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 Mount Prospect & nearby Des Plaines, Arlington Heights
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Mount Prospect, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Mount Prospect so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Mount Prospect ZIP 60056, 60005
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Mount Prospect owners ask us for
Most kitchens in Mount Prospect 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
Condo kitchens often have narrow openings and little room to move cabinets. Precise resizing is usually the only way to fit a newer appliance.
Panel-ready dishwasher or fridge
Panel-ready appliances take a cabinet door on the front. We build or order a panel that matches your doors and mount it to the appliance maker's template.
Wasted space at fillers and corners
Wide filler strips can sometimes be replaced with a narrow pull-out or a spice rack. We check what the opening allows before cutting.
Want a counter-depth or built-in look
Tall end panels on both sides and a deep box over the top make an ordinary refrigerator read as built-in. We match the panels to your doors.
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.
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.
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.
What the install includes
- 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 uppersWe reset wall cabinets at the new height and fasten them securely into studs.
- Panels, fillers and trimNew end panels, fillers, scribe and toe-kick are fitted where the cabinets were changed.
- 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 partsHinges, slides and pulls on changed cabinets are replaced or reset to match the rest.
- Coordinating other tradesElectrical and plumbing changes are booked with licensed trades so the opening is ready on time.
Options to choose from
Finished end and refrigerator panelsPanels come in paint-grade or stain-grade versions to suit your cabinets.
Cabinet-grade plywoodPlywood is our default for new box parts; it is stiffer and handles moisture better than particleboard.
Matching face frame stockWe use the same wood species as your frames when we rebuild an edge.
Moldings and fillersTrim pieces that cover cuts and gaps and tie modified cabinets into the rest.
Drawer boxes and slidesPlywood or dovetail drawer boxes on full-extension, soft-close slides.
Kitchens like yours in Mount Prospect: before and after
Before
Installed
DetailBefore and after: a suburban townhome in Mount Prospect
The site: a suburban townhome in Mount Prospect. What we started with: white raised-panel thermofoil cabinets and white appliances. What bothered the owners most: cabinets built around appliances that no longer exist. 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 hardware and soft-close parts.
Before
AfterDes Plaines kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen cabinet modification
This one is a 1980s two-story in Des Plaines. 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. 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, panels, fillers and trim, plus hardware and soft-close parts.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Des Plaines →
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect postwar Cape Cod: before and after
Finished: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in pale sage uppers and light gray 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 a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterA Mount Prospect 1960s ranch: before and after
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 Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterMount Prospect kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen cabinet painting
What changed: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Mount Prospect →How the install goes
- 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 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 Mount Prospect homeowners
Can you add soft-close to old cabinets?
Usually. We check your hinge type and drawer construction and tell you what upgrade fits.
Can you modify cabinets for a dishwasher?
Yes, including openings for panel-ready models. We coordinate with the plumber and electrician for the connections.
Should I modify or replace my cabinets?
If most of the kitchen works, modifying a few cabinets is the sensible step. We will tell you if replacement makes more sense.
Is a small cabinet job worth calling about?
We take small modification jobs. Several small changes can also be done in the same visit.
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 Mount Prospect 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.
Do I need a Mount Prospect-registered contractor for cabinet modification?
A Contractor's License is required for general contractors (and listed trades); $200, valid one year, applied for through the online portal. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Mount Prospect?
It depends on the scope. Mount Prospect's rule in short: Kitchen remodels need a permit and a code review (about 10 business days). We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services.
Do you work in my part of Mount Prospect?
Yes. Our crews work across Mount Prospect — ZIP 60056, 60005 — and nearby Des Plaines, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village.
Working in Mount Prospect
- A lot of Mount Prospect 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 Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60056ZIP 60005
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Mount Prospect
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.