1970s openings sized for old appliances
Cabinets from the 1970s were built around appliance sizes that have since grown. We resize those openings rather than replacing every cabinet.
Serving Bloomingdale & nearby Roselle, Glendale Heights
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Bloomingdale, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Bloomingdale so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Bloomingdale ZIP 60108
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Bloomingdale owners ask us for
We are cabinet carpenters who handle the small structural changes a kitchen needs between remodels. In Bloomingdale that usually means making room for a new appliance, adding a microwave shelf or swapping base doors for drawers, without disturbing the rest of the cabinets.
No place for the microwave
A microwave taking up counter space can move into a shelf built into an upper or base cabinet, with a trim kit or a finished opening.
Base cabinets with doors instead of drawers
Deep base cabinets with a door and one shelf waste space. We convert them into stacks of drawers with new boxes, slides and matching fronts.
Flat doors that look plain
Adding molding to flat cabinet doors is a common update. Done well, the trim is mitered tight and disappears under the finish.
New refrigerator is too tall for the opening
Many newer fridges are taller than the cabinet above the old one allows. We raise or shorten that upper cabinet and reset it so the new unit slides in with proper air space.
Wasted space at fillers and corners
Some fillers are there for door clearance and must stay. Others can be turned into narrow storage, and we tell you which is which.
Fridge opening too narrow
When a wider refrigerator will not fit between the cabinets, we remove a filler, trim a face frame or take out a narrow side cabinet to gain the width.
Removing an upper for open shelves
If you want open shelves by the window or range, we remove the upper, close up the sides of the remaining cabinets and hang shelves into the studs.
Included with the install
- Measuring the appliance and openingWe check the new appliance's spec sheet against the actual opening, including clearances and door swing.
- Protecting the counters and floorWe lay protection on the floor and tape off counters and adjacent doors.
- Removing doors, fillers or a cabinetWe detach the parts that are in the way and keep anything that can be reused.
- Cutting and rebuilding the boxesWe resize each cabinet and reinforce it so it is as solid as before.
- Raising or shortening uppersWe reset wall cabinets at the new height and fasten them securely into studs.
- Drawers and shelvesNew drawer boxes, slides and fronts or a fixed microwave shelf are installed in the modified cabinet.
- Matching the finishNew parts are painted or stained to match the existing cabinets as closely as the old finish allows.
What to pick before the install
Cabinet-grade plywoodPlywood is our default for new box parts; it is stiffer and handles moisture better than particleboard.
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
Matching face frame stockWe use the same wood species as your frames when we rebuild an edge.
Drawer boxes and slidesPlywood or dovetail drawer boxes on full-extension, soft-close slides.
Appliance panels and trim kitsCustom fronts for panel-ready appliances and trim kits for built-in microwaves.
Before and after: kitchens near Bloomingdale
Before
Installed
DetailKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1990s two-story colonial, Bloomingdale
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near Old Town Bloomingdale. Before: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white appliances. What bothered the owners most: an appliance upgrade the old cabinets could not take. After: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. On site this meant measuring the appliance and opening, raising or shortening uppers, plus matching the finish.
Before
AfterRoselle kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen cabinet modification
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Roselle. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. The reason for the call: a new refrigerator that would not fit the old opening. Finished kitchen: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. The job covered cutting and rebuilding the boxes, drawers and shelves, plus matching the finish.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Roselle →
Before
AfterA Carol Stream two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Carol Stream, a typical kitchen for Carol Stream. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. The main complaint was a new refrigerator that would not fit the old opening. The result: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. The job covered protecting the counters and floor, cutting and rebuilding the boxes, plus matching the finish.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Carol Stream →
Before
AfterAccessible Kitchen Remodeling in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Bloomingdale
What changed: a lowered warm walnut butcher block counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in pale mint green with brushed nickel bar pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Bloomingdale →
Before
AfterA Bloomingdale 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
What changed: cabinets in pale sage with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Bloomingdale →How the install goes
- Visit and measureWe look at the cabinets, the new appliance specs and what you want to change.
- Plan and estimateWe explain the approach, any limits on finish matching and the price in writing.
- Parts preparedAnything custom is built ahead so the on-site time stays short.
- On-site workMost modifications are finished on site in one or two working days.
- Fit checkThe appliance goes in, we adjust everything and walk through it with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Bloomingdale homeowners
Can my cabinets be cut for a bigger fridge?
In many kitchens it can be done. We check the new fridge's height, width and clearance needs against your opening first.
What is the cheapest way to upgrade kitchen cabinets?
Keep the boxes and change what bothers you most, such as adding drawers or a microwave shelf. Paint or new doors can follow later.
Should I modify or replace my cabinets?
Modify when the boxes are solid and you only need a few changes. Replace when the cabinets are failing or the layout itself is the problem.
Can cabinet doors be changed to drawers?
In most base cabinets, yes. The face frame may need new rails to create the drawer openings.
Can you modify existing kitchen cabinets?
Usually. The condition of the boxes and how they were built decide what can be changed and how cleanly.
Do I need a Bloomingdale-registered contractor for cabinet modification?
No registration application or fee to work as a contractor in Bloomingdale. Permit submittals need a detailed written scope of work. We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Bloomingdale?
Yes. Our crews work across Bloomingdale, including Old Town Bloomingdale — ZIP 60108 — and nearby Roselle, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream.
Working in Bloomingdale
- A lot of Bloomingdale kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Bloomingdale homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
Old Town Bloomingdale
ZIP 60108
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Bloomingdale
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer RepairHinges, drawer slides and water-damaged sink bases fixed.
Pull-Out Shelves & Cabinet OrganizersRoll-out shelves and organizers built to fit your existing cabinets.
Accessible Kitchen RemodelingKitchens that work for every age and ability.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.