Custom Storage Solutions for Older Kansas City Homes

Older homes have character — and challenges. Walls that aren't square, ceilings that aren't standard, spaces that weren't designed for modern life. Custom cabinetry solves what stock can't.

Built for Homes With History

Kansas City's housing stock tells a story — Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s, mid-century ranches from the 1950s, split-levels from the 1970s. These homes have charm, but they rarely have dimensions that match what you'll find at a big-box store.

That's where custom cabinetry shines. We measure, we adapt, we build for your home exactly as it exists today.

Custom home office built-in

Common Challenges in Older Homes

We've built cabinetry for hundreds of Kansas City homes. These are the issues we see most often.

Walls That Aren't Square

Corners that measure 88° instead of 90°. Walls that bow inward or outward. Surfaces that appear straight but reveal gaps when you try to install stock cabinets.

Non-Standard Ceiling Heights

7-foot ceilings in basements. 9-foot ceilings with crown molding. Sloped ceilings in attic conversions. Stock cabinets can't adapt; custom cabinets are built for your exact measurements.

Uneven or Sloped Floors

Floors settle over decades. What looks level often isn't. We account for floor variations so your cabinets sit perfectly level even when the floor doesn't cooperate.

Awkward Depths & Widths

That 14" gap next to the refrigerator. The 22" deep alcove that's neither counter depth nor closet depth. Spaces that standard sizing just can't fill.

Stock cabinets treat these as problems. We see them as opportunities to maximize your space in ways factory products never could.


Custom Solutions for Every Challenge

Scribed Fit for Out-of-Square Walls

We measure at multiple points and build cabinets that follow your wall's actual contour. The result? Cabinets that look built-in because they truly are — no gaps, no obvious filler strips, no compromise.

Floor-to-Ceiling Designs for Any Height

Whether your ceiling is 7 feet or 10, we design cabinetry that uses every vertical inch. Upper cabinets extend to the ceiling. Built-ins fill alcoves completely. No dead space above.

Level Installation on Uneven Floors

Cabinets are shimmed and leveled precisely during installation, with toe kicks and scribing that hide floor irregularities. Your countertops will be level even if your century-old floor isn't.

Every-Inch Utilization

Narrow pull-outs for spices. Corner solutions that don't waste space. Custom depths that fit your room exactly. We design around obstacles like pipes, ducts, and electrical panels rather than forcing you to work around them.


Kansas City Neighborhoods We Serve

We've built custom storage solutions for older homes across the metro.

Brookside & Waldo

1920s–1940s bungalows and Tudor homes with compact kitchens, original built-in nooks, and charming but challenging layouts.

Prairie Village

Post-war ranches and split-levels with galley kitchens, limited closet space, and open floor plans that need defined storage zones.

Mission Hills

Grand historic homes with high ceilings, butler's pantries, and rooms that deserve cabinetry matching their original craftsmanship.

Hyde Park & Valentine

Victorian-era homes with ornate details, quirky room shapes, and storage needs that require creative, character-appropriate solutions.

No matter which Kansas City neighborhood you call home, we build cabinetry that respects your home's character while solving its storage challenges.


Room-by-Room Storage Solutions

Kitchens

Maximize small footprints with floor-to-ceiling storage and smart corner solutions

Bathrooms

Custom vanities sized for original tile layouts and unusual plumbing locations

Mudrooms

Create entry storage where none existed in homes built before mudrooms were standard

Home Offices

Transform spare bedrooms and alcoves into functional workspace with built-in desks and shelving

Living Rooms

Entertainment centers and bookshelves that work with original fireplace mantels and window layouts

Basements

Low ceilings and utility obstacles transformed into bars, media rooms, and bonus storage


Why Stock Cabinets Fail in Older Homes

The Stock Cabinet Approach

  • Fixed sizes in 3" increments
  • Filler strips to hide gaps
  • Wasted space in corners and odd angles
  • Visible compromises everywhere
  • "Good enough" installation

The Custom Cabinet Approach

  • Built to your exact measurements
  • Scribed to fit wall contours
  • Every inch utilized purposefully
  • Seamless, built-in appearance
  • Precision installation and leveling

Ready to Solve Your Storage Challenges?

Your older home deserves cabinetry that works with its character, not against it. Let's discuss how custom solutions can maximize your space while honoring your home's history.

Schedule Your Consultation

Refined Interior Woodworks — Custom storage for homes with character.