Replacing cabinets, can be pricey, especially if you already have wood cabinets, can you replace just the fronts if you dislike them, or the hardware?

Refacing cabinets can be as costly as new ones, and one still doesn't have drawers underneath (a goal for most!).

I would get prices on new cabinets.

To me it would come down to cost and functionality.

My friend had her maple cabinets stained. Most of the work was done offsite and I don't recall her having issues with sawdust or horrible smells. To have it done properly, is pretty much equivalent to a total renovation in terms of inconvenience.

She was happy with the function so it really was a cosmetic remodel as sink stayed where it was - wall ovens stayed where they were - cook top remained where it was. She might have had the carpenter put in a new cabinet but it was fairly minimal.

Yes drawers are great but retrofitted pullouts also function well for lower cabinets.

I am currently having my kitchen remodeled and it's a gut remodel because I want to change the layout for more functionality even though I can't move the sink or stove much (high rise so plumbing and vents are where they are :-).

Get a realistic bid for how much new cabinets would cost versus a professional refinishing job and then - at least to me - it becomes a cost benefit analysis based on what you would achieve with new cabinets versus cost and whether you can afford the difference.

I was planning a similar kitchen refresh (re-stain, counter & backsplash), but after starting my research it didn't make sense to keep 17 year old cabinets with poor quality drawer hardware. I have large appliances and I didn't want to be tied to the spacing for older appliances that have had several service calls. I know the new version of my Thermador oven/micro/warming drawer tower has different dimensions. At that point I also decided to change the layout slightly.

So the re-fresh turned into a full gut and remodel with everything new.

They just started yesterday ...

vivien - dumb question, are the cabinet fronts just screwed in? I looked in the drawers and that's what it appears to be. The cabinet doors have inside hinges (thank goodness) so those should not be too hard if I want to replace them. The drawers are not tongue-in-groove so I'm not sure if they're considered good quality. I replaced the knobs several years ago and the brushed nickel looks much better than the cheap brass that was originally on them.

Jhmarie - I don't think my friend used a water based finished. Her cabinet company recommended a different one that supposedly lasted longer. They said they had to stain the boxes so even though they did the doors at their shop, they still sanded the boxes at her house.

I had the company that build the cabinets come out a few years ago to give me a quote on restaining. They unfortunately do not carry that particular stain any more so I was told the boxes would need to be done since it would look off just doing the doors. I was quoted something like $1,500 for the restaining vs I'm guessing at least 10x that for new cabinets.

I'll look into just replacing the doors and drawer fronts.

We refinished/reconfigured our maple cabinets. Some of the work was done by us, and some by the cabinet maker and cabinet refinisher. The cabinet frames were refinished on site. Since we bought new doors and drawer fronts, they were finished off site. If you are hiring a refinisher, they could probably do that also, reducing the amount of dust and chemical exposure you have in your house. Just be sure to be very clear about everything, so you get the correct pricing for what you want done. Then compare the price to new. I really like the modification we made for drawers by the stove, and I wish we had done more. We put pull outs in some of the other lowers.

Here's the link to the thread about our project:

[Cabinet refinish/reconfiguration[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/almost-finished-stained-cabinets-green-granite-dsvw-vd~2529831)

What do the cabinets look like?

Are the drawer boxes dovetailed? Or just nailed?

Are you bottom cabinets doors or drawers and if doors, do you ROI?

Oil based finishes not only smell, they yellow / amber over time. There are many good water based polyurethanes. It does take more coats for water based - perhaps that is what your friend's refinisher did not want to deal with. Oil based takes 2 coats an water based needs at least four. I do use oil based for outdoor projects, but indoor cabinets would be fine with a water based finish, especially if the people in the home have asthma or related problems.

cpartist - drawers are just nailed (sorry, I used the term tongue and groove when the correct term is dovetailed) with 3 tiny pin nails on each side. The bottom cabinets are doors, no drawers. I will attempt to upload a picture.