Replace all those Cabinets or Refinish Them? How to Get a Cost Effective Kitchen Update
By Caryn Starr-Gates Friday, July 23, 2010, 06:23 PM EDT
When many homeowners are considering a kitchen makeover, they automatically assume that tearing out and replacing the cabinets and countertops, or refacing the cabinets, are necessary components to this big project.
Lucia Portali-Waters, owner and lead designer of FABU Designs by Lucia in Hasbrouck Heights (http://www.fabucreations.com), takes a very different tactic … and says that homeowners whose kitchens are large and contain many cabinets and drawers are likely to save a lot of money by refinishing the cabinetry instead.
Replacing cabinets can be very expensive and a major disruption to the homeowner. In fact, according to Portali-Waters, many cabinets are destroyed during replacement that could have had a second chance if only the homeowner were aware of other creative options. Savvy homeowners seeking custom refinishing to pick up a color scheme in the kitchen, coordinate with backsplash or floor tile, or brighten up a formerly dark and drab space, should consider faux finishing as an option. Not only will they get exactly what they want, they can often do so at a fraction of the cost of completely replacing those cabinets.
“Since your cabinets are the focal point of your kitchen, your cabinet finish can make or break the look and feel of your most utilized space. I find that most outdated cabinets are made of various solid woods and are of very good quality. It is often unnecessary to rip them out. Even if you have a combination of wood and laminated cabinets there is a solution for you,” says Portali-Waters, a certified faux finisher who has studied with leading artists in North America and Europe. She also creates faux finishes on countertops, such as faux granite and marble.
When Portali-Waters talks about a refinishing project, she is not referring to slapping on a coat of paint from the local hardware store. She advises homeowners to ask a professional refinisher about the various finishes that he or she can achieve, and to inquire about the professional’s preparation steps and overall process, which is vital to producing an excellent end result.
“The preparation and process are most important and include removing the old finish first and then applying top quality paints and top coat glazes methodically. A multi-layered process that includes cleaning and sanding between each layer achieves extremely durable finishes. Top coats are available in satin, matte, gloss or any combination and compares to the quality of commercial-grade factory finishes once cured,” explains Portali-Waters. She notes that if done right, in the end the cabinets should look like factory-stained wood. The variety of finishes and colors available are endless, from the classic cherry and maple to French Country or aged and distressed. “There is a design that will complement your current décor; a good faux finisher should be able to deliver a broad variety of custom finishes,” says Portali-Waters.
She advises homeowners to find out if the refinisher uses environmentally safe products, especially if there are young children in the house or people who are sensitive to chemical products. FABU Designs uses the most environmentally-friendly products available, such as paints and glazes that are low-VOC (volatile organic compounds).
In cases where the cabinet door design is the problem, Portali-Waters suggests having the doors replaced as unfinished pieces. The doors and the cabinet frame are then primed and painted together, using the appropriate combination of paints for the wood, in the finish of the homeowner’s choice. The next step is to apply the hand graining, texture, and/or glaze, which customizes not only the color but the style of the doors as well. Recessed, raised panels and shaker style doors are very popular designs to keep and update with new finishes but a good faux finisher will have also have options for completely flat doors.
Another alternative to give your kitchen a facelift and save money is to customize a section of the cabinets in a complementary color to the existing cabinetry or a color in the kitchen that will pull together the surrounding space for symmetry. The section selected can be the island, or the area of cabinets around the sink, oven or refrigerator.
Here is the really good news: refinishing a medium-size kitchen (a combination of 25 doors and drawers) can be completed in one week and at a fraction of the cost of replacing (price depends on quantity of doors and drawers, and cabinet bodies). Portali-Waters recommends that before you consider tearing out your current cabinets, research your options and see if your cabinets are good candidates for a finishing makeover. They can often be transformed to look as if they are of a more superior quality which could help sell a home more quickly in some cases; create a more cohesive updated look to go along with new tile, or a new color scheme; or enhance the kitchen’s overall look and provide the impression of a more comprehensive renovation.
FABU Designs by Lucia, based in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, features the artistry of certified faux finisher Lucia Portali-Waters. Portali-Waters, who has trained with top artisans in North America and Europe, offers faux glazed finishes, custom textures and Venetian plasters for walls, fine graining (faux bois), European plastering finishes and murals on walls, custom finishes for furniture and cabinetry and counter tops. Her work in upscale homes and restaurants throughout the New York and New Jersey has been featured in lifestyle magazines; and transforms walls, countertops, mouldings, cabinets and furniture into completely new pieces and looks. The paints, glazes, plasters and other materials used on any FABU project are high quality and the most environmentally-friendly products available. Old World European, stone and brick finishes, shabby chic and distressed looks, custom wood graining, damask and graphic designs mimicking wallpaper finishes are just some of the unique looks rendered by hand by FABU Designs by Lucia. For more information call 201-280-7054 or email fabudesigns@mac.com. A gallery of her work is available at her website, www.fabucreations.com.
