Bad idea. Factory finish will be superior! And most companies won't even decrease the price for unfinished....and if they do...it's not much. So in the end it'll cost you more $.

Would you rather have Honda paint your car with their state of the art equipment in a dust free environment? Or order an unfinsihed car and have someone paint it in their garage?

THe words semi-custom are BS they are either custom or not. As for the rest a factory finish always will be better than on site . I guess we would need to see all these wood finishes but trully only the ones seen with tha cabinets matter and even them at most maybe the flooring. Pretty sure you can find one and is the designer going to fix the mess if it is wrong for the stain master .

Noboby knows anything about the capabilities of the mystery finisher your designer has experience with. Finishing isn't high tech except for UV cured tpcoats. which are pretty low but at least tech. Visit, talk and look at his/her samples. Retain inspection and validation in the agreement. I'd buy an unfinished door from your manufacturer for approval. Maybe differerent tones and matte and satin strips to test. You need that door because differentbwods all finish differebtly. To get what you want will workout best IF you are willing to put in a lot of effort beyond the ordinary.

What are the many stain colors/tones in the house. different sets of eyes might help to achieve a streamlined look or integrate everything. kitchens dont always have to match areas in the literal sense. theres probably a choice thats much easier than what you are thinking… two toned? how did you arrive at that? why would you suppose white kitchens have stood the test of time.. and now there are many more interesting whites and off whites.

Another vote for all painted, at the factory

In general a factory finish is going to be more uniform than an on-site finish unless you can find someone that you or your designer have used in the past and have a lot of confidence in.

Like Norwood said - confidence in the finisher is key. If you truly can’t find a factory finish for the stain, and the confidence level is rock solid in the finisher, you could make the lowers the on sight stain - but then go with the factory finish for the painted uppers. I’d order 2 extra cabinet door fronts just for the finisher to use for a final sample for approval. In addition to extra costs previously noted, obviously your project schedule would be extended as well.

Semi Custom? What is that? It will be better for you to go custom , have your desired stain color curated for you by the cabinet company and have them deliver a factory finish. I assume you are doing something other than staining for upper cabinets? Balance your savings there.

Go with the factory finish. The cabinet company can create a custom finish for you.

It looks to be unanimous--go with a factory finish. Wood stains don't need to be an exact match, and you can certainly find a stain from the manufacturer that will work with the wood in your house. Try all the manufacturers you've mentioned and see them in person. When you think you have one you are happy with, ask for a "strike-off," which is a stain applied to a door from their current stock. Samples in showrooms can be a fairly good representation but they can change over time. You don't want a surprise when your cabinets are delivered.

Also, what wood are you going to use? Consider how that takes a stain as well. Maple is difficult to stain because it's so dense. Pine is the opposite--it soaks up stain like a sponge and can look muddy. Oak and cherry are beautiful woods to stain, but oak can be yellow/orange and cherry can be red. So consider carefully the species and how it might take the stain you want in the finished product.

Thank you all! great advice and generally what I was thinking. I will probably go with an existing stain color even if its not quite what I want, just to ensure the finish is excellent.

Design Interior South: All those companies call themselves semi custom. Its not fully custom, but they can customize down to the 1/4" and make all kinds of adjustments.

Herbflavor: I prefer stained cabinetry. I just think its beautiful. but can't do all stain b/c of all the wood existing.. wood floors, wood tongue and groove ceilings, and wood beams!! it would be way too much wood. So I want to break it up with some painted finishes. I prefer a creamy off white. But I really don't want all painted.

Diana: I would prefer cherry or walnut, but to your point, the stain takes so differently depending on the wood.

I just feel like Goldilocks.. every one i look at is either too light, too dark, too red, too gray, etc... I'm losing my mind! Hence my trying to explore alternative options. I am trying to get a quote from a local cabinet maker, but it might be too expensive. and it is then not factory finished right??

thanks all!!

Check out a Shiloh dealer....I love their walnut wood with RYE finish. So pretty! I am planning a new display! Pictures look tad orangey but it's not.

Very pretty! Unfortunately too close to our flooring for us. But I’ll check them out!

Maybe wood is not the answer .

Thanks Patricia. Yes that is an option. But I much prefer stained cabinets.

I think a dark-ish stain on lowers and island would make the dark ceiling and beams make sense! Heres 2 photos of the room. One from the living room entrance and one from the other side. Here’s what I’m looking at for stain color. Some could work. Some not so much. Still looking. Any suggestions or advice? Thanks!

