Buying new cabinets - do we get painted or stained? And should we avoid white/light cabinets?

13 years ago

Looking for some help! We had our heart set on painted white cabinets for a home we're buying (and gutting the kitchen before even moving in.) We're first time homebuyers and are hearing that a) we might not want white cabinets because they show dirt and b) we should avoid painted cabinets because they could chip. I'm fine with going to a dark stain. My husband still really likes the idea of white paint. Is paint really that bad? Is it best to be avoided? And should we avoid white? Will it show a lot of dirt? Will this ultimately hurt resale value? We need help! Thanks!

Featured Answer

Jennifer Carr-Toms

12 years ago

We have designed and installed several white kitchens and even chose one for ourselves! We custom built and painted our cabinetry and I chose to antique the cabinets to solve the problem of possible chips and scratches showing in a "perfect" finish. I attached a picture.

The antiqued style painted cabinets from kitchen cabinet companies usually runs about about a 25% premium on top of the standard stain finish but it may be worth it if you plan on living there for a long time or for resale. If you choose a painted finish, the companies will also provide the installers or clients with a small amount of touch up paint to match the finish.

A white kitchen never goes out of style (unless it was those terrible white or tan melamine with the wood handle strip at the bottom) and it would probably help with resale. Wood grains and stain colours do go in and out of fashion though and a trendy wood stain choice could lead to more hassle than a painted finish.

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Comments (14)

PRO
Rockin' Fine Finish
13 years ago
It depends on the quality of cabinets you buy stained cabinets might show less wear but painted are easier to touch up you could do a combo of both if you have room for an island you could do that painted and stained every where else or vice versa . What kind are you looking at ?
Laura Zinter
13 years ago
I love either a dark stain or white cabinetry. Lately, I've been leaning towards the white myself. The St Jude Dream home in my community did white cabinetry with a grey/taupe stone backsplash. It looks beautiful, bright and clean. Grey is really in and I think it looks so fresh with white cabinets. However, I also love a dark stain too. I think white will always be a classic.
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Emily Fredrix Goodman
Original Author
13 years ago
We're looking at Mid Continent Cabinetry. He liked the charcoal (if we have to go dark, but it looks like it's painted.) I like espresso. If we were to do white it would just be white, no glaze. We're jus concerneda bout creating a burden on ourselves by going with white paint, knowing it'll need a lot of cleaning and the paint will chip. Is that what people have experienced with paint?? http://www.midcontinentcabinetry.com/style/search.php
PRO
Rockin' Fine Finish
13 years ago
They only chip If the finish is of low quality and depending how hard the use is . Cleaning will also depend how much you use your kitchen stained cabinets will need to cleaned regularly because the grease will break down the clear as well
charmcoop
13 years ago
We have been in the painting business for over 26 years, and do not recommend painting cabinets: 1) chipping/wearing problems. 2) discoloration, especially white (yellow with age) due to cooking activities. If you do go with painted, make sure you hire a specialty coating company - there are products that work if properly applied. We have natural maple in our kitchen, installed new about 10 years ago, and it is amazing how much darker they are now - again - from being in the kitchen, the tiny particles in the air eventually settle into the finish of the cabinets.
Emily Fredrix Goodman
Original Author
13 years ago
Is there a difference between buying brand new cabinets that are painted versus painting them yourself/hiring someone to do it after the fact, years later? We're looking at buying new cabinets, having them made and painted, as opposed to staining. Thank you!
PRO
Rockin' Fine Finish
13 years ago
Factory painted usually are tinted lacquers I recommend a conversion varnish it is more durable and won't yellow if you have them painted in place spend the money on a highly skilled painter and high quality paint like fine paints of Europe
feeny
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Honestly, while natural or stained wood cabinetry is a bit more durable, white painted cabinets are not burdensome. We had an off-white painted kitchen for 20 years and then updated it with another off-white painted kitchen (all new cabinets in a different style, custom made from a local woodworking firm) because we had been so happy with it. The new white kitchen is now four years old and has had no problems. Yes, every now and then in our old kitchen we needed to do a small touch up on the corner of a frequently used cabinet (like the trash drawer), but the maintenance was pretty minimal.
Elisabeth Aron
12 years ago
Hi I don't see your picture of antiqued white but would love to! I am having exactly the same dilemma. Buying white lacquered paint cabinets but have been told it's better to stain the wood white. Can that even be done?
PRO
Rockin' Fine Finish
12 years ago
@ smallfoot you can stain wood white but who says you cant paint wood white
Susan Whalen
12 years ago
I've even painted pine cabinets white very successfully. Today's sealers are excellent!
amyfamyf
12 years ago
Our cabinet guy said stained white cabinets tend to have a pinkish hue to them.
kranno
12 years ago
We just redid our kitchen with off white cabinetry, which I adore, for the perimeter with a dark stained island. White kitchens never go out of style and are very popular. Ours are from a southern company called Bishop and came painted. Previously we had the Merrillat white and the coating shrunk from oven heat.
Our new countertops are quartz.....island is Cambria marble tone. Backsplash is marble subway tile. I love , love, love Carrera marble but it is not suitable for countertop.