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 Elk Grove Village & nearby Itasca, Wood Dale
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Elk Grove Village, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Elk Grove Village so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Installers working in Elk Grove Village ZIP 60007
- Hookups by licensed trades where the code calls for it
- Old unit hauled away on request
Cabinet changes Elk Grove Village owners ask us for
We are cabinet carpenters who handle the small structural changes a kitchen needs between remodels. In Elk Grove Village 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.
Flat doors that look plain
If you like your cabinets but the doors are too plain, applied trim changes the profile without new doors.
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.
Panel-ready dishwasher or fridge
If you want the dishwasher to disappear into the cabinets, we make a matching front and attach it so it lines up with the drawers beside it.
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.
Switching to a wider range
A larger range needs a wider opening in both the cabinets and the counter. We plan which side gives up width and rebuild that cabinet to its new size.
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.
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.
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 floorCounters, floors and nearby cabinets are covered before we start cutting.
- Removing doors, fillers or a cabinetWe detach the parts that are in the way and keep anything that can be reused.
- Raising or shortening uppersWe reset wall cabinets at the new height and fasten them securely into studs.
- Panels, fillers and trimFinished panels and trim cover every cut edge and new side.
- Coordinating other tradesElectrical and plumbing changes are booked with licensed trades so the opening is ready on time.
- Appliance fit check and cleanupWe confirm the appliance fits with the needed clearances, then clean the work area.
What to pick before the install
Cabinet-grade plywoodUsed for rebuilt sides, bottoms and shelves because it holds screws well and resists sagging.
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsReady-made inserts for narrow spaces: tray dividers, spice pull-outs and microwave shelves.
Matching face frame stockHardwood strips milled to match the existing face frames in width and species.
Paint and stain for new partsWe finish new pieces with the same type of coating the cabinets have, tinted to match.
What the work looks like in Elk Grove Village homes
Before
Installed
DetailKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1980s two-story, Elk Grove Village
A 1980s two-story in Elk Grove Village, a typical kitchen for Elk Grove Village. What we started with: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. What bothered the owners most: cabinets built around appliances that no longer exist. Finished kitchen: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. Work included protecting the counters and floor, raising or shortening uppers, plus panels, fillers and trim.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Wood Dale
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Wood Dale. What we started with: 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. After: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. On site this meant removing doors, fillers or a cabinet, raising or shortening uppers, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Wood Dale →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s condo in Mount Prospect
This one is a 1980s condo in Mount Prospect. The kitchen as it was: white raised-panel thermofoil cabinets and white appliances. The main complaint was an appliance upgrade the old cabinets could not take. The result: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. The job covered measuring the appliance and opening, protecting the counters and floor, plus raising or shortening uppers.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterAn Elk Grove Village postwar Cape Cod: before and after
Finished: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in pale sage uppers and light gray lowers with satin brass 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 Elk Grove Village →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1960s ranch, Elk Grove Village
Finished: cabinets in light butter yellow with polished nickel pulls, black honed granite counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, light oak hardwood flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Elk Grove Village →How the install goes
- 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 workCutting, rebuilding and fitting usually take a day or two, depending on the change.
- Fit checkThe appliance goes in, we adjust everything and walk through it with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Elk Grove Village homeowners
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.
Can you add a microwave shelf to my cabinets?
Usually. The microwave model, its ventilation needs and the nearest outlet decide where the shelf can go.
Is a small cabinet job worth calling about?
Yes. Single-cabinet changes such as raising one upper or adding a microwave shelf are a normal part of our work.
Do you also install the appliance?
We fit the space and the panels; utility connections are done by the appropriate licensed trade.
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.
Do you work in my part of Elk Grove Village?
Yes. Our crews work across Elk Grove Village — ZIP 60007 — and nearby Itasca, Wood Dale, Schaumburg.
Working in Elk Grove Village
- A lot of Elk Grove Village kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elk Grove Village 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.
ZIP 60007
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Elk Grove Village
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.