CREATE A STUNNING NEW KITCHEN WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK
The kitchen is the hub of the household – where meals are prepared, food is served and friends and family gather. No wonder homeowners want it to look as beautiful as it is functional. Unfortunately, for many of us, tearing out the current kitchen to create a new one from scratch isn’t always the best option. A refresh in design, however, doesn’t necessarily require a huge investment in dollars and time.
A stunning transformation can be achieved by simply repainting or refacing the kitchen cabinetry – if it’s done right. Karen Tosello is co-owner of Decorrestore which specializes in kitchen makeovers through cabinet refinishing.
“We offer affordable options to restyle without a full tear out,” says Tosello. When deciding whether a kitchen needs a tear out or a refreshed design, she recommends looking at the quality of the cabinetry.
“If the cabinetry has a good foundation, and the boxes are in good shape, you don’t need a tear out,” advises Tosello. She adds that homeowners who have granite countertops in the kitchen may not savour the expense of a brand new one. A cabinet refresh offers an ideal alternative.
While the most economical upgrade is repainting the cabinetry, there are circumstances where Decorrestore will recommend re-facing, instead. Tosello recommends replacing cabinet doors if they are looking old and are on a framed kitchen, which means the hinges are attached outside the doors, rather than inside.
“We generally don’t repaint those doors,” says Tosello. In those cases she recommends replacing the doors but keeping the framework. Decorrestore carries many cabinet door options from raised paneled oak to shaker doors. All refacing includes new hinges and hardware, and on-site repainting of the framework.
If repainting is the way to go, Tosello cautions DIYers against painting with a roller and brush. For the strongest finish and most professional looking product, there is no alternative to spray painting. The type of paint matters, too. Decorrestore sprays two coats of primer followed by two coats of lacquer.
Preparing the doors for painting is crucial. It starts with cleaning all grease off the cabinets, sanding, and patching or caulking to create the perfect surface for painting.
“Decorrestore handles the doors five times,” explains Tosello. “Our first handling, we clean and degrease them, then we spray two coats of primer and two coats of lacquer, sanding between each application.” This is why cabinet doors are removed and delivered to Decorrestore’s site for painting.
A Decorrestore professional painter will visit the home to paint whatever could not be removed from the cabinetry, such as the framework, trim and gables. Carpenters are also on staff to custom build any additions wanted by the homeowner, including cabinetry to fit above a new (taller) refrigerator, islands and crown moulding.
When it comes to selecting the perfect paint colour, Tosello notes that white is still a very popular choice, along with light shades. There has also been a move toward greys. Fashion colours are typically reserved for islands or bathroom vanities.
If you thought a fresh new kitchen design was out of reach, think again. Painting cabinets, when done right, can make your tired kitchen look just like new.