I hate my cherry cabinets .. Advice

[Anonymous]

I have lived in my house for 17 yrs and the previous owners installed beautiful, custom cherry cabinets in the kitchen. I liked them when we moved in but HATE them now and want a more modern minimalist look in the kitchen. DH absolutely opposed to having them painted but opened to having them lightened. Anyone done this? What are my options
Signed
Trapped in the 80s

[Anonymous]

I've got a beautiful kitchen - dark wood, light granite. But the wood is not high quality. I know that. They ding up easily even though I can touch them right back up.

In my former kitchen, I had beautiful, solid cherry cabinets along with some custom features - like a lazy susan for the pots/pans.. Oh, I long for the quality of those cabinets. Really, really think about replacing what you have Op. Cherry is pretty timeless. What is not in now, will be in tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Get them pickled. Google it.

[Anonymous]

Have them painted. We had the gross mediterranean cabinets painted a soft sage and they are gorgeous!

[Anonymous]

Or stain them black- and do white everything else.

[Anonymous]

Paint them white dove by BM. It seems very trendy right now and at the same time, white is considered a classic. Talk to someone who understand about this and ask if in the future you could strip the paint and stain it again if you so desire.

[Anonymous]

Price out the cost of new cabinets. Might be cheaper in the end.

[Anonymous]

Cherry really is timeless: it is a durable and beautiful wood. I wood see about lightening the stain before covering them with paint. Paint really is for lower quality woods, not cherry.

[Anonymous]

New 'minimalist' countertop, maybe farmhouse sink, replace backsplash and door/drawer pulls will make a huge difference. Another idea is to glaze the cabinets, which is way cheaper than painting. If you must replace something that is high quality just because you're tired of it, please have them removed carefully and donate (Habitat for Humanity or other). Please don't send them to a landfill.

[Anonymous]

It's difficult to "lighten" wood cabinets without painting them. It would mean stripping the finish, sanding them, using two-part wood bleach, and refinishing them.

I can't see an alternative other than painting them. If you paint them, have a pro do it, and use the best possible paint. I'd use water-based alkyd paint (basically, oil-based paint resin that is water-based).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've got a beautiful kitchen - dark wood, light granite. But the wood is not high quality. I know that. They ding up easily even though I can touch them right back up.

In my former kitchen, I had beautiful, solid cherry cabinets along with some custom features - like a lazy susan for the pots/pans.. Oh, I long for the quality of those cabinets. Really, really think about replacing what you have Op. Cherry is pretty timeless. What is not in now, will be in tomorrow.

I agree with this. I would try to change something else to update your kitchen...lighter granite, new appliances, new flooring. I think you will regret the cabinets once it is done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New 'minimalist' countertop, maybe farmhouse sink, replace backsplash and door/drawer pulls will make a huge difference. Another idea is to glaze the cabinets, which is way cheaper than painting. If you must replace something that is high quality just because you're tired of it, please have them removed carefully and donate (Habitat for Humanity or other). Please don't send them to a landfill.

Oh, dear Maude, do NOT try to fix one trend by sticking another one in there.

But yes, new pulls (if the hinges are visible, make sure they match the new pulls) and a new backsplash will help a lot.

And ditto for the Habitat Restore plan if you do replace them.

But think about this: You used to love the cabinets. Now you don't. How do you know you won't get tired of new cabinets equally quickly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New 'minimalist' countertop, maybe farmhouse sink, replace backsplash and door/drawer pulls will make a huge difference. Another idea is to glaze the cabinets, which is way cheaper than painting. If you must replace something that is high quality just because you're tired of it, please have them removed carefully and donate (Habitat for Humanity or other). Please don't send them to a landfill.

Oh, dear Maude, do NOT try to fix one trend by sticking another one in there.

But yes, new pulls (if the hinges are visible, make sure they match the new pulls) and a new backsplash will help a lot.

And ditto for the Habitat Restore plan if you do replace them.

But think about this: You used to love the cabinets. Now you don't. How do you know you won't get tired of new cabinets equally quickly?

17 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have lived in my house for 17 yrs and the previous owners installed beautiful, custom cherry cabinets in the kitchen. I liked them when we moved in but HATE them now and want a more modern minimalist look in the kitchen. DH absolutely opposed to having them painted but opened to having them lightened. Anyone done this? What are my options
Signed
Trapped in the 80s

Send them to me.

You can change the knobs and pulls, if you like. It's incredibly easy to do and will make a big difference. Paper the insides to add punch!

Do not paint the wood, please. Please don't replace them without donating them to a charity, like Habitat for Humanity. It would be a huge windfall for another family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Price out the cost of new cabinets. Might be cheaper in the end.

I was quoted $40,000, and laughed myself sick. Ridiculous!!