Refinishing my kitchen cabinets

Ron-P

Our kitchen cabinets are about 14 years old and in great condition. But, that golden oak color has got to go. After some sample testing on the backs of doors we found the color, Moorish Teak.

We will strip the doors of their clear coat with Dads: Paint and varnish remover. Clean the doors and then apply two coats of the Moorish Teak and then the clear coat.

We plan to remove all the doors and hardware and stack them off in the garage tackling the framework first. Once the framework is 100% complete then we will move on to the doors. The inside of the cabinets will remain the light color so all our dishes can stay.

Here's a couple of current kitchen pics.






Here's a pic of the test we liked. It has a second coat with a red tint which we will not do.



Out the door the entire project will cost us right about $120.00.

faster100

although its a huge kitchen, the dark color will make it look smaller.. it looks pretty good, just real dark.

Ron-P

it looks pretty good, just real dark.

Yep, it's exactly what we want, dark. Our living room and dining room are both furnished with very dark furnishings, we both love it. Our pub kitchen table you see in the pics, all our furniture is that color.

The last project on the list is flooring, we're looking at a dark stone type. That should be a fun project.

Early B.

Great. Keep us informed because I need to do the same thing. Our cabinets are 26 years old.

BTW, it's gonna cost you a lot more than $120 when you're finally done. The dark teak color have a high contrast to the white appliances, etc. and may force you to change the countertops, at a minimum. What color is the kitchen floor?

We have a resident interior designer on the forum, so maybe she'll chime in.

Ron-P

We will not be changing out the appliances or countertops, it's all fairly new and in very good shape.

The kitchen ceiling is white as is the kitchen door, mini blinds, counter top and appliances, there's enough white in the kitchen to give a good balance. Plus, the floor is a light tan as is the carpet in the rooms next to the kitchen.

Skynut

I like it.
It is a little dark but to each their own.

The wife and I have been thinking about doing this so I am interested in how it goes. We have the same light oak in our house.

I am mainly worried about the thin venreer on the cabnets.

Let us know how well it works and good luck.

faster100

well i like the color.. my comment wasnt against the color. dark colors just make rooms look smaller, although don't think that will hurt in that huge kitchen. the white will be a nice contrast.. i certainly wouldnt make anything else dark but the floor imo.. I like stained colors way more then the painted look for cabinets and wood stuff,

cfrizz

Where'd the pics go I want to see them!

Early B.

How simple was it to remove the original coat? Was it messy and stinky?

Also, please let us know how much time it takes for you to complete it. That's one of the reasons we haven't attempted this project yet. It's gotta be done, though. Our cabinets are a similar color than yours and we're looking to go with a lighter coat, and change out the hardware and countertops. Ughh.

faster100

if your going a lighter coat, be real sure you get all the other finish off or its gonna darken your lighter finish.

I'm sure its going to be semi messy... ive refinished several pieces in the past,one being a 20's hoosier cabinet, nothing about stripper or paint remover that's clean..

Ron-P

I'll post pics along the way. We are giving ourselves a months time to do it. A couple days to do the framework and then several doors at a time on my days off.

The "Dads" is not too smelly and it's a gel type so it stickes in place and is scraped off. Removing the original coat was very easy, the second Dads hits the finish is peeling up. It just has to be cleaned off real good before staining. It's a fairly simple process. Getting an even look over the entire kitchen with the stain will be the tough part, that's what will take time to do.

dark colors just make rooms look smaller,

True to an extent. We have a dark master bedroom and a dark bathroom and it did not shrink the rooms much, if any. Heck, our kitchen walls are a deep, dusty green and it did not effect the size of it at all.

Dark colors have so much life and character to them. Whites and pastel colors do not.

As for the counter top we may tile over it with a light tan tile but not until we redo the flooring which will be a medium dark colored stone.

madmax

I need to re-do mine as well so lots of pics and details please.
madmax

Willow

Yes keep us posted. We too have to either redo ours or buy new cabinets. We just bought new appliances in May all white to replcae the old almond ones. Our cabinets are that old ugly oak and they need to go.
Who on the forum is an interior designer ?

Early B.

Willow wrote:

Who on the forum is an interior designer ?

Wingnut. She'll probably be modest and tell you she hasn't earned the degree yet, but check out how she decorated her HT room with two beautiful SVS's and a pair of gorgeous VR4Jr's.

Polkersince85

I can hear F1nut cringe but if you have real solid wood doors. not mdf, or laminate, paint remover and power washers (or early
Sunday morning at the spray car wash) works good. Do a test run first though, dry it off quickly.

Midnite Mick

Love the colour. The appliances and countertop may stick out too much for me though. Huge job.

Good luck,
Mike

Frank Z

I guess I'm the lone voice of dissent.....yuck! I like the cabinets the way they are, different handles and drawer pulls maybe. Good luck with the project Ron. I hope it turns out the way you want it to...that's all that matters.

