Soffit above the uppers
Many 1950s kitchens have a boxed soffit over the wall cabinets. During replacement we check what is inside and, where possible, run the new uppers higher.
Serving Skokie & nearby Evanston, Park Ridge
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Skokie, IL
We tear out worn-out kitchen cabinets in Skokie and install new ones level, square and anchored to the studs.
- Local crews working in Skokie ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203
- Design, permits and every trade on one schedule
- A written, itemized estimate before any work
Cabinet problems we replace and fix in Skokie
Replacing kitchen cabinets is mostly about what you don't see: a straight base line, wall cabinets screwed into studs, fillers scribed to crooked walls. Our Skokie crew handles the tear-out, the install and the trim work, and leaves the kitchen ready for countertops.
Layout that fights you every day
A dishwasher that blocks the only drawer, a corner nobody can reach, a fridge door that hits the wall — new cabinets let us change where things go, not only how they look.
New appliances don't fit the openings
If the new fridge sticks out past the counters or the range gap is an inch short, we rebuild the run around the appliance specs.
Wasted space in the corner
A blind corner base with a door you have to crawl into hides half its storage. New cabinets can use a corner pull-out, a lazy Susan or a drawer layout instead.
Cabinets bought, no one to install them
Plenty of homeowners buy their own cabinets and hire us just for the install. We handle assembly, leveling, fillers and hardware so the job looks professional.
Peeling thermofoil or failing edges
Vinyl film lifting near the oven and edge banding curling off doors and shelves can't be painted. When the boxes are worn too, replacement makes more sense than new doors.
Cabinets that don't match after a patch job
When previous repairs left odd colors and different hardware, matching is no longer realistic. New cabinets give you a single, consistent look.
Swollen sink base from an old leak
Bubbled panels and a musty smell under the sink point to past leaks. The fix is a new base cabinet plus a check of the drain and supply lines before it goes in.
Everything in a cabinet replacement
- Measuring and site checkA full set of measurements, a level check across the floor and a look at plumbing and outlet locations.
- Wall and floor prepStuds located and marked, high spots found, drywall patched where old cabinets came off.
- Base cabinets set levelBase cabinets shimmed level from the high spot, screwed together and fastened to the wall.
- Wall cabinets hung on studsUpper cabinets lifted onto a temporary ledger and screwed into studs, not drywall anchors.
- Fillers, panels and scribingScribed fillers and finished end panels that close every gap and keep doors from hitting the wall.
- Trim and toe kicksFinish trim at the top and bottom of the run, matched to the cabinet color.
- Doors, drawers and hardwareHinges and slides tuned so reveals are even, hardware mounted in straight lines.
Materials and options
Ready-to-assemble cabinetsWe assemble and install RTA cabinets you bought yourself and check every box for damage first.
Soft-close hinges and dovetail drawersSoft-close hinges and full-extension slides are standard on most lines today; dovetail drawer boxes are a sign of solid construction.
Door stylesClean Shaker doors are the most requested, with slab fronts for modern kitchens and raised panels for traditional ones.
Plywood vs. particleboard boxesParticleboard keeps the price down; plywood holds up longer near water. Many owners choose plywood at least for the sink base.
Framed and frameless cabinetsA face frame adds rigidity and a traditional look, while frameless construction gives easier access to the full box.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement before and after — Skokie homes
Before
In progress
AfterA Skokie postwar Cape Cod: before and after
A postwar Cape Cod in Skokie, a typical kitchen for Skokie. What we started with: 1970s dark pecan-stained cabinets and light beige laminate. The reason for the call: old cabinets with too few drawers and a lot of wasted space. The result: new cabinets in light gray uppers and dusty rose lowers with matte black pulls, installed level and ready for warm walnut butcher block counters. On site this meant measuring and site check, wall cabinets hung on studs, plus trim and toe kicks.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar foursquare in Evanston
The site: a prewar foursquare in Evanston. Before: dark stained 1970s oak cabinets with heavy frames and white laminate with a wood edge. What bothered the owners most: dated cabinets in a layout that no longer worked. After: new cabinets in powder blue with polished nickel pulls, installed level and ready for black honed granite counters. Work included measuring and site check, trim and toe kicks, plus doors, drawers and hardware.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Evanston →
Before
AfterA Park Ridge postwar bi-level: before and after
This one is a postwar bi-level in Park Ridge. Before: dark walnut-stained flush-panel cabinets with brass pulls and speckled laminate. What bothered the owners most: dated cabinets in a layout that no longer worked. After: new cabinets in powder blue with matte black pulls, installed level and ready for light marble-look quartz counters. Work included base cabinets set level, trim and toe kicks, plus doors, drawers and hardware.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement in Park Ridge →
Before
AfterA Skokie 1960s ranch: before and after
What changed: built-to-fit cabinetry to the ceiling in white uppers and deep green lowers with satin brass pulls and warm walnut butcher block counters.
Custom Kitchen Cabinets in Skokie →
Before
AfterCountertop Fabrication & Installation in a 1960s ranch, Skokie
Finished: black honed granite countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Skokie →How your cabinet replacement goes
- Visit and measurementsAn in-home visit to measure, check the floor and walls and hear what isn't working.
- Cabinet plan and written estimateYou get a cabinet plan and a written quote that lists every part of the job.
- Ordering and deliveryCabinets are ordered; lead time depends on the line, and we inspect every box when it arrives.
- Tear-out and installationOld cabinets out, walls prepped, new boxes set level, hung on studs and trimmed.
- Adjustment and walk-throughWe fine-tune every door, clean up and walk the kitchen with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement questions from Skokie homeowners
Can you replace lower cabinets with drawers?
Yes. Drawer bases are a common upgrade: deep drawers for pots, a narrow stack for utensils, and pull-outs where doors used to be.
Will my kitchen be usable during the work?
Not fully: the sink and counters are out for a while. We reconnect the sink as soon as the counters allow and help you plan a temporary setup.
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets?
It depends on the scope. Swapping cabinets in place is often permit-free; relocating the sink or adding outlets typically is not. We handle the permit when it's required.
Do you install cabinets I bought myself?
Yes — just send us the order list. We confirm it matches the room and flag missing or damaged pieces before install day.
Can I swap upper cabinets for open shelves?
Yes. We remove selected uppers, patch the wall and mount shelves on hidden brackets or cleats anchored to the framing.
Does cabinet replacement need a Skokie building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division (www.skokiepermits.com), phone (847) 933-8223. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
What happens to the old appliance in Skokie?
One large item or two small items at the curb weekly on regular refuse day, no appointment, out by 7 a.m. and no more than 24 hours ahead. If you'd rather not deal with it, we haul old units and debris away.
Skokie contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
Many contractors must be registered and insured with the Village each year; permits are not issued unless all listed contractors are registered and insured. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet replacement in Skokie?
It depends on the scope. Skokie's rule in short: Electrical work and plumbing or electrical system changes need a permit. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division.
Do you work in my part of Skokie?
Yes. Our crews work across Skokie — ZIP 60076, 60077, 60203 — and nearby Evanston, Park Ridge, Glenview.
Working in Skokie
- A lot of Skokie kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Skokie homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department - Building & Inspection Services Division handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60076ZIP 60077ZIP 60203
Kitchen Cabinet Installation & Replacement nearby
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Other kitchen services in Skokie
Custom Kitchen CabinetsBuilt-to-fit cabinetry up to the ceiling.
Kitchen Cabinet ModificationCabinets resized for new appliances, panels and fillers.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.