Cabinet door replacement in Chicago and Wisconsin
New doors, drawer fronts and hardware made to fit the cabinets you have. A smaller project than full refacing, or the centerpiece of one.
New doors without a full refacing project
Cabinet door replacement in Chicago kitchens is often the right first move when the boxes and frames are in good shape but the doors look tired. We make new doors and drawer fronts to fit your existing openings, then hang them on new hinges with new knobs or pulls.
Doors-only works best when your face frames are in good condition and their color will work with the new doors, such as white frames under new white Shaker doors. If the frames are worn or won’t match, full cabinet refacing covers them with matching veneer so every surface looks the same.
Your designer looks at your frames during the consultation and tells you which approach fits. Either way, the doors, hinges and hardware are the same; the difference is how much of the cabinet gets a new surface. Doors-only tends to make sense when:
- Face frames are solid, square and free of damage
- The frame color works with the new door finish
- You’re happy with your current layout and storage
- You want new doors and hardware without other kitchen work
Door styles
Three styles cover nearly every kitchen, and each is made to order in your chosen material and finish. For a side-by-side look, read our door style guide.
-
Recessed panel (Shaker)
A flat center panel inside a square frame. Simple enough for modern kitchens, familiar enough for traditional ones, and easy to wipe down.
Best for: transitional, farmhouse and modern kitchens
-
Raised panel
A center panel shaped to stand forward of the frame, which gives the door depth and shadow lines. It suits homes with crown molding and detailed trim.
Best for: traditional kitchens
-
Flat panel (slab)
One smooth surface with no frame or profile. Slab doors put the attention on color, wood grain and hardware.
Best for: modern and minimalist kitchens
Door materials compared
Every door style comes in three material families, with dozens of colors and wood stains between them.
| Rigid thermofoil (RTF) | Real wood veneer | Painted finish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Smooth, even color edge to edge | Natural grain in maple, cherry, oak or walnut | Solid painted color |
| Color range | Many solid colors | Stains from light to dark | Many painted colors |
| Everyday cleaning | Damp cloth and mild soap | Damp cloth; skip harsh cleaners | Damp cloth and mild soap |
| Good to know | Keep high-heat appliances from venting straight onto doors | Grain varies a little from door to door | Small chips can be touched up |
| Best for | Busy kitchens and easy upkeep | Warm, natural wood looks | Matching a specific color |
See every style and finish on the cabinet doors page, or in person at one of our showrooms.
Hinges, drawers and trim
The parts you touch every day matter as much as the doors. Each of these can go in with new doors or a full refacing project.
-
Soft-close hinges
Doors close gently and quietly instead of slamming. New hinges go on with every new door, and soft-close is an easy upgrade.
-
Soft-close drawer glides
Drawers pull out smoothly and ease shut on their own over the last few inches.
-
New drawer boxes
If your drawer boxes are worn, loose or sticking, new ones can be built to sit behind the new fronts.
-
Crown molding and light rail
Crown molding finishes the top of the upper cabinets. Light rail trims the bottom edge and hides under-cabinet lights.
-
Valances
A decorative panel across the window over the sink that ties the upper cabinets together.
-
Under-cabinet lighting
Puts light right on the countertop where you chop, read recipes and wash up.
Knobs and pulls
Hardware is small, but you use it dozens of times a day and see it every time you walk in. New knobs and pulls come with every door replacement and refacing project, and your designer brings samples so you can hold them, not just look at a picture.
A few practical rules help. Pulls are easier to grip than knobs, especially for stiff or arthritic hands. Wide drawers look best with longer pulls or a pair of them. Matte finishes hide fingerprints better than polished ones. Many kitchens mix the two, with knobs on doors and pulls on drawers.
Finish comes down to taste and what’s already in the room. Matte black and brushed nickel sit easily next to stainless appliances, while warm brass looks good against navy, green and white doors.
How measuring and ordering works
Your doors are built to your measurements, not pulled off a shelf. That’s why the fit gets checked twice before anything is ordered.
-
Consultation and selections
At the free in-home consultation you choose door style, material, color and hardware. The designer takes initial measurements and leaves a written, itemized quote.
-
Precision measure
Your project manager measures every door and drawer opening, notes hinge positions and checks the frames before the order is placed.
-
Made to order
Doors and drawer fronts are made for your openings. Allow about 4–6 weeks from the final measure to installation.
-
Installation
Old doors come off, new hinges go on, and the new doors and drawer fronts are hung, aligned and fitted with hardware. A doors-and-hardware job is usually shorter than the 3–5 days a full refacing takes.
-
Adjust and walk through
Your project manager checks the gaps between doors, adjusts hinges where needed and walks the kitchen with you.
Cabinet door and hardware questions
Have a question we didn’t answer? Call (630) 555-0140 or send us a note.
Can I replace just the cabinet doors?
Yes, if your face frames are in good shape and their color works with the new doors. If they aren’t, we’ll recommend refacing so the frames and doors match.
Will new doors fit my old cabinets?
They’re made to. Your project manager measures every opening before anything is ordered, and the doors are built to those measurements.
Can I add soft-close to my existing cabinets?
Soft-close hinges go on with your new doors. For drawers, soft-close glides can be added, often together with new drawer boxes; your designer will check what your drawers need.
How long does it take to get new cabinet doors?
About 4–6 weeks from the final measure, because every door is made to order. Installation itself is quicker than a full refacing project.
Can I see doors and hardware in person?
Yes. Your designer brings samples to the consultation, and you can see doors, finishes and hardware at our Wood Dale design center and our showrooms in St. Charles, Madison and New Berlin. Walk-ins are welcome during open hours; appointments are recommended.
See your kitchen with new doors before you commit
A designer comes to your home with door samples, finishes and hardware, measures your cabinets and leaves a written, itemized quote. It’s free, and there’s no pressure to decide that day.
- Tell us a little about your kitchen
- Pick a time for your in-home design visit
- New doors installed in 3–5 days