pre-1940 openings sized for old appliances
Kitchens from that era often have a fridge nook and range gap that are too small now. Targeted cabinet work fixes the fit.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Highland Park, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Highland Park so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Highland Park 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 Highland Park kitchen.
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
If the hinge on top of the new fridge hits the cabinet above, the upper box can be cut down or lifted. We rebuild its bottom and rehang the doors so it still looks factory-made.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Want a counter-depth or built-in look
A standard-depth fridge sticks out past the counters. We can add deep side panels and a deeper cabinet above so the unit looks set into the cabinetry.
What we hook up and check
- Measuring the appliance and openingWe check the new appliance's spec sheet against the actual opening, including clearances and door swing.
- 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.
- 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 partsHinges, slides and pulls on changed cabinets are replaced or reset to match the rest.
- Coordinating other tradesIf an outlet, water line or gas line has to move, we schedule a licensed trade around our work.
Options to choose from
Finished end and refrigerator panelsFlat, Shaker or raised panels sized for fridge surrounds, cabinet ends and island sides.
Appliance panels and trim kitsFronts and trim for integrated dishwashers, fridges and microwaves, sized to the maker's template.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsReady-made inserts for narrow spaces: tray dividers, spice pull-outs and microwave shelves.
Matching face frame stockWe use the same wood species as your frames when we rebuild an edge.
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
What the work looks like in Highland Park homes
Before
Installed
DetailBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Highland Park
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Downtown Highland Park. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. What bothered the owners most: cabinets built around appliances that no longer exist. The result: 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.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen cabinet modification
A 1980s two-story near Downtown Northbrook, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white appliances. The reason for the call: 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. On site this meant measuring the appliance and opening, raising or shortening uppers, plus matching the finish.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Northbrook →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Modification in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Glenview
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Glenview, a typical kitchen for Glenview. What we started with: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. The main complaint was 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 raising or shortening uppers, matching the finish, plus hardware and soft-close parts.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Glenview →
Before
AfterA Highland Park postwar Cape Cod: before and after
Finished: a lowered black honed granite counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy with polished nickel pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →
Before
AfterHighland Park kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen remodeling
Cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →How the install goes
- 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 workCutting, rebuilding and fitting usually take a day or two, depending on the change.
- Fit checkWe check clearances and door swings with you before we leave.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Highland Park homeowners
Do I need new countertops if you resize a cabinet?
Not always. If an opening grows, the counter may need cutting or a new section, which we arrange with a fabricator.
Can you modify existing kitchen cabinets?
In most kitchens, yes. Face-frame and frameless cabinets can both be resized, though the method differs.
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 cabinet doors be changed to drawers?
Usually. Converting door bases to drawers is one of the most useful changes we make.
Can you add soft-close to old cabinets?
Usually. We check your hinge type and drawer construction and tell you what upgrade fits.
Do I need a Highland Park-registered contractor for cabinet modification?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park 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.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
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.