Give your kitchen a face lift: Refacing makes old cabinets look instantly new
In this instant-gratification era, quick makeovers — from week-long juice diets to weekend home renovations — are a top trend. According to Yahoo! Homes, so are instant kitchen updates, achieved by refacing cabinets.
With so much time spent in the kitchen though, who has the luxury of going kitchenless for weeks on end as they wait through an entire gut and remodel? The Home Depot surveyed customers who had recently renovated their kitchens and found that almost all customers were motivated by the desire for a new, more modern aesthetic.
Several remodeling options deliver a new look in no time by simply updating the existing cabinets. Current cabinet doors and drawer fronts can be refinished through a sanding process, or the wood can be renewed through a restorative process that brings out the original brilliance and luster.
Refacing is a bolder option that is perfect if you are happy with the layout of your current kitchen but your cabinets have a worn, dated look. In this process, cabinet doors, hardware and shelves are all replaced and the cabinet shells are completely refinished to create an entirely new look.
“Refacing kitchen cabinets gives a homeowner the opportunity to add organizational enhancements and revamp additional surfaces, such as counters and backsplashes, for a space that is more contemporary and personalized to match a homeowner’s unique kitchen habits,” said Douglas Spiron of Home Depot Interiors.
Start your kitchen-cabinet refacing project by creating a wish list of material attributes. For example, if your household includes children and pets, consider Rigid Thermofoil doors to safeguard against denting and for an easy-to-clean surface.
To ensure that your space will remain visually cohesive in years to come, it is important to take into account your future plans for new appliances, fixtures, paint colors, counters and backsplashes.
Once you have identified areas for improvement, it is time to turn your dreams into design plans.
A new vision for this hard-working room should take into account both your home’s style and your personal style. The adjacent room’s color palette, the amount of natural light in the space and what is seen first when entering the kitchen are important factors, in addition to stylistic preferences. This is the time to gather inspiration from favorite bloggers, friends and current trends.