KITCHEN DECOR
Match the color, profile of new cabinets to old ones
Q: We remodeled our kitchen, but we love our stained wood cabinets. Some need new doors. How can we match the color and edge detail on the new doors with the old ones?
— Ted G.
A: The detailing on some older cabinet doors is very attractive as is the stained natural wood. Not replacing them can create a unique kitchen decor. Obviously, having to purchase fewer new cabinets will allow you to spend more on other items.
You will probably find the biggest problem is not just matching the tint of the stain and the grain of the wood, but also the gloss of the finish.
Once the stain and wood are matched, it often is best to put a clear topcoat on all the cabinet doors.
Brush or roll on a very thin urethane coat.
The first step to matching a new cabinet door is finding the same shape and edge or decorative detail. Styles of kitchen cabinets change almost as often as clothing styles, so if the cabinets are quite old, you may have a difficult time matching the style.
A custom millwork shop can duplicate the style of your old doors, but this is an expensive process.
If you feel it is important to get an exact match, you might find it is less expensive to replace all the doors on that cabinet than to have a custom one made.
You must also determine the type of wood used for the cabinet doors. The type of wood impacts the appearance of the grain, how well it accepts stain, its final color and the surface finish. A custom cabinet maker should be able to identify the wood type for you.
It will help to know the approximate manufacture date of the cabinets because certain woods were popular at various time periods. This date may also help you to find an identical or at least acceptably similar style.
When you order the new cabinet door, also order some extra pieces of raw wood. These will be used to test samples of stain. Since various woods accept stain differently, sometimes even pieces of the same species, make sure to test it on several pieces before attempting to stain the door.
Take the old cabinet door to a major paint store where the salespeople really know paint and stains. Sand the sample pieces of wood with finegrit sandpaper to create a surface somewhat similar to the new cabinet door and take them along. Some paint stores will allow you to dab some stains on the test sample pieces to get an approximate match.
Once you have this match, purchase that stain and one lighter and one darker in the same color range. Select penetrating stains for the first attempt. These stains bring out the grain and give the wood a more natural
When you order the new cabinet door, also order some extra pieces of raw wood. These will be used to test samples of stain.
appearance. Pigment stains just coat the surface like paint, but sometimes they can provide the best color match.
Select the stain that you felt matched the best and brush it evenly on a test sample.
After about one minute, rub it off. If it is too light or too dark, mix in a little of the other stains you bought and try again until you get a match. Use this mixture to stain the new door.
Finish the door with a clear topcoat. Make sure to follow the instructions for the wait time between each coat. Waiting too long between them may cause a weak bond between the coats.