To Gloss or Not to Gloss? High Gloss Cabinets or not

5 years ago

Thank you in advance for any feedback!

We are in the middle of a whole house remodel and going with more of a contemporary/transitional feel throughout. I am having a huge issue with the master bath, for some reason I have a white bathroom in my head seen here and here and here (if the cabinets were white on that last pic, however that layout is very similar to ours with cabinets on either side of the vanity.

Anyway, right now we are going with flat front cabinets and a calacatta quartz top. I was originally thinking the high-gloss cabinets since it gave me a kind of classic-chic vibe with the right hardware...however now, I'm questioning whether do the high-gloss. I really want a timeless/classic look, I am just afraid of it looking cheap, or not put together well.

Another option would be the mate white or go to a darker-greyish wood grain cabinets?

Please help!

Featured Answer

Jamie Ludwig

5 years ago

I think I would go for a semi-gloss white. A high gloss will show smuges, scratches and fingerprints and be very hard to keep up.

Comments (12)

staceywj
5 years ago
I have a very small 1/2 bath and DH used IKEA kitchen cabinets for the reno. Since it was so small, I wanted it to look light and airy. They do not show any fingerprints and are super easy to clean if any make up gets on them. But, I do not think they are the look you are going for...

I am redoing my full bath and want something more formal. I had the same vision in my mind as your first pic. But, so scared of using marble!
Jamie Larsen thanked staceywj
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PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
I have the first all white bathroom I have ever had and it is semi-gloss finish. I really like it and the countertop is a quartz in a solid white. That is a bit trickier since it appears to "mar" just a bit so takes a bit more care. But the cabinets just wipe off easily. I will say, the more high gloss, the more small things will show. I wouldn't do matte finish at all. And wood is a completely different look. The white makes a smaller space feel so much bigger. Go white, semi-gloss.
Jamie Larsen thanked Flo Mangan
Jamie Larsen
Original Author
5 years ago
Does anyone advise against an all white bathroom? Is it a dated look? Am I better off going another direction?
cpaul1
5 years ago
High gloss is a not for me.
Jamie Larsen thanked cpaul1
arcy_gw
5 years ago
Something about high gloss seems more cleanable. I like it in some applications, a bathroom Yes!!!
Jamie Larsen thanked arcy_gw
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
I think it would be easier to decide on the cabinet manuf first and then review the offered finishes. A high gloss finish is often an upgrade, even from IKEA.
Hala Alsofi
5 years ago
Hi gloss is not for me either.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I llove my high gloss kitchen cabinets easy to clean 11 yrs old still look like new.
mimimomy
5 years ago
High gloss is not for me. Not because I don't think it can look good in certain applications, but because I would freak out at the first scratch.

I learned my lesson (for me only) long ago on furniture and cabinets. In my first home I bought very expensive solid cherry coffee and end tables with a nice beautiful shiny finish. The cat went skidding over the coffee table and left a scratch about ten inches long. There was no way to hide it, buff it out, cover it. I'm better with painted or natural wood finishes that are more forgiving.

If you don't have kids, dogs, cats or a spouse, it's probably fine. I remember my nephew once tried to figure out if a piece of jewelry was a real diamond by scratching the glass face of a vintage clock. Yeehaw, it wasn't a diamond but it did scratch the glass...
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
Okay my high gloss kitche is actually used in my catering biz and in 11 yrs not one scratch with up to 6 people cooking in the space and grandkids in and out all the time.
Yayagal
5 years ago
High gloss is easier to clean than semigloss, either one would be fine. I have all high gloss ceilings and we love them as the bounce the light better.