Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets: The Different Techniques

Everyone wants their homes to be distinct and reflect their personalities. When refinishing your kitchen cabinets, you have several, radically different designs to choose from, all of which add a specific character to a room. Each look is achieved through a different finishing technique and a corresponding style of hardware.

Here are some design ideas for cabinets with flair:

European: For an elegant European look, use a glaze and some outdated but polished hardware.

Weathered: While most people are trying to make their cabinets look newer, a weathered look suits some cabinets well, particularly in a setting with an old country feel. To achieve the look, beat up the cabinet doors with a heavy chain and roughen the edges. Then, after you have painted the cabinets, sand the edges and corners until the finish begins to show again. Then apply a coat of gloss.

Modern: Modern-looking cabinets can be achieved by using cheap plastic laminates or rigid thermo-foil. Other options include metallic or glass doors. Even painting them produces a nice, modern touch.

Antique: After painting cabinet doors, sand them heavily around the edges and corners, and then apply a stain that is darker than the paint. Rub it with a towel as it dries. Replace the existing hardware with antique-looking pieces.

You want to choose a style that will blend with the rest of your kitchen. If, for example, you have all stainless steel appliances and bright, modern colors on the walls, weathered-looking cabinets will not work. When you are refinishing kitchen cabinets, be sure to consider the whole room when deciding on a style, or be prepared to change the rest of the room to match.