1970s openings sized for old appliances
Cabinets from the 1970s were built around appliance sizes that have since grown. We resize those openings rather than replacing every cabinet.
Serving Oak Brook & nearby Villa Park, Lombard
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Oak Brook, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Oak Brook so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Oak Brook ZIP 60523
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Oak Brook 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 Oak Brook kitchen.
Fridge opening too narrow
Width usually comes from the fillers and panels beside the fridge. We find where the space can be taken and rebuild a clean finished edge.
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.
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.
No place for the microwave
We can build a microwave shelf into a tall pantry, a base cabinet or the space above the range, depending on your model and wiring.
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.
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.
Removing an upper for open shelves
Taking out one or two wall cabinets for open shelving is a simple change. We patch the wall behind, mount solid shelves and finish the cabinet ends left exposed.
What we hook up and check
- Removing doors, fillers or a cabinetDoors, fillers or a whole cabinet come out carefully so the neighbors are not damaged.
- 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 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 finishWe color-match new wood to your cabinets and tell you up front if an exact match is not possible.
- Appliance fit check and cleanupThe new unit is test-fitted, doors are adjusted and the dust leaves with us.
Models, parts and fittings
Matching face frame stockWe use the same wood species as your frames when we rebuild an edge.
Cabinet-grade plywoodUsed for rebuilt sides, bottoms and shelves because it holds screws well and resists sagging.
Moldings and fillersTrim pieces that cover cuts and gaps and tie modified cabinets into the rest.
Appliance panels and trim kitsCustom fronts for panel-ready appliances and trim kits for built-in microwaves.
Paint and stain for new partsWe finish new pieces with the same type of coating the cabinets have, tinted to match.
Kitchens like yours in Oak Brook: before and after
Before
Installed
DetailAn Oak Brook 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story in Oak Brook. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black 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. On site this meant drawers and shelves, matching the finish, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Modification in a townhouse from the 1990s, Lombard
The site: a townhouse from the 1990s in Lombard. What we started with: white raised-panel thermofoil cabinets and white 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. On site this meant raising or shortening uppers, drawers and shelves, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Lombard →
Before
AfterAccessible Kitchen Remodeling in a raised ranch, Oak Brook
A lowered bright white quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in cream uppers and walnut-stained lowers with matte black pulls, pull-down shelves in the uppers, drawers instead of base doors, a side-opening wall oven, a lever faucet and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterOak Brook kitchen, raised ranch: kitchen remodeling
Cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with satin brass pulls, white quartz with soft gray veining counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterAn Oak Brook raised ranch: before and after
Finished: the same doors sprayed in sage green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Oak Brook →Install day
- Visit and measureAt the visit we measure the openings and check how the cabinets are built.
- 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 Oak Brook 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 you also install the appliance?
We prepare the opening and can slide in freestanding units. Gas, water and new circuits are connected by licensed trades.
Can my cabinets be cut for a bigger fridge?
Usually. The upper cabinet is the most common change, and width can come from fillers or a side cabinet.
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.
Oak Brook contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Oak Brook does not require contractor registration; no village-specific requirements for residential alterations. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Oak Brook?
It depends on the scope. Oak Brook's rule in short: Village publishes a Residential Permit Requirement Listing; its Residential Alteration category requires contract/scope of work, architectural plans and plat of survey. We handle the permit when one is needed with Development Services (Building).
Do you work in my part of Oak Brook?
Yes. Our crews work across Oak Brook — ZIP 60523 — and nearby Villa Park, Lombard, Elmhurst.
Working in Oak Brook
- A lot of Oak Brook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Oak Brook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development Services (Building) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60523
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Oak Brook
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.