No place for the microwave
Getting the microwave off the counter usually means converting one cabinet into an open shelf sized for it, plus an outlet added by an electrician.
Serving 49 Chicago-area suburbs
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Chicago & the Suburbs
We cut, resize and rebuild the cabinets you already have in Chicagoland so a new fridge, range or dishwasher fits and the kitchen works better.
- Serving the Chicago suburbs, from Naperville to Evanston
- Installed level, sealed and tested before we leave
- Clear price for the install before the visit
Cabinet changes Chicagoland owners ask us for
We are cabinet carpenters who handle the small structural changes a kitchen needs between remodels. In Chicagoland that usually means making room for a new appliance, adding a microwave shelf or swapping base doors for drawers, without disturbing the rest of the cabinets.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Uppers that stop short of the ceiling
A gap above the wall cabinets collects dust and wastes storage. We add short stacked cabinets or tall trim so the uppers run to the ceiling.
Removing an upper for open shelves
If you want open shelves by the window or range, we remove the upper, close up the sides of the remaining cabinets and hang shelves into the studs.
What the install includes
- Measuring the appliance and openingBefore any cut, we compare the manufacturer's cutout dimensions with what the cabinets really measure.
- 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 trimNew end panels, fillers, scribe and toe-kick are fitted where the cabinets were changed.
- Matching the finishNew parts are painted or stained to match the existing cabinets as closely as the old finish allows.
- 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.
Options to choose from
Moldings and fillersCrown, scribe molding, applied door trim and filler strips in matching profiles.
Microwave and spice pull-out insertsReady-made inserts for narrow spaces: tray dividers, spice pull-outs and microwave shelves.
Cabinet-grade plywoodUsed for rebuilt sides, bottoms and shelves because it holds screws well and resists sagging.
Paint and stain for new partsCabinet-grade paint or stain mixed to your existing finish, sprayed for a smooth surface.
Finished end and refrigerator panelsPanels come in paint-grade or stain-grade versions to suit your cabinets.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification across Chicagoland
The same job looks different in a 1920s bungalow, a 1970s split-level and a new subdivision. Here is what we plan for in different parts of the region.
Prewar towns
Out-of-square walls in an older Berwyn and Evanston home
Older houses rarely have a square corner. We scribe new panels and fillers to the wall so the gaps stay tight.
Postwar suburbs
2000s openings sized for old appliances
Kitchens from that era often have a fridge nook and range gap that are too small now. Targeted cabinet work fixes the fit.
St. Charles, Schaumburg, Lisle, Buffalo Grove, Bloomingdale, Lake Zurich
Condo and townhome towns
Condo kitchens with tight appliance spaces
In a condo every inch counts. We gain space by trimming fillers and reworking one cabinet instead of rebuilding the run.
Lisle, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Palatine, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream
Recent installs around Chicagoland
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Lake Zurich
A 1990s two-story colonial 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 reason for the call: 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. Work included measuring the appliance and opening, removing doors, fillers or a cabinet, plus coordinating other trades.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterAn Orland Park two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Orland Park. What we started with: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and almond appliances. The reason for the call: 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 measuring the appliance and opening, raising or shortening uppers, plus appliance fit check and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Orland Park →
Before
AfterA Downers Grove two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Downers Grove. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and black appliances. The reason for the call: 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. The job covered measuring the appliance and opening, panels, fillers and trim, plus matching the finish.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification in Downers Grove →How the install goes
- 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 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.
Install questions
Can my cabinets be cut for a bigger fridge?
In many kitchens it can be done. We check the new fridge's height, width and clearance needs against your opening first.
Can you modify cabinets for a dishwasher?
Yes, including openings for panel-ready models. We coordinate with the plumber and electrician for the connections.
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.
Should I modify or replace my cabinets?
Modify when the boxes are solid and you only need a few changes. Replace when the cabinets are failing or the layout itself is the problem.
What is the cheapest way to upgrade kitchen cabinets?
Small changes often give the most: new hardware, soft-close hinges, a few drawers and finished panels on bare ends.
Which towns do you serve?
Chicago and 49 suburbs, from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston, Schaumburg and Orland Park. Pick your town below for local details and ZIP codes.
Kitchen Cabinet Modification near you
Pick your town for local details, ZIP codes and nearby projects.