Lucia Portali-Waters, owner and lead designer of FABU Designs by Lucia in Hasbrouck Heights (http://www.fabucreations.com), takes a very different tactic … and says that homeowners whose kitchens are large and contain many cabinets and drawers are likely to save a lot of money by refinishing the cabinetry instead.
Replacing cabinets can be very expensive and a major disruption to the homeowner. In fact, according to Portali-Waters, many cabinets are destroyed during replacement that could have had a second chance if only the homeowner were aware of other creative options. Savvy homeowners seeking custom refinishing to pick up a color scheme in the kitchen, coordinate with backsplash or floor tile, or brighten up a formerly dark and drab space, should consider faux finishing as an option. Not only will they get exactly what they want, they can often do so at a fraction of the cost of completely replacing those cabinets.
“Since your cabinets are the focal point of your kitchen, your cabinet finish can make or break the look and feel of your most utilized space. I find that most outdated cabinets are made of various solid woods and are of very good quality. It is often unnecessary to rip them out. Even if you have a combination of wood and laminated cabinets there is a solution for you,” says Portali-Waters, a certified faux finisher who has studied with leading artists in North America and Europe. She also creates faux finishes on countertops, such as faux granite and marble.
When Portali-Waters talks about a refinishing project, she is not referring to slapping on a coat of paint from the local hardware store. She advises homeowners to ask a professional refinisher about the various finishes that he or she can achieve, and to inquire about the professional’s preparation steps and overall process, which is vital to producing an excellent end result.
“The preparation and process are most important and include removing the old finish first and then applying top quality paints and top coat glazes methodically. A multi-layered process that includes cleaning and sanding between each layer achieves extremely durable finishes. Top coats are available in satin, matte, gloss or any combination and compares to the quality of commercial-grade factory finishes once cured,” explains Portali-Waters. She notes that if done right, in the end the cabinets should look like factory-stained wood. The variety of finishes and colors available are endless, from the classic cherry and maple to French Country or aged and distressed. “There is a design that will complement your current décor; a good faux finisher should be able to deliver a broad variety of custom finishes,” says Portali-Waters.
She advises homeowners to find out if the refinisher uses environmentally safe products, especially if there are young children in the house or people who are sensitive to chemical products. FABU Designs uses the most environmentally-friendly products available, such as paints and glazes that are low-VOC (volatile organic compounds).
In cases where the cabinet door design is the problem, Portali-Waters suggests having the doors replaced as unfinished pieces. The doors and the cabinet frame are then primed and painted together, using the appropriate combination of paints for the wood, in the finish of the homeowner’s choice. The next step is to apply the hand graining, texture, and/or glaze, which customizes not only the color but the style of the doors as well. Recessed, raised panels and shaker style doors are very popular designs to keep and update with new finishes but a good faux finisher will have also have options for completely flat doors.
Another alternative to give your kitchen a facelift and save money is to customize a section of the cabinets in a complementary color to the existing cabinetry or a color in the kitchen that will pull together the surrounding space for symmetry. The section selected can be the island, or the area of cabinets around the sink, oven or refrigerator.
Here is the really good news: refinishing a medium-size kitchen (a combination of 25 doors and drawers) can be completed in one week and at a fraction of the cost of replacing (price depends on quantity of doors and drawers, and cabinet bodies). Portali-Waters recommends that before you consider tearing out your current cabinets, research your options and see if your cabinets are good candidates for a finishing makeover. They can often be transformed to look as if they are of a more superior quality which could help sell a home more quickly in some cases; create a more cohesive updated look to go along with new tile, or a new color scheme; or enhance the kitchen’s overall look and provide the impression of a more comprehensive renovation.
FABU Designs by Lucia, based in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, features the artistry of certified faux finisher Lucia Portali-Waters. Portali-Waters, who has trained with top artisans in North America and Europe, offers faux glazed finishes, custom textures and Venetian plasters for walls, fine graining (faux bois), European plastering finishes and murals on walls, custom finishes for furniture and cabinetry and counter tops. Her work in upscale homes and restaurants throughout the New York and New Jersey has been featured in lifestyle magazines; and transforms walls, countertops, mouldings, cabinets and furniture into completely new pieces and looks. The paints, glazes, plasters and other materials used on any FABU project are high quality and the most environmentally-friendly products available. Old World European, stone and brick finishes, shabby chic and distressed looks, custom wood graining, damask and graphic designs mimicking wallpaper finishes are just some of the unique looks rendered by hand by FABU Designs by Lucia. For more information call 201-280-7054 or email fabudesigns@mac.com. A gallery of her work is available at her website, www.fabucreations.com.
