Software
Houzz Logo Print
dingoaint

Anyone have solid walnut slab cabinets?

11 years ago

Howdy! We're trying to decide if we want to do walnut veneered slabs (with matched grain, etc.) or solid. There are plenty of lovely kitchens with the veneered doors, but few with solid doors.

My google skills have failed me; I can't find good photos. Does anyone have solid slabs in walnut to share?

Thanks!

Comments (39)

  • 11 years ago

    Part of the reason you find so few is that the veneer is so pretty. And much much less $pendy.

  • 11 years ago

    I guess that makes sense.

    I'm concerned about durability on the veneered edges but perhaps I need to spend some abusive time with a door sample. :/

  • 11 years ago

    I hae a 45 year old MCM console with walnut veneer doors that has no issues because the edges are solid wood. Find a cabinet maker or company that has that option. Other than that, Dynasty does offer solid walnut doors that I've seen in pics and on a factory tour. 40% upcharge for walnut. They have pics on their website, or on the sister company Omega's website.

    {{gwi:2139491}}

    Here is a link that might be useful: Dynasty Riff door in walnut

  • 11 years ago

    Ouch! 40%? Would that be over something like a solid cherry? Or over a veneered walnut? (I'll be asking my cabinet maker a few questions tomorrow--we're currently quoted solid cherry slabs but seem to be sliding into the walnut camp.)

    I'd be happy with a door like that, LWO (and I'd be happy with veneer in the middle) but we're going to have enough weird shaped doors I think a slab will work better.

    I do have a lot of veneered furniture and the newest of it is from the early '60s. It's holding up just fine (except for the inherited table leaves that were in a plumbing accident) so I don't know why I'm so paranoid.

  • 11 years ago

    Slab doors are offered in veneer walnut only. From almost everyone. For a reason. They are much more stable, and much less stripey. Take a look at a cheap cabinet line's pieced raised panel doors in cherry. That's what you'd run into with a pieced solid door. Except at a MUCH greater cost. For something unwarranted without whole home humidity control, and with battens on the rear that make 13'' deep cabinets a total necessity to get back the room that standard 12'' deep ones have.

    Veneer is THE way to go. :-)

  • 11 years ago

    I see....good to know. :)

    I can stop looking!

  • 11 years ago

    I have solid slab master bath walnut cabinets that are stunningly beautiful. Custom, shockingly expensive, but would love a kichen version if money no object!

  • 11 years ago

    Cluelessincolorado, those are stunningly beautiful! I happen to like how stripey walnut can look, but it's a common complaint that I hear from customers.

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks all.

    CinC, I think those are the only ones I've seen (and yes they're perfect). I had assumed they were veneered because I can't tell where they are pieced together in that shot. I think that's the only photo I've seen of them. Is there more? :)

    (...Mentally moving your cabs to the correct category...)

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks LWO! People either love them or hate them. He didn't use battens on any of them, and after almost 4 years we only have only door that's slightly wonky. It's on the PO trash and I'm wondering if the humidity from the trash (gross) is the issue. The trash box is completely closed off from drawer above, so maybe I should drill some air holes in the back of the cabinet. The cabinet boxes are veneer with a solid wood edge. Here is another photo that shows where he joined what I assume were 3 planks together for the left two doors.


    Have you seen nycbluedevil's kitchen?

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks--very nice! Those aren't stained are they? How could people not like that???

    I have definitely seen NYCBD's gorgeous kitchen. No slabs though--that's what's giving me trouble. Slab examples! :)

  • 11 years ago

    Fori

    My top drawers are slabs. I could have done them all in slab but I wanted detail on the doors and lower drawers. So you can get them. They were expensive but I'm not sure they were outlandishly so.

    I have had the cabinets over two years and have gone through several changes of seasons. I rarely run my air conditioning in the summer, so there are big humidity swings. The cabinets still look perfect.

    Hope this helps.

  • 11 years ago

    I really like the "stripey" (though book matched veneer is striking). Does anyone know if Dynesty by Omega does inset with frameless and if it is an upcharge, how much?

  • 11 years ago

    Cluelessincolorado, I am smitten by your cabinets! Is there any stain on them? How much color change has there been over the years? I was cautioned not to get clear because there would be a dramatic color change (I get strong southern sun through my large kitchen windows) that would turn the wood yellow.

  • 11 years ago

    Oh I do so love cluelessincolorado's walnut kitchen. Fori, you've seen my one walnut cabinet. I'm a huge cherry fan, but if I could redo my island in walnut or cherry, I'd pick walnut.