Polkersince85

I'm with FrankZ. I think the wood color as now is better. Just change floor first and see how it looks or take a digital picture and edit the colors to get an idea how it will look afterwards. You can always think about it but once it's done, you can't go back.

wingnut4772

Dark does not necessarily make a room look smaller. I think that color will add drama. Are you also thinking of re-doing the paint? Something in a nice warm tone- in a nice earthy neutral palette a bit lighter than the cabinet color will really make it pop and help balance the white appliances with the dark wood color. Just a thought.

Early B.

Here's an inexpensive alternative that looks great -- knock out the center panel in some or all of the top cabinet doors and replace them with glass panes. Change out the hardware, too. It'll give your kitchen an entirely different look.

We did this in selected cabinets in our previous home and it gave the kitchen a more modern, classy look.

brettw22

If you're replacing teh hinges, make sure not to get too thick of a hinge. It looks like the existing is the standard hinge. Your doors don't butt right up against each other at the center point, but I've seen people get new mammoth hinges that totally eff the way the door sits against the frame.

I agree about the white counter top. It's going to be THE thing you notice in the kitchen so the tile idea down the line is a good one. I'd be careful though about turning all things dark in the kitchen or you're going to get the effect of walking into a cave.

Have fun.....

Ron-P

I guess I'm the lone voice of dissent.....yuck! I like the cabinets the way they are

We have nothing, I repeat, nothing else in our house that is this golden oak color and we are tired of it. My wife and I love dark, very dark, that very old and beaten up look. All the "new" furniture we bought is all distressed, that used and worn out look. These cabinets do not go with anything in our entire house.

Are you also thinking of re-doing the paint?

No. We love the dusty green and think it goes very well up against the dark cabinets.

knock out the center panel in some or all of the top cabinet doors and replace them with glass panes.

Thands for the suggestion but it's a look I do not like. I don't like to see what's in my cabinets. We are trying to avoid that modern look.

If you're replacing teh hinges, make sure not to get too thick of a hinge.

We are going to reuse the same hinges. We are going to paint them black.

I'd be careful though about turning all things dark in the kitchen or you're going to get the effect of walking into a cave.

Wait until you see the pics of our other rooms.

To help you guys see the bigger picture I'll post pics of our living room and dining room when I get a chance.

wingnut4772

Good for you. Dark is warm and cozy so do what you like. I would like to see pics of the other rooms, actually.:)

Ron-P

I'll try to get them up in the morning, if not it'll be late Saturday. Gonna be hanging with Mickey Mouse all day tomorrow.

Midnite Mick

I know you touched on this but using the glass in the cabinet doors just in a couple of feature places with the dark colour may break it up a little. You could have a couple of tidy looking display type of dishes in those.

I apologize as you have said that it wasn't what you were going for but it was just my thought.

Good luck,
Mike

Early B.

Another consideration for making cosmetic changes to the kitchen is resell value. Since you rarely see modern homes with dark kitchen cabinets, make sure you plan to stay in the house for a while. The most important room is the kitchen and if buyers don't like it, you could have a tough time selling it at the asking price. In our last house we remodelled the kitchen just before we sold it to enhance the value and/or make a quicker sale.

Ron-P

make sure you plan to stay in the house for a while

We will never sell, the house will go to my daughter when we are gone. If we want to move we'll take out a mortgage against the house for a down if need be but I don't see that ever happening.

Even if I wanted to move I wouldn't concern myself with resale. I want the house the way I like it not what a future buyer might or might not want or like.

Here's a couple shots of my living and dining rooms. As you can see, dark, this is what we what to match the kitchen to.

del44

Seems like going dark/warmer is the trend now. As I repaint rooms in my house, I change the paint from whiter/cooler colors to darker/warmer colors. I don't plan on selling my house either. It will go to my kids. So everything I do is to my liking. The biggest thing will be making sure that the applied color is uniform and not streaky or spotty. Especially the outside of the doors.You're in for a challenge, but I think you'll like the finished product. Looks good Ron. BTW, nice place you have there.

wingnut4772

It's really not that dark. The walls are light which gives a nice contrast.

Ron-P

We stripped all the framework of the kitchen cabinets today. We also got on a first coat of the Moorish Teak on the pantry and cabinet above the fridge. We used a brush to apply the stain and did not wipe any off, just let it dry. Tomorrow we'll finsih the rest of the kitchen with the first coat and then on Saturday do a follow up second coat using a lint free rag.

Here's a couple of progress pics.

faster100

Ok guys at this point, it's obvious Ron's set in his color scheme and layout.. No changing his mind on this one, lets see the after pictures when your done though

This was moreso a look what im doing thread, not a what can i do better or different.. heheh!!

enjoy! the project