Question: The previous owner of our home remodeled the kitchen about 12 years ago. He used high-quality materials and included the details important to a well- functioning kitchen such as appliance garages and under the cooktop pull-out shelves for pots and pans. The only problem is that while we love the layout of the kitchen we are not fond of the golden oak, custom-made cabinets. We plan to do a kitchen "spruce-up" (painting, new countertops, flooring, cooktop and hood). We'd love to change the look of our cabinets without replacing them.

What is the best approach for this?

Karen, Mill Valley

Answer: Because cabinets are such an integral part of any kitchen's appearance, how you deal with them will significantly affect the overall transformation of the space.

There are a number of ways to change the appearance of the cabinets without replacing them entirely. Options include painting over the existing surface, refacing the cabinets and then replacing the doors and drawers, or adding new wood details to the existing doors and painting the entire cabinet. Of course, with each of these options changing the hinges, drawer pulls and knobs will make a tremendous difference, too.

Let's start with painting. The straight forward approach is to go with a single color. Though white is the most common choice, you may want to choose another color to convey a particular decorating style. Proper surface preparation is the most important step to ensure a good finished product, whether you do the work yourself or hire a professional crew.

Faux finishing is a variation that gives a more aged appearance. It is an ideal way to create a Provencal, Tuscan, Moorish, English Country or whatever other effect you desire. With the wood's detail as the stylistic element, faux painting uses different tones within the paint layers and certain brushing techniques to give the wood a slightly distressed appearance.

There are a number of faux painting techniques and it's often complicated work. Craft and paint stores sell kits that can help you do this job yourself, but, unless you're extremely creative, it's best left to professional faux finishers. Again, preparing the surfaces properly is critical to success.

Moving in a different direction, refacing is less expensive than total replacement and offers a wide variety of style options. For example, a traditional look can be converted to an extremely modern style using amazing colors and surface finishes, or, conversely, a modern kitchen can become more traditional.

Refacing is best done by professionals. The flat surfaces are refaced with a laminate product. Doors and drawer fronts are clad in the same laminate.

A representative from the refacing company comes to your home to measure the cabinets, door and drawer openings. If the cabinet doors and drawers are anything but flat, they will plan on replacing the entire door and drawer front. It's easier and less costly than trying to create a new layer for a surface that has contours. It also gives you the option of selecting a new design for these surfaces.

A few weeks later their crew returns with the laminated surfaces, new doors and drawer fronts. The flat surfaces of the cabinets are prepped and the pieces of laminate are glued on. Then the new doors and drawers fronts are put in place.

Another approach to update painted cabinets and one that is extremely economical is to add contour molding and new hardware to the existing doors, a project a handy person can do in one weekend with minimum expense even without a workroom filled with electric tools.

All you'll need is a flat work surface, a miter box, hand saw, hammer, brad nails, counter sink, wood glue and spackle. Be sure to select a molding at the hardware store that has a flat back since it will be attached directly to the door. Do one door at a time and be sure to measure accurately. When all the doors have their new molding, prep and paint the entire cabinet system. If the molding isn't pre-primed, be sure to do this before you paint the doors. Add your new hardware and step back to admire your accomplishment.

To achieve the total effect of your kitchen's new design with any of the approaches described, be consistent; select the correct hardware for the style and make sure the cabinets complement the other elements in the room -- the counters, floors, window details, and, of course, the appliances.

 

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