1990s openings sized for old appliances
Appliance openings from the 1990s rarely match current models. We adjust the cabinets around them and keep the rest intact.
Serving Geneva & nearby Batavia, St. Charles
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Geneva, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Geneva so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Geneva ZIP 60134, 60510
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Geneva owners ask us for
We are cabinet carpenters who handle the small structural changes a kitchen needs between remodels. In Geneva 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.
Base cabinets with doors instead of drawers
Pulling pots from the back of a low shelf gets old. Turning a door cabinet into a drawer base puts everything within reach.
New refrigerator is too tall for the opening
A fridge that is just a little too tall is one of the most common calls we get. The fix is in the cabinet over it, not in buying a smaller appliance.
Fridge opening too narrow
Going from a narrow fridge to a standard or French-door model often means giving up a slim cabinet next to it. We remove it and finish the side so nothing looks cut.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
If there is open space over the uppers, we can fill it with stacked cabinets or a taller crown detail that matches the doors.
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
Exposed cabinet sides that are plain, scuffed or a mismatched color can be covered with new finished panels in the door style.
Flat doors that look plain
If you like your cabinets but the doors are too plain, applied trim changes the profile without new doors.
What we hook up and check
- Protecting the counters and floorWe lay protection on the floor and tape off counters and adjacent doors.
- 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 uppersUpper cabinets over the fridge or range are lifted or cut down and reattached to the wall framing.
- Panels, fillers and trimNew end panels, fillers, scribe and toe-kick are fitted where the cabinets were changed.
- Drawers and shelvesWe fit the new drawers or shelves and adjust them to run smoothly.
- Matching the finishNew parts are painted or stained to match the existing cabinets as closely as the old finish allows.
- Hardware and soft-close partsAny door or drawer we touch gets its hinges and pulls aligned with the neighboring cabinets.
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.
Paint and stain for new partsWe finish new pieces with the same type of coating the cabinets have, tinted to match.
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.
Matching face frame stockWe use the same wood species as your frames when we rebuild an edge.
Before and after: kitchens near Geneva
Before
Installed
DetailKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1990s two-story colonial, Geneva
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near Mill Creek. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black 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. Work included protecting the counters and floor, cutting and rebuilding the boxes, plus raising or shortening uppers.
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1990s two-story colonial, St. Charles
A 1990s two-story colonial in St. Charles, a typical kitchen for St. Charles. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. What bothered the owners most: an appliance upgrade the old cabinets could not take. 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, cutting and rebuilding the boxes, plus drawers and shelves.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in St. Charles →
Before
AfterA Warrenville 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story near Timber Creek. 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. The result: 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 drawers and shelves.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Warrenville →
Before
AfterA Geneva 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
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 Geneva →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Geneva
Finished: 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 Geneva →From the old unit to the new one
- Visit and measureWe look at the cabinets, the new appliance specs and what you want to change.
- 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 Geneva homeowners
Can you modify cabinets for a dishwasher?
Yes. We remove a base cabinet, build a standard opening and finish the exposed sides. Plumbing and wiring hookups are done by licensed trades.
What affects the cost of cabinet modification?
Cabinet construction, the parts that must be made and any trades involved. We put each item in a written estimate.
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.
Can you modify existing kitchen cabinets?
Yes. Cabinets can be cut down, widened, raised or rebuilt inside as long as the boxes are sound. We look first and tell you what is realistic.
Will the new parts match my cabinets?
We match paint closely. Stained wood is harder; color and grain can differ slightly, and we tell you before work starts.
Do I need a Geneva-registered contractor for cabinet modification?
None: the City does not have contractor registration (contractor name, address, phone and license numbers if required go on the application). We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Geneva?
It depends on the scope. Geneva's rule in short: A building permit is required before any construction or alteration; separate Kitchen Remodel permit form exists. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Zoning Division (Building Division), 109 James St..
Do you work in my part of Geneva?
Yes. Our crews work across Geneva, including Mill Creek — ZIP 60134, 60510 — and nearby Batavia, St. Charles, West Chicago.
Working in Geneva
- A lot of Geneva kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Geneva homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Geneva Historic District and designated Historic Landmarks? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Mill Creek
ZIP 60134ZIP 60510
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Geneva
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.