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Help! Second guessing cabinet stain

last year

I recently ordered shaker-style cherry cabinets (Merillat masterpiece) for our kitchen reno. I went with honey spice stain, but I’m worried that I should have gone with natural instead! Will the honey spice look pink or flat over time? It’s so hard to find enough pictures of either stain and they all look different! Thanks for any input :)

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Comments (9)

apple_pie_order
last year
Borrow the samples from your dealer. Ask how old the samples.
kandrewspa
last year
Cherry gets darker over time, regardless of the stain, so keep that in mind. Also, in order to get more feedback here you will need to post pictures of the samples.
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PRO
Debbi Washburn
last year
Merillat Masterpiece is made by Kraftmaid - looking at our cherry samples - the natural looks almost the same as the honey spice so I don't think it would have made a difference.

Personally , I don't look at cherry ( any stain ) and think it looks pink.
PRO
The Kitchen Place
last year
Natural and honey spice cherry won't turn pinky....if anything, as it ages it will become darker and have orange tones. See pic below.
faftris
last year
last modified: last year
I had custom natural cherry cabinets in my house, and the company that made them was able to match the grain exactly by using the same source of wood. I had hoped to do natural cherry again in our downsize condo, but the KD (same one) cautioned me that Kraftmaid would not be able to match it, that cabinets were sourced from different places and made in different factories, and that I would not be happy with the result. Natural cherry can have quite a variation in light and dark streaks, if I was expecting it to look the same. I love natural cherry, and even though my cabinets did darken, it made them even more lovely and rich.
PRO
The Kitchen Place
last year
Agreed...they do become more rich with age.
herbflavor
last year
in the "pro" section on Merillat web page they have info. All their stains have UV inhibitors. some explanations about wood changes w exposure and time are there. they include differences shown between veneer and solid panels. Looks like they claim less noticeable changes with light stains and veneer panels. FWIW. I think your stain is considered light. I dont know your door style/what is the exposure with regards light into the space etc. ??? there are numerous factors involved. The light stain is better than natural I think.
susanlynn2012
last year
Please post pictures....
Kristin
Original Author
last year
Thank you everyone! I’m sticking with honey spice and I’m sure it will turn out great.

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