    Walnut drawers:) (Enabling, I know)

    {{gwi:2139492}}

    {{gwi:2139493}}

    {{gwi:2138268}}

  • 11 years ago

    jtsnj - we didn't stain, but did have painter spray on a few coats of a clear satin finish in his shop. I wish I could tell you about color change because that would mean my kitchen was flooded with sunlight! We have direct eastern exposure for a few minutes then indirect southern exposure. I haven't noticed a lot of fading, but we have quite a bit of heartwood that lightens up the cabs anyway. I love the book matched veneer, it's a very classy look IMHO, but I also get a kick out of our kaleidoscope ;). I love wood! My bedroom ceiling is beetle kill pine which doesn't match the rest of our house AT ALL, but I love looking at all the swirls, knots, and grain.
    oldbat2be - what a great use of space with those drawers. They are gorgeous!

  • 11 years ago

    Thanks all!

    This is too hard. I'm goin' melamine!

    Okay, I'm not. They all look so nice.

  • 11 years ago

    nycbluedevil ...

    Would you mind sharing the company and or individuals you worked with for your kitchen reno?


  • 11 years ago

    Sure. I worked with Tom at Bilotta Kitchens. The cabinets are by Rutt.

  • 11 years ago

    Enza, do you live in NYC? If so, did you live at 670 by any chance?

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Not sure where people are getting away with 40% upcharge on Walnut. Wow. We sell Conestoga's Ready To Assemble cabinet and they offer walnut in veneered or solid. The SOLID doors are the same $ as Hard maple, actually about $1 per square foot LESS than maple right now. We sell a ton of it. They offer a standard grade Walnut which has the light/dark like I am seeing in the photos above. They also offer a Premium Walnut which is better matched for grain and color and is a lot more uniform. Just the nice warm, chocolate brown tones in the Premium. The Premium grade does add a bit though, about 15% to the job. They offer grain matching as well, but that runs extra.

    Walnut is a gorgeous wood, for sure.


  • 11 years ago

    II'm wondering if the humidity from the trash (gross) is the issue

    Actually lack of humidity is just as bad as too much humidity for solid wood.

  • 11 years ago

    You are right jerzeegirl! I don't know about mine, it's the only one that showed any signs of warping so I thought extra humidity might cause it.

  • 11 years ago

    We ordered the solid--it was about the same price. We were comparing it to grain matched veneer for what it's worth. It did come out a bit more than the cherry...

    If it warps I guess I can just get another one. :)


  • 11 years ago

    CinC where are you located? I'm in Colorado Springs :). You cabs are stunning!

  • 11 years ago

    Yay! Looking forward very much to pictures!

  • 11 years ago

    tigger9759 -FoCo, thanks!

  • 11 years ago

    I agree with ob2. (I love walnut). Can't wait to see them!


  • 11 years ago

    Fori! I thought you were going slab painted white...? I do love that walnut, though! I was leaning toward maple slap but DH wanted paint. :)

  • 11 years ago

    We went with walnut veneer from a local custom place and it turned out great. So much that we'll probably do it again in the master bathroom. There has been no sign of trouble from the veneer anywhere; the cabinets were well made and are holding up just fine.

  • 10 years ago

    Fori did u post after pics? I'm in same boat as you! I really want solid walnut but no pics from the Google!

  • 8 years ago

    @cluelessincolorado I am near you, can you pass along the name of the company who made the walnut cabinet for you?

  • PRO
    8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    We’re installing gorgeous grain match Walnut veneers right now. Cabinets are from Jay Rambo. We would never do solid Walnut slab doors. Too much potential for warping

  • 8 years ago

    sonyala - I'm sorry I didn't see your question until now! Craftsmen Builders made the cabinets boxes and Tyler Morris made the drawer fronts and doors.

  • 8 years ago

    If you like walnut, check out these beautiful trays Tyler Morris carves out of a solid piece of black walnut then chars the interior. I’m a fan!

    https://www.tylermorriswoodworking.com/store/trays-boards/branch-trays/

  • 6 years ago

    My cabinet guy told me veneer doesn’t take well to doors. Is this true? Maybe he means it doesn’t hold up well?

  • 6 years ago

    Veneer is wonderful on doors. It's a smidge more fragile and harder to refinish, though.


    Veneer CAN chip on edges of heavily used doors if you're hard on things. For this reason I ended up going with solid walnut. We're rough on things. I have enough veneered furniture to know what we needed.


    BUT!! Veneer is BETTER on larger doors because it is put on plywood (or furniture board/MDF?) that is more stable and less likely to warp. And you can get very awesome effects with veneer. Most cabinet makers are happy to work with veneers and veneer is not indicative of a lower quality product at all. It can be quite the art!


    I do have one very large wide door that is slightly warped. I should have had that one veneered and my cabinetmaker should have caught that and told me so!

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you so much for your response! The main area is my kitchen island, so maybe I’ll do solid there. I’m also doing a media cabinet and bar cabinet so maybe use veneer there since it won’t get everyday use?

Sponsored
Wannemacher Interiors
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars26 Reviews
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH