Bye Bye Oak! What to use instead of the arched doors? Grainless/glass?

6 years ago

Hello Houzz Advisors! I have solicited help for my kitchen before (Thank you for your help!), but I'm starting a new post for additional questions. I'm updating our orange oak cabinets by replacing upper doors with square panels and white paint to match our trim.

1. New Door Material - Would you order a non-oak, grainless door for all the upper boxes, as we are going to try and hide the grain with the lowers and boxes? Or will that finish differently from the lower doors we keep (I'm thinking of painting the island a darker color - BM Iron Mountain). If going grainless, what wood would you recommend?

2. Glass - Two of the doors on the left over the desk house glass panels, which I love. Would you add glass to additional uppers? If so, which doors would you change to glass to create interest/depth? Would you do clear glass or frosted to hide potential clutter?

3. Inner boxes and shelves - Think it's important to paint the insides and the shelves? Some of the posts have shown diff color insides which creates some nice depth...

Anyone know an app that allows me to change the appearance in the photo?

Thank you!

Classic Comfort

Featured Answer

User

6 years ago

Call me biased(because I am), but painting oak is the single worst redecorating idea.

I painted the 1965 custom built kitchen cabinets in our home 2 years ago. The design is still great, the construction is amazing(I can build cabinets), and the wife likes them.

Smooth plywood, so primering(with BIN) and applying a gloss enamel white(never realized how many different shades of white there are) was all I had to do. I did paint outside and inside. I did have to fabricate new drawer fronts for the lower cabinets(water damage) and we changed the original hardware.

Poplar is often called The Painter's wood, smooth, minimal grain, hard enough and inexpensive.

Sherwin Williams has a program where you can upload a picture from a phone/camera, outline areas and plug in different colors. visualizer

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Comments (10)

smit2380
6 years ago
Beautiful kitchen. It is a shame to see it go. With that said, it would drive me nuts if the outsides were painted, but the insides were still wood- particularly with glass doors. If it were me and (i) I liked painted cabinets and (ii) wanted to add depth, I might paint the inside a different color inside, but it is unlikely that I would leave the wood.
Classic Comfort thanked smit2380
Shawn Lagemann
6 years ago
I would definitely order the same species of wood for the upper doors as the lower. Oak has a lot of grain which translates into texture when painted, so if you don't have the same texture above as below; in my opinion it would stick out like a sore thumb. I love contrast and painting the island a different color would be a great opportunity to introduce more contrast. If it were me, I'm not sure I'd like the cabinets the same color as your trim with your current backlash and countertops. We'll see what others think. As far as the inside of the cabinet with glass, glass door interiors usually match the exteriors when you order cabinets, you can paint them in a contrasting color and the shelves are easy to replace. You can also wallpaper the interior of the boxes. A patterned glass like "rain glass" can obscure the interior somewhat and could be an option too.
Classic Comfort thanked Shawn Lagemann
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K Laurence
6 years ago
iF you paint your cabinets definitely have the interiors done also. Are you having them done professionally? I'm personally not a fan of adding more glass doors, they always look better in staged homes than in others, unless you're meticulous & use them for a FEW decorative items, not clutter. If it were my kitchen I'd forget about painting the cabinets for now & get a new stainless counter depth refrigerator.
Classic Comfort thanked K Laurence
aprilneverends
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
you have very warm countertop and backsplash. uppers painted in color of the trim will get too stark looking next to them. you'll need much softer warmer color..more like a warm cream realm minimum. Your next choice of color should be dictated to a bigger degree by "permanent" material that for sure stay..so play with some samples first to make sure your updated kitchen will make you happy. Trim is trim; your concern is with your stone and tile since they're integral part of your kitchen unless you change everything. Floors are too but your floors are wood-usually great background to everything.

btw I like it..nice space, warm and cozy

If painting-I'd choose color for the inside of course, either matching or contrasting a bit, depending on what feel I'm after (and how much money I've got..and how tired of the project I am..))

I love glass uppers. I don't see much space to add many more in your kitchen, except for the one door cabinet right next to the window

clear or frosted-depends on your personal habits. I love clear since I know myself-all will be in order. But I know my family too..that's why I have only one cabinet with glass..lol

If you dislike the grain (which I can understand..I also dislike some grains)-maybe allover refacing makes sence? I heard it's pretty expensive though

agree about fridge..not that you asked about it..sorry in advance:)
Classic Comfort thanked aprilneverends
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Flo Mangan
6 years ago
Good advice above. You have a lot of oak, (flooring and dining set, etc.) BUT, unless you get this professionally done and do them all, it is going to look "remuddled" and you probably won't like it. No glass for those cabinets, not because you can't physically do it, but there just isn't the "layout" of the cabinets for it to look right. The base of the island could get painted, but that is about all I would do. Just won't look right. Your kitchen is pretty nice and perhaps a few rugs in the kitchen would help cut down on the oak look.
Classic Comfort thanked Flo Mangan
grapefruit1_ar
6 years ago
You have a lovely, warm kitchen ( well, except for that fridge :) ). My opinion is, I would not paint your cabinets. You will be opening up a whole can of worms. Will your table/chairs then need to be changes? Countertops? Adjoining rooms? Are you hoping for the ubiquitous gray and white kitchen ? Please say no!

I would get a new fridge and probably remove the light " box" above the island and opt for a pretty fixture. Your kitchen REALLY is lovely.
Classic Comfort thanked grapefruit1_ar
soncna 9a Slovenia
6 years ago
Lovely kitchen. Needs a new fridge and pendant lights above island. Keep it in oak.
Classic Comfort thanked soncna 9a Slovenia
User
6 years ago
Example of the difference i9n a small kitchen, from dark wood to white paint:
Classic Comfort thanked User
PRO
Anglophilia
6 years ago
You're talking about spending a lot of money and having a lot of upheaval. I'd just get new cabinets and start over. You'll be money ahead in the end, and you can add TONS of drawers in the bottom units.
Classic Comfort thanked Anglophilia

Bye Bye Oak! What to use instead of the arched doors? Grainless/glass?

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Comments (10)

smit2380

Shawn Lagemann

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K Laurence

aprilneverends

Flo Mangan

grapefruit1_ar

soncna 9a Slovenia

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