Sophie, We saw dozens of sample doors as well as show kitchens in our cabinet makers showroom. (Not to mention at many other showrooms as well ranging from semi custom to custom, quite high end.). The catalyzed finished ranged from quite matte to more glossy. It is not the sheen we dislike, it is that the catalytic process makes the cabinet feel more like it has a plastic finish than having the feel of a wood surface. We noticed this different at all showrooms so it is not due to this specific cabinet maker.

Like the catalytic, the non catalytic process is also sprayed, not brushed or rolled, and done in a separate dust controlled paint room, with separate HVAC as is the catalytic. The painted ones we saw waiting to ship had the same even coating, no brush strokes, and no debris as their catalytic. So I am not too concerned about those issues.

I am curious about what brands others have used if they have had professionally painted cabinets. I know it won't wear as well as the harder, more durable catalytic process, but I wondering if some brands wear, look, or feel different than others.

Kendrah - We're in a similar situation - Victorian stone farmhouse which "breathes" with the seasons. I'm going with custom doors and drawer fronts, too, for the kitchen cabinets, and the company uses Benjamin Moore. Their turn-around is relatively quick, so I don't think they're using the same finish?

If you want a more crafted finish, would they consider a final coat by hand, with a brush? It'd probably cost the earth though!

Another option would be to buy them primed in the colour you want, then hand-finish them yourself. Friends did that for the kitchen cabinetry in their 200 yo house and the results are very pleasing.

Which wood are you/they using? I've looked at maple, but I prefer to see more grain so I'm thinking oak or ash.

Catalytic is a pollution control on your car.

Catalyzed conversion varnish is what cabinets are coated with. Post catalyzed for the most part, in the major shops. It has the catalyst, or hardener, added just before spraying, and has a relatively short shelf life as a result. The small shops sometimes will use pre catalyzed, which comes that way and has a much longer open time. And doesn’t cure as well or as hard.

In the same exact level of sheen, you would not be able to visually tell the difference between a conventional water borne enamel, or an oil modified waterborne enamel, or a post catalyzed conversion varnish. Sprayed under identical circumstances, in the same gloss levels, the finishes will be identical.

But they will wear differently. Which is why I suggested that you obtain a door that is coated in the exact process and color that you prefer. Nothing beats hands on testing to know if you have any expectations sbout wear that it can not meet. It lets you know if those expectations need to be greatly adjusted, or if only slightly modified. Or if it fulfills all that you hope for.

Most major brands undergone testing of that sort. It is what earns them the KCMA seal. Any local custom product should at least fulfill the bare minimum of these tests that even some very low cost products pass. https://www.kcma.org/certifications/ansi-kcma-certification 

If you think you are dealing with a great crafted product, there is no harm testing it to be certain of your beliefs. It makes not equal the catalyze finish, but you may find that is still “good enough” for the project at hand. And, you will be fully informed of the actual weaknesses, and can take steps to counteract those. Like, no mustard in squeeze bottles to explode when you try to unstop it. Etc.

skmom - what a beautiful space and to know it's all DIY (even building the cabinets) - WOWOWOW!! Nice job. I also used BM Advance paint on my cabinets. It took me four months to paint mine. That was 6 years ago & they still look good.

Thanks for user experiences of BM Advance. Skmom, your kitchen is beautiful and so impressive as a DIY. Feather bee, glad to know yours are going strong 6 years later.

I have horrible sensitivity to chemical smells so I asked for a month for off gassing, which turns out also has the benefit of cure time.

Bubblyjock - You had me a Victorian stone farmhouse. Like my home, it sounds as if it is a living organism, breathing, growing, creaking, and splitting over the decades. My cabinet maker can do hand painted brush strokes, and it was actually not much more expensive, it is just not the look we are going for. We are using maple plywood for the boxes and solid maple for everything else. Curious to hear how your project goes.

Sophie - They are delivering a sample door this week using the wood, paint, custom trim so I will get to see what the finished product looks like. I'm especially excited to see it in my kitchen, which has an abundance of natural light, instead of under showroom bulbs.

Kendrah - I agree about the fumes! There's no excuse for toxic stinks nowadays. Would your guys consider using Farrow & Ball paints? No VOCs, actually smells quite nice. The colours are wonderful, too - not the mega range of BM, but there's always a couple, usually several, colours I like for whatever room we're doing! I wouldn't recommend the high gloss, which is very unforgiving to handle (streaks sooo easily), but any others would be fine except the most matt, which would show everything.

In the same exact level of sheen, you would not be able to visually tell the difference between a conventional water borne enamel, or an oil modified waterborne enamel, or a post catalyzed conversion varnish. Sprayed under identical circumstances, in the same gloss levels, the finishes will be identical.

I have to agree with Sophie. I had my cabinets made by the Amish/Mennonites. All wood (maple) and sprayed with a catalyzed paint finish. I got a matte finish but if I had wanted a semi gloss finish, I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between them and the sprayed wood trim in my new build.

I will say the finish we have on our cabinets is amazing and not plastic at all.

But they will wear differently. Which is why I suggested that you obtain a door that is coated in the exact process and color that you prefer. Nothing beats hands on testing to know if you have any expectations sbout wear that it can not meet. It lets you know if those expectations need to be greatly adjusted, or if only slightly modified. Or if it fulfills all that you hope for.

I was given two custom colors painted on the wood used as samples. I had those two samples in my bag and also banging around on the floor of my car for months with a total of one small scratch. The finish looks as good as the day I got the samples and wiped down quickly with a damp cloth.

Bubblyjock, I do love Farrow and Ball paints. They smell like mud to me, which is just fine. And the colors are great. However, I feel a bit safer using a paint that my cabinet makers are familiar with, as it seems they are with the Advanced. When we use interior paints we always go with the lowest VOC possible. But with these cabinets being able to off-gas elsewhere, I'm ok with doing VOC laden paint.

Cpartist - I have no doubt that the samples can be easily banged around with little wear and tear. I think the catalyzed process does make the wood and the color finish extremely hard. I think that hardness is part of what feels to me like a melamine finish. But your story is a good reminder to me that I should not treat the sample doors with kid gloves and allow them to get tossed around a bit!

Kendrah, would it be possible to have two samples made? One with and one without the catalyzed process? Then you can let both samples bang around for a few weeks to make sure that the one painted without the catalyzed process will hold up as you need them to. And you'll be able to also compare both finishes in the same color and same sheen.

Cpartist, I know that the catalyzed is much more durable and am confident that a matte sheen can be achieved with the catalyzed. We have seen and felt so many catalyzed panels and just don't like the feel of them. They don't feel like wood to me. I have lived in many 100+ year old apartments with solid wood cabinetry that is painted with a non-catalytic process. They just feel different to the touch and this is what I'm after. I wonder if others who have non catalyzed painted cabinets know what I'm talking about and could find better words than I to describe it?