Blue/gray stained cabinets instead of paint? Am I crazy?
lceh
13 years ago
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Comments (17)
formerlyflorantha
13 years agolceh
13 years agoRelated Discussions
White Cabinet Questions -- Am I crazy?
Comments (5)Here's the scoop, from my perspective, having just ordered a white kitchen. First, I'm in Canada, where there is less of a stigma attached to MDF doors. Many (all) of the highest end cabinet shops have MDF door options. Wood frame doors will expand and contract and you will get hairline cracks at the seams of the frame and gaps showing around the panel. You can reduce this by using an MDF panel with solid wood frame around. Further reduction of gap appearance can be achieved by painting the panel before assembling the door. The panels in a wood door 'float' - they are not glued into place, for this very reason. In some people's eyes, the lines are a sign of a solid wood door and they like the 'imperfect' look. I tend to agree, but the wife couldn't stomach spending this much money on cabinets and looking at cracked paint all the time. So, push come to shove, with no price difference, we went with MDF doors on plywood cabinets. While she couldn't stomach cracked paint, I couldn't stomach pretend maple plastic veneer inside a particle board box. So I paid the small upcharge for plywood (material difference only which was minor). Our upper cabinets are 47" tall. The MDF doors are custom made on a computer controlled CNC machine. Today solid wood doors are similarly machine made with minimal human assembly. For all the attention paid with most door makers, they may as well be machine made - it's like saying your Ford was made by hand. Sure it was. So if you want a perfect smooth finish, go with MDF doors. MDF is a strong environmental choice too. If you prefer the feeling that you've got solid wood doors, and like the imperfections showing up over time, go solid wood. I also learned that at least in the Toronto area, most 'custom' cabinet shops make their own cabinet carcasses (the box) but all order doors from companies that do just that - make doors. Check out Cut Right doors in Waterloo Ontario for example. So often the difference between one shop and another is the construction technique/quality of the carcass, and the finishing quality of the paint/stain, as the doors are delivered unfinished. Our 'white' kitchen is being painted Benjamin Moore Cloud White, a perennial favorite white - pretty neutral without much yellow or blue undertone but not stark. Cabinets are being installed in a week or so....See MoreAm I crazy to consider painting over stain grade hickory?
Comments (17)You have three major things here that are making you dislike your kitchen - floors, hickory, and paint. Maybe a fourth - lighting. When cabinets are bad, I am usually the first to say, paint them white. But, your cabinets are so nice, and I personally would not paint them. I love wood floors, and want all my wood floors the same species and stain, so I would definitely want hickory floors in my kitchen. I know this is usually a "no-no" but I truly think with some tweeking in other areas you can make it work. See attached pictures from Houzz. Changing the terra cotta paint will make the biggest impact. Check out the green paint in some of these attached pictures or a neutral linen white (this is coming from someone who doesn't like white walls). Someone mentioned under-cabinet lighting - you probably need that, but hard to tell from the pictures. So, if that were my kitchen, I would intall hickory floors to match the rest of my house, I would paint the walls a lighter color (my accessories would help dictate that color), I would use a really nice kitchen rug to add color of my choice, I would use my bright, happy Fiesta dishes to make me happy. I am not understanding about the island - are you going to use one. If so, perhaps paint it a color (of your choice) to break up the flooring. Don't be afraid of mixing the hickory wood if that is what you want. If you google craftsmen room, you will see cabinets, trim, flooring, doors, etc in the same species and stain and it looks great. It is all in how other color is added. Here is a link that might be useful: [Houzz-Hickory cabinets[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/hickory-cabinets-phbr0lbl-bl~l_36965)...See MoreKitchen redesign - am I crazy?
Comments (38)Hi - wow, so much great advice! @icannotwait - The floor tile is a porcelain tile, hard to tell in the picture but its a light grey with some blue and some cream in it. I will do a 12 by 24" brick pattern. @desertsteph - The aisle is over 5' wide, the overall dimensions are 9' * 17' and there is an L shape piece I did not include on the floor plan that is the banquette. I struggled with the Landing space issue a lot! But you just have to turn around and you can use the end of the run on either side. Its also a wide aisle though, about 4.5'. Not ideal, I know. @Taggie - you are absolutely right! I actually brought it up to my cabinet guy and we are changing that run of lowers. Further up, @Pence suggested moving the Trash too. So now Our run will go (from left to right) 4 Drawer Stack, Trash cabinet, sink, Dishwasher, Tray base. Sound better? @JulieKCmo - love your counters! they look pristine actually. Are you happy with them next to the sink? Do you have them next to the Range too? @KitschyKitch - Thank you for your kind encouragement! You are spot on when you say we cannot lose any space, despite a larger than average space. I like open shelves, just cannot imagine using them daily. Sippy cups need cabinets! My feeling on the corian, ceasarstone, etc is that they just look too perfect for my taste. I like a little charm and depth. I think they can be just the thing in a smooth modern application, but just not right for my project. Great Idea on testing the color - we are ordering a sample door, so I will take it in there and see what I think. I will also take it to the stone yard with the other tiles and see if anything feels right! @Cloud_swift - I sat on the white kitchen for months (since April!) too. I started getting bored with it a while back, but tried to salvage it with different backsplash ideas, different paint, etc. Still bored. Hence the huge transformation! @segbrown - I got what you meant! Thanks for the kind words, I will not let it hold us up. Ordering the cabs today! Will just have to find a counter top I like to go with it. I have 6 weeks for that. :-) @dianalo - thanks again for the advice on the wood - I think it would be stunning. Just have to check if its allowed! And well, still worried about its upkeep despite all of you awesome pro-wood posters! Thanks everyone - I really appreciate all the advice! and Spence - you just changed my design! Thanks....See MoreAm I crazy to paint my kitchen cabinets white?
Comments (27)Nlpie, I'm a little late to this party but have my 2 cents to add. Also, want to echo others comments that you have a gorgeous house and cabinets. First, a good friend of mine had her cabinets painted by a top notch professional crew. They did a first class job, and the finish held up for years. I think that with some changes you can have a wonderful kitchen either staying with natural cabinets or going creamy off-white. I'm mainly struck by your your lack of artificial lighting. The pot lights aren't even on in the kitchen ceiling. If there are no under cabinet, or above cabinet lights, please add both. Rather than just changing the lighting above the island, what about adding two skylights if this is a single story house? There are both layers of artificial light and skylights in my kitchen. It all makes a huge difference. Along the same line, I would add 3 floating shelves on either side of the large wall clock. Have led lighting built into each self to shine down, with lighting to shine up from the top shelf. Then add fine art decorative glass vases on the shelves. Rather than the clock, replace with a large painting which will have fine art lighting. Both the counter and the back splash go well with the wood cabinets. However, the counter and tile do not look good together imho, too busy. I would go with the cream crackle tile bluebell has shown, whether the cabinets are painted or not. It's always fun coming up with ideas for others to spend $$$. I'm really looking forward to seeing you kitchen when it's completed....See Moretxcook
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