Refinishing vs painting
Refinishing keeps the wood grain visible; painting covers it with solid color. Many people use the words interchangeably, so when you request a quote just describe the look you want and Brandon will tell you which approach fits.
Stain works best when you're keeping a similar tone or going darker. Going much lighter than your current stain is harder because the old color is in the wood, and it often means stripping, so it depends on your cabinets.
Two-tone: stain and paint together
A dark-finished island with white painted perimeter cabinets (pictured above) is a classic combination. It adds contrast without making a kitchen feel heavy.
What can be refinished
- Solid-wood cabinets such as oak, maple, cherry, hickory and alder
- Wood veneer in good condition (thin veneer can't be sanded aggressively)
- MDF and thermofoil can't be stained to look like wood, but MDF can be painted
