1990s openings sized for old appliances
Cabinets from the 1990s were built around appliance sizes that have since grown. We resize those openings rather than replacing every cabinet.
Serving Crystal Lake & nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Crystal Lake, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Crystal Lake so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Crystal Lake ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Crystal Lake owners ask us for
You do not need new cabinets to get a bigger refrigerator or more drawers. We rework the boxes you already own: openings widened or raised, doors turned into drawers, panels and fillers added, all matched to the finish in your Crystal Lake kitchen.
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.
Fridge opening too narrow
Width usually comes from the fillers and panels beside the fridge. We find where the space can be taken and rebuild a clean finished edge.
No place for the microwave
Getting the microwave off the counter usually means converting one cabinet into an open shelf sized for it, plus an outlet added by an electrician.
Want a counter-depth or built-in look
If the fridge looks like it is floating in front of the cabinets, a surround of panels and a deeper upper cabinet frames it properly.
Switching to a wider range
Moving from a 30-inch to a 36-inch range means taking width from the base cabinets beside it. We cut and rebuild those boxes and coordinate the countertop cut.
Panel-ready dishwasher or fridge
Panel-ready appliances take a cabinet door on the front. We build or order a panel that matches your doors and mount it to the appliance maker's template.
Unfinished or damaged end panels
An end panel with a recessed or Shaker detail makes the side of a run look intentional. We cut it to fit and match the finish.
Included with the install
- Protecting the counters and floorCounters, floors and nearby cabinets are covered before we start cutting.
- Cutting and rebuilding the boxesBoxes are cut to the new size and rebuilt with new sides, bottoms or face frame pieces as needed.
- Raising or shortening uppersWe reset wall cabinets at the new height and fasten them securely into studs.
- Panels, fillers and trimNew end panels, fillers, scribe and toe-kick are fitted where the cabinets were changed.
- Hardware and soft-close partsAny door or drawer we touch gets its hinges and pulls aligned with the neighboring cabinets.
- Coordinating other tradesIf an outlet, water line or gas line has to move, we schedule a licensed trade around our work.
- Appliance fit check and cleanupThe new unit is test-fitted, doors are adjusted and the dust leaves with us.
What to pick before the install
Drawer boxes and slidesWe fit sturdy drawer boxes with slides rated for heavy pots.
Appliance panels and trim kitsFronts and trim for integrated dishwashers, fridges and microwaves, sized to the maker's template.
Paint and stain for new partsCabinet-grade paint or stain mixed to your existing finish, sprayed for a smooth surface.
Matching face frame stockHardwood strips milled to match the existing face frames in width and species.
Cabinet-grade plywoodPlywood is our default for new box parts; it is stiffer and handles moisture better than particleboard.
What the work looks like in Crystal Lake homes
Before
Installed
DetailKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1980s two-story, Crystal Lake
This one is a 1980s two-story in Crystal Lake. Before: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white 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, panels, fillers and trim, plus hardware and soft-close parts.
Before
AfterA Palatine 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
A 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine, a typical kitchen for Palatine. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. What bothered the owners most: 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. On site this meant raising or shortening uppers, panels, fillers and trim, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Palatine →
Before
AfterA Crystal Lake 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
What changed: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in light greige 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 a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Crystal Lake →
Before
AfterA Crystal Lake 1980s two-story: before and after
What changed: cabinets in warm taupe with satin brass pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light beige 18x18 porcelain tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Crystal Lake →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Crystal Lake
What changed: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Crystal Lake →Install day
- Visit and measureAt the visit we measure the openings and check how the cabinets are built.
- Plan and estimateYou get a plan of what will be cut and rebuilt and a written estimate.
- Parts preparedPanels, fronts and drawer boxes are made or ordered to size.
- On-site workMost modifications are finished on site in one or two working days.
- Fit checkWe check clearances and door swings with you before we leave.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Crystal Lake homeowners
Do you also install the appliance?
We handle the cabinet side. Hookups that need a plumber, gas fitter or electrician are scheduled with them.
Can you add a microwave shelf to my cabinets?
Yes. We convert an upper, base or pantry cabinet into a shelf sized for your microwave, with ventilation space the maker calls for.
Can you add soft-close to old cabinets?
Often. Many concealed hinges accept soft-close adapters or can be swapped, and drawer slides can be replaced with soft-close ones.
Should I modify or replace my cabinets?
Targeted changes make sense for sound cabinets. Widespread damage or a new layout points toward replacement.
Do I need new countertops if you resize a cabinet?
It depends. Making room for a wider range often means cutting the counter; raising an upper cabinet does not touch it.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Crystal Lake?
It depends on the scope. Crystal Lake's rule in short: Kitchen alteration handout (Nov 2019) requires a contractor list and two sets of plans showing floor plans, electrical layout, structure and plumbing changes; inspections for rough electrical, plumbing, framing, insulation and final. We handle the permit when one is needed with City of Crystal Lake Community Development - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Crystal Lake?
Yes. Our crews work across Crystal Lake, including Downtown, Coventry, Four Colonies, The Villages — ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098 — and nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Crystal Lake
- A lot of Crystal Lake kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Crystal Lake homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
DowntownCoventryFour ColoniesThe VillagesWedgewoodBurtons Bridge
ZIP 60014ZIP 60012ZIP 60098
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Crystal Lake
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.