Out-of-square walls in an older Evanston home
Settled floors and wavy plaster are normal in older homes. Our cuts follow them so the modified cabinets still sit level.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Evanston, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Evanston so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Evanston owners ask us for
Most kitchens in Evanston were built around appliances that are smaller than what stores sell today. We modify the existing cabinets so a taller fridge, a wider range or a panel-ready dishwasher fits, and we finish the cut edges so the change looks original.
Condo kitchens with tight appliance spaces
Small condo kitchens leave little margin. We measure the new appliance and the building's constraints before we cut anything.
Unfinished or damaged end panels
We add decorative end panels to cabinet runs and islands so bare sides no longer show.
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.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
Extending wall cabinets upward with matching boxes or crown gives more storage and a finished top line.
Removing an upper for open shelves
Swapping a wall cabinet for a few floating shelves lightens a kitchen. The neighboring cabinets get finished sides so the change looks planned.
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.
Adding a dishwasher to an older kitchen
An opening for a dishwasher is usually made by removing one base cabinet beside the sink. We reinforce the counter edge and close up the exposed cabinet sides.
What the install includes
- Measuring the appliance and openingBefore any cut, we compare the manufacturer's cutout dimensions with what the cabinets really measure.
- Removing doors, fillers or a cabinetDoors, fillers or a whole cabinet come out carefully so the neighbors are not damaged.
- Cutting and rebuilding the boxesWe resize each cabinet and reinforce it so it is as solid as before.
- Matching the finishWe color-match new wood to your cabinets and tell you up front if an exact match is not possible.
- 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 cleanupWe confirm the appliance fits with the needed clearances, then clean the work area.
Options to choose from
Cabinet-grade plywoodPlywood is our default for new box parts; it is stiffer and handles moisture better than particleboard.
Appliance panels and trim kitsFronts and trim for integrated dishwashers, fridges and microwaves, sized to the maker's template.
Drawer boxes and slidesWe fit sturdy drawer boxes with slides rated for heavy pots.
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsShelf kits, pull-out spice racks and tray dividers that fit modified openings.
Kitchens like yours in Evanston: before and after
Before
Installed
DetailKitchen Cabinet Modification in a vintage courtyard condo, Evanston
The site: a vintage courtyard condo in Evanston. What we started with: 1990s cherry-stained cabinets and black appliances. What bothered the owners most: 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 measuring the appliance and opening, coordinating other trades, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Modification in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Skokie
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Skokie. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. The reason for the call: 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. The job covered cutting and rebuilding the boxes, hardware and soft-close parts, plus coordinating other trades.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Skokie →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1980s two-story, Glenview
This one is a 1980s two-story near The Park. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. The reason for the call: cabinets built around appliances that no longer exist. 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, removing doors, fillers or a cabinet, plus hardware and soft-close parts.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Glenview →
Before
AfterAccessible Kitchen Remodeling in a prewar brick bungalow, Evanston
What changed: a lowered dark soapstone-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in cream uppers and walnut-stained 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 two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a brick bungalow from the 1920s, Evanston
Soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Evanston →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 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 checkThe appliance goes in, we adjust everything and walk through it with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Evanston homeowners
Do you also install the appliance?
We prepare the opening and can slide in freestanding units. Gas, water and new circuits are connected by licensed trades.
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.
Is a small cabinet job worth calling about?
We take small modification jobs. Several small changes can also be done in the same visit.
Do I need new countertops if you resize a cabinet?
Only when the base cabinet under the counter changes size. Upper-cabinet work leaves countertops alone.
Can my cabinets be cut for a bigger fridge?
Usually. The upper cabinet is the most common change, and width can come from fillers or a side cabinet.
Do Evanston condo associations need to approve cabinet modification?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Evanston contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors working in city limits must register with the City; annual fee General Contractor $150, Trade Contractor $125. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Evanston
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.