Cabinet Finishes:
The “Outfit” Your Kitchen Deserves
Whether it’s a rich stain, a bold paint, or a bit of both, your cabinet finish brings the whole look together—Let’s make it perfect!
Let’s dive into the world of cabinet finishes, where you have so many options! The finish you choose for your cabinets is like picking the right outfit. It completes the look, sets the tone, and can make a major style statement.
Whether you go with a natural stain or bold paint or both side by side, keep in mind that your cabinets finish is only one piece of the puzzle. Wall colors, flooring, countertops, and appliances all come together to shape the final look, be it modern, transitional, or contemporary.
With a good designer’s help, you’ll find just the right mix to create a beautiful space you'll enjoy every day.
Let’s explore your finishing options!
Natural Wood Finishes
Highlighting Wood's Unique Character
If you love the warm, natural look of wood, a stain or just a clear coat is a fantastic choice. Stained finishes allow the wood’s unique grain patterns and textures to shine through, highlighting character marks specific to each wood species. Keep in mind that the same stain color can vary based on the wood used. Oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany each will show its own natural flair, even with identical stains.
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Clear Coating:
This option simply enhances the wood’s color and texture without changing the tone, giving it a natural, protected finish.
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Staining:
Want a bit more control over the color? Stains can subtly darken or, to a lesser degree, lighten the wood. A darker stain creates a richer, moodier look, while a lighter stain lets more of the wood grain shine through. However, if you want a very light, even tone, we use a chemical bleaching process to keep woods like white oak from taking on an orangey tint, and make it look like red oak or honey oak. After staining, a clear protective coat goes on top, available in different sheens. (More on that in a bit!)
Painted Cabinets
Built for Beauty & Durability
Vibrant, Consistent Color with a Tough Finish
Let’s get one thing straight—cabinet paint is nothing like wall paint. Just like the auto industry uses special paint for cars, cabinets need a paint that’s specifically designed for durability. Cabinet paint is tough and long-lasting, made to handle the daily use of a busy kitchen.
Painted cabinets offer a smooth, solid color, unlike stains that show the wood grain. If you’re looking for a vibrant, consistent color that stands out, painted cabinets are a great choice. And when it comes to color, we’ve got you covered! We can order any color from our paint supplier and even match any specific shade you have in mind.
Now, when we talk about cabinet paint, we’re talking high-end quality. All our coatings and paints come from CIC Coatings, a Texas-based company in McKinney that produces some of the best wood finishes in the industry. Their paints are top-notch and include a color component and a hardener that we mix right before application, creating a tough, durable outer shell.
Of course, the type of wood matters too. For painted cabinets, we prefer to use hardwoods like hard maple because they’re stable and don’t expand or contract as much. This keeps the paint smooth and prevents cracking. While some companies use softer woods like poplar, which can lead to cracks at the joints over time, we stick with hardwood to ensure a flawless, long-lasting finish. Sure, painted cabinets take more effort to perfect, but the results—a beautiful, durable finish—are worth it!
Why "Factory Finish" Matters
A “factory finish” is the key to that smooth, polished cabinet look—whether it’s stained or painted. Now, we may not have a literal factory, but we’ve got a paint room where dust and humidity don’t stand a chance! This setup means every cabinet gets a smooth, even finish without the quirks that can pop up with on-site painting.
Plus, a true “factory finish” gives cabinets that extra durability—no quick touch-ups here! We stain or paint each part before assembly, letting it cure just right for that long-lasting, showroom-ready look that’s built for real life.
Sheen Options:
Picking the Right Gloss Level
Sheen refers to the glossiness of the finish. We usually offer options like flat (no shine) and satin (a subtle, soft glow). Higher gloss finishes like semi-gloss and gloss are also available but are less common in kitchens since they can reflect light more harshly. That’s also another thing that we guide our clients through at the time of selecting the sheen.
Whatever finish you go with. Paint, stain, clear coat, or a mix, you have a world of possibilities to explore! We’re here to guide you through, helping you create a kitchen that reflects your unique style and holds up beautifully over the years.