1980s openings sized for old appliances
Cabinets from the 1980s were built around appliance sizes that have since grown. We resize those openings rather than replacing every cabinet.
Serving Lake Zurich & nearby Palatine, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Lake Zurich, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Lake Zurich so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Lake Zurich ZIP 60047
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Lake Zurich 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 Lake Zurich kitchen.
Unfinished or damaged end panels
We add decorative end panels to cabinet runs and islands so bare sides no longer show.
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.
Flat doors that look plain
If you like your cabinets but the doors are too plain, applied trim changes the profile without new doors.
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
To fit a dishwasher where none existed, a base cabinet near the sink has to go. We take it out cleanly, build the opening and leave it ready for the plumber and electrician.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
A gap above the wall cabinets collects dust and wastes storage. We add short stacked cabinets or tall trim so the uppers run to the ceiling.
What the install includes
- Measuring the appliance and openingBefore any cut, we compare the manufacturer's cutout dimensions with what the cabinets really measure.
- Protecting the counters and floorCounters, floors and nearby cabinets are covered before we start cutting.
- Panels, fillers and trimFinished panels and trim cover every cut edge and new side.
- Drawers and shelvesNew drawer boxes, slides and fronts or a fixed microwave shelf are installed in the modified cabinet.
- 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.
- Appliance fit check and cleanupWe confirm the appliance fits with the needed clearances, then clean the work area.
Models, parts and fittings
Cabinet-grade plywoodUsed for rebuilt sides, bottoms and shelves because it holds screws well and resists sagging.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsShelf kits, pull-out spice racks and tray dividers that fit modified openings.
Appliance panels and trim kitsFronts and trim for integrated dishwashers, fridges and microwaves, sized to the maker's template.
Drawer boxes and slidesPlywood or dovetail drawer boxes on full-extension, soft-close slides.
Matching face frame stockWe use the same wood species as your frames when we rebuild an edge.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification before and after — Lake Zurich homes
Before
Installed
DetailBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich
A 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich, a typical kitchen for Lake Zurich. What we started with: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white appliances. The reason for the call: 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. Work included measuring the appliance and opening, matching the finish, plus hardware and soft-close parts.
Before
AfterA Palatine two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. The main complaint was 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. Work included measuring the appliance and opening, protecting the counters and floor, plus drawers and shelves.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Palatine →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Arlington Heights
This one is a 1980s two-story in Arlington Heights. The kitchen as it was: 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. The result: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. Work included measuring the appliance and opening, drawers and shelves, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterAccessible Kitchen Remodeling in a 1990s two-story colonial, Lake Zurich
What changed: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy 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 Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Lake Zurich
Finished: cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Lake Zurich →Install day
- 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 checkThe appliance goes in, we adjust everything and walk through it with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Lake Zurich homeowners
Can you modify cabinets for a dishwasher?
We can. A base cabinet near the sink becomes the dishwasher opening, with the counter supported above it.
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.
Should I modify or replace my cabinets?
Targeted changes make sense for sound cabinets. Widespread damage or a new layout points toward replacement.
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 my cabinets be cut for a bigger fridge?
Often, yes. Most of the time we raise or shorten the cabinet above and remove a filler or narrow cabinet beside it.
Lake Zurich contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
All contractors and subcontractors must register with the Village before work: form, $120 annual fee (Illinois-licensed plumbers exempt), signed $10,000 surety bond. Village pages show differing fee amounts ($110/$120/$125). We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Lake Zurich?
It depends on the scope. Lake Zurich's rule in short: Permit required for remodeling (kitchen, bath, basement). We handle the permit when one is needed with Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department).
Do you work in my part of Lake Zurich?
Yes. Our crews work across Lake Zurich — ZIP 60047 — and nearby Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights.
Working in Lake Zurich
- A lot of Lake Zurich kitchens date from the 1980s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Lake Zurich homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60047
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Lake Zurich
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.