Shopping Cabinet Solutions: The 3 R’s…Refinishing vs. Refacing vs. Replacing
Shopping Cabinet Solutions:
The 3 R’s…Refinishing vs. Refacing vs. Replacing
The Three R’s….If you have children in school that would stand for Respect for learning, Respect for self & others, Respect for quality. Growing up as a child in the 70’s (did I just say that out loud?), the three R’s stood for Reading, Writing and “Rithmetic”, depending on how you said it. In the world of design and cabinets the three R’s are simply…Refinish, Reface and Replace. One of the most dramatic ways to give your kitchen or bath a new look is to change the cabinets. When you are thinking of updating your kitchen or baths you have three options with your cabinets, Refinishing, Refacing, or Replacing them all together. Kitchen cabinets are the most visible and are also the most abused. After a while they start to look tired and worn and so does your kitchen. New kitchen cabinets can be costly and time consuming. There are alternatives however that can give your kitchen and/or bath a fabulous new look quickly without busting your budget.
CABINET REFINISHING
Most kitchen cabinets are in good shape structurally and only need a new look. The least expensive way to achieve this is to refinish your cabinets. Cabinet refinishing is done by painting or staining the cabinetry, cabinet doors, and draws. Often times we combine two different colors in different areas of the same kitchen. For example: Finishing your cabinets in a rich dark birch and doing your center island in a dark espresso color. Refinishing allows you to update your existing cabinets with any color you choose. Combining this with new hardware will give you a whole new look.
CABINET REFACING
Refacing cabinets is more expensive than refinishing but still less expensive than completely replacing them. This is a great option for those who want to keep the footprint of their room, and possibly even the countertop, but want to change the wood species and/or style of the door and drawer fronts. When refacing, old cabinet doors and draw fronts are removed. A thin coat of wood or laminate is applied to the remaining cabinet faces. There is a wide variety of styles, wood grains and colors to choose from. New matching cabinet doors and draw fronts are then installed. Refacing can greatly improve the durability of cabinets. If the kitchen cabinet hardware is not damaged it can be reinstalled. Again, this is a great time to choose new hardware to really add personality and complete your transformation.
CABINET REPLACING
Another option is to replace your cabinets altogether. If you are remodeling and changing the footprint, often this is necessary. There are a lot of new styles and finishes out on the market today, which will help give the room you are upgrading a whole new personality. New cabinets also offer you flexibility with size, depth, decorative moldings and interior functionality.
Whichever you decide on, cabinet Refinishing, Refacing or Replacing, make your decision based on what works for your desired space and budget. Cabinets are a great investment in your home. For the best results a professional should paint or stain your cabinets. You also may want to get advice from a professional Interior Designer when it comes to selecting a color or combination of colors for your home. As stressful as a remodel can be, it will help to choose the right contractor, one that is licensed, bonded and insured and one that you maintain a mutual respect with.
Cheers!
Denise
