1950s openings sized for old appliances
Cabinets from the 1950s were built around appliance sizes that have since grown. We resize those openings rather than replacing every cabinet.
Serving Villa Park & nearby Elmhurst, Lombard
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Villa Park, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Villa Park so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Installers working in Villa Park ZIP 60181
- Hookups by licensed trades where the code calls for it
- Old unit hauled away on request
Cabinet changes Villa Park owners ask us for
Most kitchens in Villa Park 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.
Unfinished or damaged end panels
An end panel with a recessed or Shaker detail makes the side of a run look intentional. We cut it to fit and match the finish.
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.
Flat doors that look plain
If you like your cabinets but the doors are too plain, applied trim changes the profile without new doors.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
Extending wall cabinets upward with matching boxes or crown gives more storage and a finished top line.
Base cabinets with doors instead of drawers
Pulling pots from the back of a low shelf gets old. Turning a door cabinet into a drawer base puts everything within reach.
Adding a dishwasher to an older kitchen
Some older kitchens never had a dishwasher. We remove a base cabinet next to the sink, frame a standard opening and finish the sides for the new unit.
New refrigerator is too tall for the opening
A fridge that is just a little too tall is one of the most common calls we get. The fix is in the cabinet over it, not in buying a smaller appliance.
What the install includes
- Measuring the appliance and openingWe check the new appliance's spec sheet against the actual opening, including clearances and door swing.
- Protecting the counters and floorWe lay protection on the floor and tape off counters and adjacent doors.
- 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 trimFinished panels and trim cover every cut edge and new side.
- Matching the finishNew parts are painted or stained to match the existing cabinets as closely as the old finish allows.
- Coordinating other tradesElectrical and plumbing changes are booked with licensed trades so the opening is ready on time.
Options to choose from
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
Cabinet-grade plywoodPlywood is our default for new box parts; it is stiffer and handles moisture better than particleboard.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsShelf kits, pull-out spice racks and tray dividers that fit modified openings.
Paint and stain for new partsCabinet-grade paint or stain mixed to your existing finish, sprayed for a smooth surface.
Appliance panels and trim kitsCustom fronts for panel-ready appliances and trim kits for built-in microwaves.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification before and after — Villa Park homes
Before
Installed
DetailA Villa Park 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story in Villa Park. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. The main complaint was a new refrigerator that would not fit the old opening. After: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. The job covered measuring the appliance and opening, raising or shortening uppers, plus coordinating other trades.
Before
AfterLombard kitchen, suburban townhome: kitchen cabinet modification
The site: a suburban townhome in Lombard. The kitchen as it was: white raised-panel thermofoil cabinets 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. On site this meant cutting and rebuilding the boxes, panels, fillers and trim, plus coordinating other trades.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Lombard →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Modification in a 1990s two-story colonial, Addison
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Addison. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white appliances. The reason for the call: cabinets built around appliances that no longer exist. The result: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. On site this meant measuring the appliance and opening, raising or shortening uppers, plus coordinating other trades.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Addison →
Before
AfterAccessible Kitchen Remodeling in a postwar bi-level, Villa Park
Finished: 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 Villa Park →
Before
AfterVilla Park kitchen, postwar bi-level: kitchen remodeling
What changed: cabinets in light gray uppers and dusty rose lowers with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, light marble-look quartz counters, a gray beveled subway tile backsplash, large-format light stone-look porcelain tile flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Villa Park →Install day
- 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 checkWe check clearances and door swings with you before we leave.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification questions from Villa Park homeowners
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.
Do you also install the appliance?
We fit the space and the panels; utility connections are done by the appropriate licensed trade.
Can you add a microwave shelf to my cabinets?
Yes. We convert an upper, base or pantry cabinet into a shelf sized for your microwave, with ventilation space the maker calls for.
Is a small cabinet job worth calling about?
Yes. Many of our jobs are one or two cabinets, done in a day.
Can you modify existing kitchen cabinets?
Yes. Cabinets can be cut down, widened, raised or rebuilt inside as long as the boxes are sound. We look first and tell you what is realistic.
Do I need a Villa Park-registered contractor for cabinet modification?
No general contractor registration described. Homeowners acting as own general contractor submit a form and homeowner's insurance copy. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet modification in Villa Park?
It depends on the scope. Villa Park's rule in short: Permit required for adding, replacing or relocating plumbing fixtures, electrical or HVAC systems, and for moving or building walls. We handle the permit when one is needed with Permitting Division, Community & Economic Development.
Do you work in my part of Villa Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Villa Park — ZIP 60181 — and nearby Elmhurst, Lombard, Addison.
Working in Villa Park
- A lot of Villa Park kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Villa Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Permitting Division, Community & Economic Development handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60181
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Villa Park
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.