Kitchen Cabinets: Reface or Replace?

So your kitchen cabinets are a bit dated, maybe a little tacky, or don’t exactly reflect your personal style. Perhaps, it’s a combination of all three. You thought you could live with the cabinets when you bought the house and you did…for a while. But now you’re ready to give your kitchen a makeover and updating your cabinets is on the top of the list. You’ve seen HGTV and you know that the cost of kitchen cabinets can be expensive, like half of your kitchen remodel budget expensive. So now you are trying to decide if your current cabinets just need a little bit of TLC or if it’s time to part ways. The option of “refacing” over replacing is often appealing because of its cost effectiveness and potential to be a relatively easy weekend DYI project. Like I said, you’ve seen HGTV. You can handle some kitchen cabinets, right?

There are many ways to go about this, including refinishing or painting the face, adding a wood or laminate veneer, or installing completely new cabinet and drawer fronts. But refacing isn’t always the best option. With any intention to make major design or layout changes, or if your cabinets aren’t the best quality to begin with, you should plan on replacing them. However, even if your original cabinets are solidly built and in good condition, refacing still may not be the best option if your current design or layout isn't efficient or functional. If the cabinets you have now are awkwardly laid out or don’t offer proper storage accommodations for your grandma’s baking sheets and your Rachael Ray sauté pans, you may want to consider replacing them completely. Another option may be to completely replace some cabinets and reface others to match.

Once you take a look at what you have and decide what you want to have, your decision should be easier. Whether you choose to reface or replace, happy remodeling!  

Article by Amber Burkhart

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   by  ewen and donabel