Kitchen update

12 years ago

Our kitchen is only 5 years and has great quality cabinets but the color isn't our style. Same with the counters. I don't want to get new cabinets due the cost. We have been told possibly glazing the cabinets could take the yellow out of the wood color but I'm having trouble finding photo examples. I heard painting chips. Does anyone have ideas?
We also want to change the counter tops and are thinking of going dark for those.

Featured Answer

PRO

Dimensions Design Center

12 years ago

The only way to really get a professional finish is to remove doors and have the top coats of the cabinets face frames and doors sanded down. Then have the factory re-stained or paint in a color that you prefer.
Painting will be more susceptible to chipping and cracking than staining will.

I agree with Nikki.
A stain will not make much of a difference in the cabinet color, other than making the grooves and edges more outlined.
If you were to glaze or re- finish yourself it might look a bit dull or homemade without having the proper professional factory equipment to do sealed top coat.

This pic shows the same color with different stains next to it. You can see it really dose not change the color of the wood.

You might be able to keep your counters if you have a darker stain on the cabinets. Save on new counter and go with a better finished cabinet if possible.
Hope this helps

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Comments (11)

PRO
Nikki Trivisonno, CKBD of Somrak Kitchens
12 years ago
Your cabinets appear to be oak. Oak has a lot of orange and yellow in it, and I don't see how a glaze would take that away. You could have them refinished a darker color (like espresso) which will eliminate the yellow and orange, but you will still have the heavy graining coming thru. Keep in mind that by adding any type of glaze or stain to your cabinets will ruin the finish if you have a factory finish. (Factory finished cabinets often have a very strong finish and top coat that will protect it from daily wear and tear and acids found in the kitchen.) A finish done on site is no comparison to a factory finish and you will likely have to have them touched up or re-stained in 5-7 years.
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Margo
12 years ago
We are having our oak cabinets redone with a company called Nhance. They are scheduled for end of April! I will post if we are happy with results! We picked to darken them a few shades, as opposed to a total color change! You might check their web site. They are a franchise .
aligers thanked Margo
aligers
Original Author
12 years ago
That chart was very helpful! Regarding the glaze. I do have a question about staining... What How do they do the edges on an island or around the fridge where there are only small strips? Do they have to purchase something new to do that? Or do they just stain those areas without taking it out?

Also, do you recommend not doing anything with the cabinets then and just changing the handles and countertops? Think that would make enough of a change?
PRO
Nikki Trivisonno, CKBD of Somrak Kitchens
12 years ago
That depends. If the edge is wood, then no problem. If it is a PVC edgetape, you can paint it a solid color, but because it is plastic, I don't think you will get it to look the same as the wood. They may need to put new edgetaping on the cabinets.

I would change the hardware and countertops first and see what you think. Any refinishing is going to be expensive, so I would save that as a last resort. Good Luck!
aligers
Original Author
12 years ago
Nikki, Even with the kitchen cabinets the color they are you'd do just the countertops and hardware first? I'm just concerned they'd have to take the countertops back off to take the cabinets out and stain them. Is that not a big deal?
PRO
Sustainable Dwellings
12 years ago
Sand and paint. Any color but golden oak. I think your island top is nice looking.
PRO
Nikki Trivisonno, CKBD of Somrak Kitchens
12 years ago
Aligers- There is absolutely no reason that if you put new countertops on the cabinets could not be refinished. Countertops do not come off. If you do refinish they will take doors off and refinish cabinet in place.
PRO
Flemington Granite
12 years ago
New countertops and backsplash would provide an instant upgrade to the kitchen. Pick a stone and color that better matches your style and make that the focal point of the room. New hardware would have a big impact as well.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
12 years ago
I often choose a car color for cabinets and have them spayed at an auto paint shop. The paint takes about 3 weeks to cure completely but after that they are indestructable, you could sand and paint the frames yourself with that same paint and a very good paint brush. Choose that color first then go shopping for counter and after that backsplah and paint.
aligers
Original Author
12 years ago
Question... Why would you need to restain after 5-7 years? I understand needing to touch up paint but why stain?