1980s openings sized for old appliances
Appliance openings from the 1980s rarely match current models. We adjust the cabinets around them and keep the rest intact.
Serving Winfield & nearby Wheaton, Carol Stream
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Winfield, IL
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Winfield so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving Winfield ZIP 60190, 60185
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Winfield 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 Winfield kitchen.
Want a counter-depth or built-in look
A standard-depth fridge sticks out past the counters. We can add deep side panels and a deeper cabinet above so the unit looks set into the cabinetry.
Fridge opening too narrow
When a wider refrigerator will not fit between the cabinets, we remove a filler, trim a face frame or take out a narrow side cabinet to gain the width.
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.
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.
Panel-ready dishwasher or fridge
If you want the dishwasher to disappear into the cabinets, we make a matching front and attach it so it lines up with the drawers beside it.
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.
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 we hook up and check
- 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.
- Panels, fillers and trimNew end panels, fillers, scribe and toe-kick are fitted where the cabinets were changed.
- Hardware and soft-close partsHinges, slides and pulls on changed cabinets are replaced or reset to match the rest.
- Coordinating other tradesIf an outlet, water line or gas line has to move, we schedule a licensed trade around our work.
- 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.
Finished end and refrigerator panelsFlat, Shaker or raised panels sized for fridge surrounds, cabinet ends and island sides.
Moldings and fillersTrim pieces that cover cuts and gaps and tie modified cabinets into the rest.
Cabinet-grade plywoodUsed for rebuilt sides, bottoms and shelves because it holds screws well and resists sagging.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsShelf kits, pull-out spice racks and tray dividers that fit modified openings.
Before and after: kitchens near Winfield
Before
Installed
DetailBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Winfield
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Winfield. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black 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 measuring the appliance and opening, cutting and rebuilding the boxes, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Warrenville
A two-story colonial from the 1990s in Warrenville, a typical kitchen for Warrenville. What we started with: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and white appliances. What bothered the owners most: an appliance upgrade the old cabinets could not take. After: the opening widened and the upper cabinet raised, a panel added, a new refrigerator fitting flush. The job covered panels, fillers and trim, coordinating other trades, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Warrenville →
Before
AfterWinfield kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: accessible kitchen remodeling
What changed: a lowered charcoal concrete-look quartz counter section with knee space under the sink, cabinets in deep burgundy 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 a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Accessible Kitchen Remodeling in Winfield →
Before
AfterA Winfield two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
Cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and two glass pendants and recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Winfield →
Before
AfterWinfield kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen cabinet painting
Finished: the same doors sprayed in light sand beige, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Winfield →From the old unit to the new one
- 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 Winfield homeowners
Can you modify cabinets for a dishwasher?
Yes, including openings for panel-ready models. We coordinate with the plumber and electrician for the connections.
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.
Can you add a microwave shelf to my cabinets?
We can. A lower shelf in a base or pantry cabinet keeps it within reach and off the counter.
Can you add soft-close to old cabinets?
Yes, in many cases. Exposed or older hinges may need replacing with concealed hinges and some drilling.
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.
Do you work in my part of Winfield?
Yes. Our crews work across Winfield — ZIP 60190, 60185 — and nearby Wheaton, Carol Stream, West Chicago.
Working in Winfield
- A lot of Winfield kitchens date from the 1980s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Winfield homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
ZIP 60190ZIP 60185
Kitchen Cabinet Modification nearby
Other kitchen services in Winfield
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.