1960s openings sized for old appliances
Cabinets from the 1960s were built around appliance sizes that have since grown. We resize those openings rather than replacing every cabinet.
Serving Lombard & nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Lombard, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Lombard so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Lombard ZIP 60148
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Lombard 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 Lombard kitchen.
Condo kitchens with tight appliance spaces
In a condo every inch counts. We gain space by trimming fillers and reworking one cabinet instead of rebuilding the run.
Base cabinets with doors instead of drawers
We rebuild door-style base cabinets into two or three deep drawers, with fronts made to match the rest of the kitchen.
Flat doors that look plain
Simple slab doors can take applied trim to create a Shaker-style frame. We cut, glue and fill the molding, then the doors are painted to match.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
Extending wall cabinets upward with matching boxes or crown gives more storage and a finished top line.
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.
Switching to a wider range
Moving from a 30-inch to a 36-inch range means taking width from the base cabinets beside it. We cut and rebuild those boxes and coordinate the countertop cut.
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.
- Removing doors, fillers or a cabinetWe detach the parts that are in the way and keep anything that can be reused.
- Cutting and rebuilding the boxesWe resize each cabinet and reinforce it so it is as solid as before.
- 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.
- 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.
What to pick before the install
Paint and stain for new partsCabinet-grade paint or stain mixed to your existing finish, sprayed for a smooth surface.
Matching face frame stockHardwood strips milled to match the existing face frames in width and species.
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 slidesWe fit sturdy drawer boxes with slides rated for heavy pots.
What the work looks like in Lombard homes
Before
Installed
DetailA Lombard suburban townhome: before and after
This one is a suburban townhome in Lombard. What we started with: white raised-panel thermofoil cabinets and white appliances. The reason for the call: 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. On site this meant raising or shortening uppers, hardware and soft-close parts, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Before
AfterA Villa Park 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story in Villa Park. 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. 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, removing doors, fillers or a cabinet, plus panels, fillers and trim.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Villa Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Glen Ellyn
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Glen Ellyn. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. The main complaint was 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. The job covered measuring the appliance and opening, removing doors, fillers or a cabinet, plus cutting and rebuilding the boxes.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Glen Ellyn →
Before
AfterA Lombard 1960s ranch: before and after
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 Lombard →
Before
AfterLombard kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen remodeling
Finished: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Lombard →From the old unit to the new one
- Visit and measureAt the visit we measure the openings and check how the cabinets are built.
- Plan and estimateWe explain the approach, any limits on finish matching and the price in writing.
- Parts preparedAnything custom is built ahead so the on-site time stays short.
- 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 Lombard homeowners
Will the new parts match my cabinets?
We aim for a close match and show you a sample when the finish is aged or discontinued.
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.
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 add soft-close to old cabinets?
Often. Many concealed hinges accept soft-close adapters or can be swapped, and drawer slides can be replaced with soft-close ones.
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 do cabinet modification in a Lombard condo?
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.
Lombard contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Contractors must register with the Village: $100 fee, valid 1 year, online or via Building Division; insurance certificate with at least $300,000 liability coverage. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Lombard?
It depends on the scope. Lombard's rule in short: Village requires a building permit for new structures and updates to existing structures; replacing interior doors and fixtures at the same size with no structural change needs no permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development and Building.
Do you work in my part of Lombard?
Yes. Our crews work across Lombard — ZIP 60148 — and nearby Villa Park, Glen Ellyn, Addison.
Working in Lombard
- A lot of Lombard kitchens date from the 1960s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building Division, Community Development and Building handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60148
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Lombard
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.