.
  • Upholstery Integration: Want a softer touch? We seamlessly coordinate with local custom upholsterers to finish your banquette if that is the route you want to go.
Old wooden texture

Trusted by Chicago’s top interior designers and selected for historic Frank Lloyd Wright homes.

Custom Seating Options

Tailored to Your Kitchen. Built to Your Dimensions.

We transform the small, awkward areas of historic Chicago homes into highly functional, beautiful dining spaces.

  • Corner & L-Shaped Nooks

    Perfect for tight layouts. We custom-scribe L-shaped benches directly to your uneven walls, creating a cozy, space-saving dining area that flows naturally with your kitchen.

    Banquettes and Kitchen Nooks Blue Corner 2 scaled

  • Straight Wall Banquettes

    Replace a row of bulky chairs with a sleek, built-in bench against a flat wall, instantly opening up the walkway in narrow Chicago kitchens.

    Banquettes and Kitchen Nooks White Flat 1 scaled

  • Maximum Hidden Storage

    Kitchens always need more storage. Hide bulky appliances, seasonal gear, or extra pantry items in massive, seamlessly integrated compartments beneath your seating.

    Furniture Table and Corner Light Wood Banquete 1

  • Inspiration to Reality

    Have a vision in mind? Bring us your inspirational images, and we will engineer and design a built-in that perfectly fits your space and closely resembles your ideal style.

    Banquettes and Kitchen Nooks White Corner with Storage scaled
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The Founder’s Approach

Built by Jason Waldron. Not a Production Line.

In an industry dominated by mass production, Waldron Woodwork is a deliberate anomaly. Every custom banquette is personally measured, designed, and fabricated by Jason Waldron in our West Grand Ave studio. As a local business, installation isn't the end of our relationship — it's the beginning.

Jason Waldron, founder of Waldron Bros. Woodworking

The Client Experience

A Seamless Path to Custom.

We make the custom furniture process simple, transparent, and exciting. From the first phone call to the final installation, we handle every detail.

  1. 01

    Consultation & Design

    Bring us your inspiration photos and let us measure your exact space. We provide detailed 3D renderings so you can visualize how the seating will function in your kitchen before we begin.

  2. 02

    Off-Site Fabrication

    We build 90% of your banquette in our West Grand Ave workshop, ensuring hospital-grade precision while keeping construction dust out of your kitchen.

  3. 03

    White-Glove Install

    Our team arrives on schedule and treats your home with care. We scribe-fit the seating perfectly to your walls and baseboards, ensuring a flawless, built-in finish.

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Client Stories

Trusted by Your Neighbors.

We don’t rely on advertising. We rely on reputation. Here is what Chicago families are saying about working with Waldron Woodwork.

  • It started with an idea on paper and came to life with the help of Jason and the Waldron Bros Woodworking. I could not be happier with the quality of work, communication, attention to detail, and so much more. I would highly recommend working with the Waldron Bros.
    Seth Kane Irving Park
  • Jason built shelves into our living room, and did a fabulous job. He was able to customize everything to exactly our needs and match our vision, and was with us every step of the way to answer all questions we had. Install was super professional and smooth!
    Emily Greene Wrigleyville
  • Jason installed built ins throughout my house, including the front room which is the first impression people have entering the door. Everyone comments on how great they are and how they seamlessly work into the room. Jason went above and beyond, including driving to four stores across Chicagoland to match the crown molding. He has exceptional attention to detail and worked with me to bring my vision to life. Can’t recommend enough!
    Katharine Berger Lincoln Park
  • We had a terrific experience with Jason and his team. He helped us work through some ideas for a custom corner cabinet and shelves to fit in our dining area, and got all the little details right to make our cabinet look perfect in the space. Our home is 100+ years old and he spent a lot of time ensuring every element was truly custom fit to the slightly uneven floors and walls. We love it and will be working with him again for any future projects.
    Karli Kloss Bucktown
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Inquiries & Availability

Ready to Transform Your Home?

To maintain our standards of quality, we accept a limited number of commissions per quarter. Tell us about your vision below to receive a preliminary estimate.

Common Questions

We’ve compiled a list of questions you might have, but if yours isn’t answered here, please get in touch with us.

  • What is the typical investment for a custom banquette or nook?

    Custom banquettes and kitchen nooks typically range from $​2k to k, depending on the size, design complexity, and storage options.

  • Do you provide the cushions or upholstery?

    While we handle all the premium custom woodworking, we partner and coordinate directly with custom upholsterers if you would like upholstered seats or backs.

  • Can you build a banquette from a picture I found online?

    Absolutely. Most of our clients come to us with an inspirational image, and we take that image to design a built-in that closely resembles it while perfectly fitting your unique space.

  • What kind of storage can be built into the seats?

    We offer either flip-top lid storage (great for deep, long-term storage) or pull-out drawer storage (excellent for easy daily access) to give you a ton of extra kitchen capacity.

  • What is your current lead time?

    Because we are a founder-led studio, we limit our active project load. We are typically booking commissions 6 months in advance. However, we occasionally have openings for smaller pieces (like dining tables) sooner. Contact us to check current availability.

  • What areas do you serve?

    We are based in Chicago (West Grand Ave) and primarily serve the city and the North Shore, including Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, and Lake Forest.

  • What is your return policy?

    Please note that we do not offer returns or refunds for any custom cabinets or furniture once production has begun. Because every inch is designed and built specifically for your home, we cannot resell these items. To ensure your total satisfaction, we provide detailed 3D renderings and finish samples for your approval before we cut a single board.

  • Will the construction be messy?

    No. We utilize an “Off-Site Fabrication” process. 90% of the construction, sanding, and finishing happens in our West Grand Ave workshop. We only bring the finished components to your home for final installation, which keeps your space clean and livable.

  • How do payments work?

    We work on a clear, two-step payment structure. A 50% deposit is required to purchase materials and secure your schedule slot. The remaining 50% is due only when the project is installed and you are thrilled with the result.

  • Are you insured?

    Absolutely. We are fully licensed and carry a full $​4,000,000 umbrella liability policy for your peace of mind and protection.

  • Do you provide design drawings?

    Yes. We never build from a “rough sketch.” After our initial consultation and site measurement, you will receive a design proposal to visualize the scale and layout of your piece before we cut a single board.

  • What materials do you use?

    We work exclusively with solid kiln-dried hardwoods (American Walnut, White Oak, Ash) and the highest cabinet-grade plywoods. We never use MDF or particle board for structural components, and we finish our doors and drawers with premium Austrian Blum soft-close hardware.

  • Does solid wood move or warp?

    Wood is a natural, living material that expands and contracts with humidity. We design our furniture to accommodate this, but slight seasonal changes are natural.

  • Do you do refinishing or repairs?

    We are a design-build studio focused on new commissions. We generally do not take on refinishing, repair, or restoration work on furniture built by others.

Start Your Commission

Prefer to talk? Book a Consultation or reach Jason directly at (217) 493-9777 (Mornings or Late Afternoons).

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