Looking for style suggestions on cabinet doors etc

[mwildt]

Greetings. Been thinking of updating the kitchen a bit. As you know one thing leads to another. Started with painting the ceiling and then the ideas come in. What if ...

Ok, so the kitchen cabinet style is not really in fashion anymore but they are holding up very well. If we replace them then we're also looking at redoing the tile floor since the floor does not go under the cabinets. Not planning on going down that route. Figured maybe we could just update the doors and drawer fronts and the counter top, plus paint the walls.

So that is where I need some ideas. Style wise I was thinking of shaker or similar to what there is a full flat door. Either way I'm struggling with wood choice/color. Cabinet face frame looks like oak and the base is some fake veneer. Inside is lighter in color. Going with oak may not make it more modern and if I choose 'flat' then it needs some color. But what to choose with the existing wood look ? I haven't even gotten to counter top choices yet.

I was hoping some of you would have some ideas ? Like maybe some one tried to resurface cabinets or knew of a sw program that could help visualize this or ...

Thanks for any ideas you may bring.

 

[tjbnwi]

That is red oak.

You'll need to scuff the existing finish. Fill the grain with water based trowelable floor filler. Sand the fake veneer off and seal the particle board core. I use KA+ Surfacer for my prime coats. Wall and Wood primer also works if you don't spray.

Shaker doors with maple rails and stiles. The flat panel can be 1/4" or 1/2" MDF. If you go 1/2" you have to do a reversed raised panel.

Tom

 

[nclemmons]

Frame and panel shaker doors and drawer fronts as Tom says would be a dramatic change.  Definitely spray a new color and probably update the counter top. 

I think repainting the trim of the window and door to match would be necessary.  Ceramic floor will limit your paint choices but understand the desire to limit the tear out.

Hard to tell from the photos but are the cabinets plywood or veneer over MDF? 

Check out Houzz for design and color idea inspiration. 

 

[mwildt]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm leaning towards shaker style as well. Appreciate the guidance on how to prep and paint the cabinets, though when i discussed with the boss that idea was scrapped as too complicated at this point in time. I may have to try with photoshop to see what a 'front' update would look like first.

Yeah, floor is limiting the colors so at the end we may have to postpone and then do the big upgrade later.

Cabinet side appear to be particle board or some similar compressed product. They have no labels indicating the manufacturer, but they have held up quite nice in the time we've had them. Installed by previous owner.

Thanks again.

 

[WastedP]

I think that new doors and drawers, without doing the prep and painting to the boxes like [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] described, would end up looking like you only did half the job.  There are also PSA-backed veneers you can apply to the entire cabinet box and frame to reface the boxes instead of painting.  However, if you haven't done much of that kind of work, the results you get from practicing on your own kitchen may not be satisfactory.

I think refacing is a good idea for very few kitchens.  If the existing kitchen layout is perfect for your needs, it can work if the cabinets are in good enough shape.  If you're content with the existing function of your kitchen, it can work.  If you're willing to pay 60%-70% of the price of new cabinets for a finished project that is not quite as good, it can work. But refacing is usually a half-measure sought after by people who want to do something, but are unwilling or unable to do the whole job.  They are content to throw good money after bad and end up with something that is shiny on the outside, just like donkey dung.