How natural cherry darkens
joygreenwald
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (20)
joygreenwald
9 years agoardcp
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Darkening Cherry Cabinets
Comments (11)Ok! That's good to hear. I am going to set them in the window until I have time to hang them. OK, Ms Lazy admits: until I make time to hang them. Thanks for the input, all! I've never wanted a wood kitchen. I've always loved painted cabinets. Until I stripped these antique Cherry ones down. "Antique" is 1992 or so. so I guess they're just old! Anyway, the chocolate and cream colors they've become are mesmerizing. Casey, "stain" with lye? Just paint it on? I'll go read that thread, but this one is a new one to me. I've bleached wood now, with Clorox and Oxcylic acid. As a matter of fact, to get the red out of these antiquey ones, I used many applications of Clorox. Lye is a new one to me. Does it darken as much as vinegar does to pine or maple? Off to read. This post was edited by CEFreeman on Fri, May 9, 14 at 10:14...See Morewill cherry cabinet color darken in 9 mos?
Comments (10)When are currently shopping for cabinets, so we have looked at a LOT of cherry cabinet doors. Ones that had been fresh and out of sunlight, ones that had been out for just a couple months, and ones that had been out for years. Yes, the darkening happens in as fast as a few months, and I imagine by 9mos-1yr, things should be pretty close to as dark as they would be, with some subtle darkening happening after that. We found that if you do a slight stain (the lightest one we found at one place was called Honey) rather than going with the natural cherry, that dramatically helps to control the end color you darken to....See MorePics of Shiloh natural cherry or medium cherry cabinets?
Comments (9)Natural cherry is going to darken to pretty much the same color in any brand. There may be a difference in the amount of color variation depending on the grade of cherry used. Most of the darkening happens in the first 6 months or so. Here is a picture of our natural cherry kitchen taken after the family room remodel when the flooring was replaced. The toe kick covers hadn't been reinstalled when this picture was taken. (We knew we were going to do the family room later so we didn't change the flooring when we did the kitchen remodel.) The cabinets are about 6 years old here so about as dark as they will get: I've heard on this forum that stained cherry doesn't darken much. The color contributed by the stain doesn't darken and masks some of the color change of the cherry. Our first idea was to go with natural maple for the kitchen to keep it very light. We were worried about dark cabinets making it to dark. But every time I saw pictures of cherry kitchens I loved the warmth of them and cherry went so well with counter top colors we liked. We find the cherry dark enough to add some warmth and color variation to our kitchen without making it too dark. Our kitchen faces slightly north of west, but there are redwoods and other tall trees and a wing of the house shading the kitchen window. We don't find the natural cherry too dark. We used natural maple when we replaced the floor....See Morenatural cherry cabs & natural red oak floors - do you regret decision?
Comments (10)Thanks to all for your comments! No going back on the natural cherry cabinets (they were just installed) so looks like I will have to address any issues with the finish we use on the red oak floors. I think my problem is that I really hate to put a stain on beautiful hardwood but, as you both note, a contrast is considered best. Guess I was just hoping against hope that the cherry will darken enough so that I would still have a contrast. An option suggested by my kitchen designer is to go with a Provincial stain on the floors. I really value her advice... just resisting staining that wood! :-)...See MoreBunny
9 years agojoygreenwald
9 years agoVertise
9 years agoajc71
9 years agoathomesewing
9 years agojerzeegirl
9 years agobrightm
9 years agoajc71
9 years agoUser
9 years agoCEFreeman
9 years agoCloud Swift
9 years agoaptosca
9 years agoaspen75
3 years agoaptosca
3 years agoaspen75
3 years agoaptosca
3 years agoaspen75
3 years ago
Related Stories
MATERIALSWoodipedia: Is It Cherry or Is It Alder?
Learn the differences between these two wood types, as well as costs, sustainability and a caution about finishing
Full StoryMATERIALSDesign Workshop: Natural Wood Siding Minus the Maintenance
No need to worry about upkeep when you choose wood that embraces weathering
Full StoryPINKCherry Blossom Pink Romances Rooms
Let the sweet nature of your rooms bloom with this prettiest of colors
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESNature’s Color Wisdom: Lessons on Pink From the Great Outdoors
Leave your assumptions about pink at the princess playhouse door. Head outside instead for shades from shocking to subtle
Full StoryCOLORNature’s Color Wisdom: Lessons on Blue From the Great Outdoors
Take some cues from the sea and sky to find a blue to match any taste and mood
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESPlant Black Cherry Trees for the Birds and Bees
Plant Prunus serotina in the Central and Eastern U.S. for spring flowers, interesting bark and beautiful fall color
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNNatural Swimming Pools: More Beauty, No Chemicals
Keep your skin and the environment healthy with a pool that cleans itself, naturally
Full StoryTASTEMAKERSBook to Know: 'Bringing Nature Home'
Florals, fruits and flowering branches lend natural luxury as botanical arrangements for the home
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNWood Range Hoods Naturally Fit Kitchen Style
Bring warmth and beauty into the heart of your home with a range hood crafted from nature's bounty
Full StoryHOUSEKEEPINGVinegar and Voilà: Clean Your House the Natural Way
Ditch the commercial cleaners for nontoxic, inexpensive and versatile white vinegar
Full Story
NHBabs z4b-5a NH