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 Palatine & nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Palatine, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Palatine so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Installers working in Palatine ZIP 60067, 60074
- Hookups by licensed trades where the code calls for it
- Old unit hauled away on request
Cabinet changes Palatine owners ask us for
Most kitchens in Palatine 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
Small condo kitchens leave little margin. We measure the new appliance and the building's constraints before we cut anything.
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.
Base cabinets with doors instead of drawers
Deep base cabinets with a door and one shelf waste space. We convert them into stacks of drawers with new boxes, slides and matching fronts.
Switching to a wider range
Upgrading to a bigger range is mostly carpentry: narrowing a neighboring base cabinet, reframing the opening and arranging the counter work.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
If there is open space over the uppers, we can fill it with stacked cabinets or a taller crown detail that matches the doors.
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.
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.
What we hook up and check
- Removing doors, fillers or a cabinetWe detach the parts that are in the way and keep anything that can be reused.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 stockHardwood strips milled to match the existing face frames in width and species.
Paint and stain for new partsWe finish new pieces with the same type of coating the cabinets have, tinted to match.
Appliance panels and trim kitsCustom fronts for panel-ready appliances and trim kits for built-in microwaves.
Drawer boxes and slidesWe fit sturdy drawer boxes with slides rated for heavy pots.
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
What the work looks like in Palatine homes
Before
Installed
DetailA Palatine 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine. Before: 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. On site this meant removing doors, fillers or a cabinet, coordinating other trades, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Arlington Heights. 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. Finished kitchen: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. On site this meant panels, fillers and trim, coordinating other trades, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterA Lake Zurich two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
A two-story colonial from the 1990s 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 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. Work included raising or shortening uppers, drawers and shelves, plus hardware and soft-close parts.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterAccessible Kitchen Remodeling in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Palatine
A lowered warm walnut butcher block counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in pale mint green 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 two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Palatine →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Palatine
Cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with polished nickel pulls, dark soapstone-look quartz counters, a white herringbone tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Palatine →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 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 Palatine homeowners
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 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.
What affects the cost of cabinet modification?
Scope drives the price: one upper raised is very different from a range opening with counter work. You get an itemized estimate after we measure.
Is a small cabinet job worth calling about?
We take small modification jobs. Several small changes can also be done in the same visit.
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 Palatine 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.
Do I need a Palatine-registered contractor for cabinet modification?
Contractors must be registered and bonded with the Village before a permit is issued. Registration is online and expires Dec 31 each year. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Palatine?
It depends on the scope. Palatine's rule in short: A permit is required to remodel a kitchen or to add/alter the electrical system. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building Permits & Inspections.
Do you work in my part of Palatine?
Yes. Our crews work across Palatine — ZIP 60067, 60074 — and nearby Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich.
Working in Palatine
- A lot of Palatine kitchens date from the 1970s. 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 Permits & Inspections handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60067ZIP 60074
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Palatine
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.