Color issues on cabinets

9 years ago

Okay, curious. I think I know the response, but...

There has been an ongoing issue with the kitchen cabinets. The color was 'custom' but, when they added the cabinets, something was "off". We thought, originally, that the top drawers were a little off, but then we realized that the top drawers (on the base cabinets) were right, it was the REST of the base cabinets that were off.

To make the color we selected, they had to start off with a sorta turquoise blue and then add a glaze to give it the distressed look, which would (if enough glaze was added) turn it sorta green, the color we wanted.

We told them, "we understand the color may not come out exactly like we want, just err on the side of green, not blue (i.e. too little glaze would give us a more blue color).

Anyway, the top cabinets came out great, bottom.. not so much. They claimed that they used the same batch of paint, but when we pointed out the top drawers were not shaker style and they redid those, when they returned them, the color was fine.

Problem is, they did not take ALL the drawers and doors and they also did not do anything with the frames of the base cabinets.

Now, at night, when you are looking at it under the lights in the kitchen, they sorta look the same, but if you are looking at actual sunlight, you can definitely see the different colors.

Going to try to post some pics.. hope it shows the difference.

Also, they cut a hole in a shelf.. patched it.. and when they did.. now THAT is not only a different color.. but a terrible paint job, i.e. you see the streaks of glaze. I think they went too fast and got sloppy is all. (on all of it)

Am I being too picky or would this drive you nuts?

Now, those are the before pictures.

Here are the after. They fixed some of the drawers, but in the picture BELOW these, you can see the ones they did not take to fix AND the island looks horrible. No doors were replaced, just drawers.

They took most these back, but the cabinet frames are still blue-ish

Top drawer was done right, middle drawer was taken back and redone.. bottom drawer not taken.

Small drawers - only the top one is the right color. The cabinet frames are also blue.

The door looks fine from this angle.

It is like you can see the streaks of the glaze on this side...really blue and not done well.

Here you can see they took a drawer front, but the three small ones in the background were not taken nor the door.

Featured Answer

PRO

Rachiele Custom Sinks

9 years ago

I still consider myself a professional kitchen designer. I would never accept anything like that. The color contrast is very obvious and should be corrected.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Russ Barnard
Original Author
9 years ago
I was hoping I was not seeing things or being too picky. Thanks for the input. I am going to take better pictures of it tonight with light and since they are cleaning the house today. I'll post those. I know the builder will get it all fixed, I just have to define what all should be fixed.

R
Related Professionals
Davenport Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Des Moines Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Greenfield Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Muskegon Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Ontario Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Tuscaloosa Kitchen Remodelers · Carbondale Kitchen Remodelers · Saginaw Kitchen Remodelers · Albert Lea Kitchen Remodelers · Riverside Kitchen Remodelers · San Antonio Custom Countertops · Olean Custom Countertops · Kenosha Custom Countertops · Santa Rosa Custom Countertops · Las Cruces Custom Countertops
lakeerieamber
9 years ago
The color difference is very obvious in your pics. I would not be happy at all. So sorry to hear you are still dealing with this issue.
PRO
User
9 years ago
I would not accept those. Unless they refunded me enough to find someone else to finish them. Unfortunately, a custom glazed finish like that is pretty complicated to have come out correctly and durably. There will be very few professional cabinet finishers that could accomplish this in the field. In a factory controlled setting, where they do it all at once, maybe. Your best bet would be a faux finish painter, but the paint products that they use will not be as durable as a conversion finish designed for cabinets.

Have you explored just giving them back, and buying mainstream factory ones? Schuler has a finish that is pretty similar in appearance, and will be factory durable and consistent every time. With the factory durability.
nancyjwb
9 years ago
I think you're on the right track getting those fixed. It is noticeable.

On a happier note, everything else is looking great! Especially that Culinarian;)
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
9 years ago
Oh, what a heartbreak!
Those are beautiful cabinets and I can see what you mean.
It's time for a sit-down. No excuses. They've messed it up. What are they going to do to get a matching finish? Of course, they'll squeal at a refund, but if they'd take everything and make it match, then come and make the frames match? perhaps there's a compromise there. But OMG, what a mess.

Best of luck!
rantontoo
9 years ago
I do not see how they are going to be able to match colors...they are just going to have to repaint and finish all of them again. The question you have to answer since you saw the results of their first attempt, do they have the skill to do the finish you want over the paint?
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
I remember your other post and pictures about this situation . It's still not fixed! What about the curved shelf that were so streaky and the hole cut for the wires? Any thing done with that ?
cpartist
9 years ago
This is not a job to be done piecemeal like they've been trying to do. As stated above, you need to pull them all out and have them professionally done at the same time. I would also be very leery of cabinets not factory finished.
Russ Barnard
Original Author
9 years ago
Sorry for the lack of updates, been trying to pack and get healed up from the foot. heh

We have drawn a line in the sand on the kitchen. There are other issues with the house, all cosmetic only, that we are like, "eh.. we will get that done later", but we have told the builder, and they agree totally, the kitchen is not acceptable as it is.

We will get it fixed. It may take time and it may mean a refund of something and it may mean that it gets fixed after we move in, but the kitchen is where we focus our efforts etc. The good news is, the builders are in total agreement. That makes it a lot easier.

Another thing, not related to the kitchen, that we noticed are the showers. The master does not have a door. It irks me. We kept telling the old GC, "I do not think a door is going to work here blah blah blah" and he kept saying it was fine. Now the builders are like, "I do not think a door will fit here".

They are offering a $600 credit, and I am okay with that as it does not cause a ripple and we can get it done ourselves later, but it is a really narrow opening.

If the shower did not have a releasable hand-held head on it, I would be okay with calling it a "walk-in shower" but if you take the hand-held and turn it, you can spray water outside.

Are people nowadays doing walk in vs a door they have to clean? If we tell them we are okay with a walk-in, then I expect them to tile around the edge of the opening. Sheetrock will not take the water.

Also, this is me I am sure.. but I hate when tile people are cheap and do not take the tile above the shower head level...for this reason:

Anyway, sending a list to the builders. I DO want to say, the builders are 110% behind making all of this right. The new GC is all over stuff and has found everything I have found before I found it and agrees this stuff should be right.

I just am venting :P

R