Personally I think you have enough wood in your beautiful home--flooring, beams, furniture. I'd go with painted cabinets. Perhaps with a stained island. The Shiloh walnut cabinets that Kitchen Place posted are gorgeous. I don't love any of the options you've shown. They're all too muddy/dark, and have no depth.

That's a lot of brown! If you really want wood grain to show through, consider an aniline dye and choose a colour like green or blue.

Of your samples I prefer the one on the far right. Can we see a photo of the kitchen? This would help.

Have you ever considered painting the board and batten portion of your ceiling and leaving the beams dark?

Thanks all. This will be the kitchen. It’s the dining room now.
And I haven’t considered painting the ceiling. Would that be better? I feel like there are so many beams that it would look busier with the ceiling a different color. Thoughts? Thanks!

We are getting new windows that will be counter height to allow lower cabinets where the windows are.

"whether field finishing voids the finish warranty,"

How can there be any finish warranty if the manufacturer doesn't do the finish? What would they be warranting?

It would lighten up the heavy feeling you mention of having all the wood. If those beams are all not structural you could even have some of them removed. Your view is stunning ! I think you could do something like this with that space if removing some of the beams would work. Even if you can’t I think only doing the island and maybe a hood in wood would be enough if your ceiling beams need to remain as is.

Sorry Donna having some photo uploading issues trying again I did these renderings. I am not sure what your layout plan is but hopefully this will give you an idea.

With your ceiling as is

if you were to paint the tongue and groove a distressed warm white

if you are able to remove some of the beams and paint the ceilings tongue and groove.

Handyman Winnipeg, thank you!! That’s so helpful and very much appreciated! I wish I were closer to you!!! I truly appreciate the advice. Makes total sense.

Design interior south- thank you! I love those ideas. I’m so afraid to remove any beams but I suppose we could always try removing one and put it back if it looks different underneath.
We do like the beams but it’s definitely a heavy ceiling and a lot of beams! I actually love the idea of removing some. Also possibly painting the tongue and groove. I was thinking that might look busier but maybe not! I will think it over and talk to my hubby. Thanks again!!
We were planning to bring the cabinets up to the beams. You think that will look ok?
Re: stain, I do think I could just do the island. If i could find the right stain. Or I was thinking possibly all paint but I might want some green. We live on 11 acres and the home and property are quite rustic. I think bringing green in would be pretty but not sure. I want granite or quartzite and wonder if green will make choosing a countertop more limiting.
Any advice on colors?

I don't see where you have discussed the plan for the new kitchen and how it will relate to the rest of the house. I'll suggest you focus on developing the best kitchen plan/design, then work on finishes.

One way to tie your new stained cabinets to the existing is to use the same wood, only in a different stain color. Cabinets from red oak in a dark stain to complement the red oak floors. You could choose a different cut -- rift or quarter sawn, for example, but the tone will be consistent and take stain in a similar way.

If you do choose a local finisher, be clear on the materials they will use. Getting the look you want is one thing, providing a durable finish is another.

Donna when planning any space with beams the planning needs to be well laid out . If for instance you decide to remove some of the beams then I would plan them in accordance to where your upper cabinets or possible hood would be located. Taking those cabinets measurements and layout so that you may be able to space them to take cabinets to the actual ceiling and not under a beam. That’s not always possible. For example in this mother in law unit we did the space only afforded upper cabinets under the beam which ended up looking like this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8bvLZNdvi/?stkn=bzJ0M2gwcGJsNmli

Funny you mentioned green because I had that thought initially but thought you had mentioned a warm white so went with that. Green would be lovely.

Here are two versions but lighter and one deeper

PPF: I haven’t posted the layout for feedback yet. I will do shortly! Thanks! And good idea re: oak. I did look at white oak but didn’t like it in the rift cut. But I may go that direction. And maybe just to the island so it’s not too much. Thx!!

Design Interior South: thank you! I actually love the greens. I may look into that now.
I looked at the beams with my husband and we would have to re-do all the walls if we removed any beams so we will keep them. And for now I don’t think we would plan to paint the ceilings but we could do that after the cabinets if we feel it needs it.
I’m going to post our kitchen layout shortly would love to get your feedback! Thanks again!

Good morning PPF, Design Interior South, and others! I posted our kitchen layout for feedback so would love your input if you have time. Thanks!

Hi all, I have mock ups of the kitchen with differnt combos of stain, white, green.. should I upload here or the other post re: kitchen layout? thanks! Design Interior South- would love your thoughts! thx!