Strip, Refinish Kitchen Cabinets to Turn Dated Cabinets into a Sleek, Contemporary Look

Instead of replacing those dated kitchen cabinets, stripping and refinishing them may be a less costly alternative for the do it yourselfer on a tight budget. For all the various styles and models of kitchen cabinets out there, all kitchen cabinets basically look the same. Some cabinet fronts have flat doors while others may have some variation of an inset panel, but what makes them different is usually a combination of the wood used and the type of stain. What this means is that even if your cabinets are those flat front maple cabinets from the 1950s, they can be updated into a sleek, flat front Euro cabinet with cherry stain and brushed nickel hardware.

Before beginning this restoration project, visit some of the cabinet showrooms around your community to get a feeling of contemporary stains and hardware being used in today’s homes. Once you have a feeling for a combination that works with the cabinets in your kitchen, the restoration work can begin.

Removing the doors

Refinishing kitchen cabinets is a multipart project that begins with removing the doors from the cabinets themselves. After the doors have been removed, take the time to remove all the hinges and door hardware as well. Do leave the cabinets in place. To refinish the doors, set up sawhorses in your garage or workroom where you can work undisturbed and without a lot of traffic. This will prevent particles of dust from settling on the cabinets once they’ve been stained.

Removing the existing paint or varnish

After the doors have been removed, the stripping process can begin. The materials you will need for this part of the project include a paint & varnish stripper (I prefer Jasco products), a putty knife, old toothbrush, rags, mineral spirits, newspaper, rubber gloves, goggles, painters tape, and disposable brush. While the paint is being stripped, take care to protect yourself and your kitchen during the project. Wear safety goggles to prevent stripper from splattering the face, wear gloves to prevent skin contact with the stripper, and protect the surface areas with newspaper. Good air circulation is a must. If you are working in the garage, open the doors and windows for proper circulation. If working in the kitchen, open the windows and doors. Place a box fan in one of the windows to draw the air OUT as you work. Do NOT smoke as the fumes can cause a fire.

Step 1: Use the painters tape to mask off areas of the wall where it comes into contact with the sides of the cabinet.

Step 2: Working one cabinet or door at a time and wearing your gloves, paint the cabinet with the paint stripper. When the stripper has blistered, use the tip of the putty knife to gently scrape off the paint. For cabinets with only one layer of paint or varnish, the cabinet should strip very easily. Cabinets with multiple layers of paint will need multiple applications of stripper.

Step 3: Continue removing the paint with the putty knife, wiping the paint stripper on the rag or crumpled newspaper. For stubborn areas, a toothbrush will work.

Step 4: Once the old paint or varnish has been removed, wipe down the woodwork with mineral spirits. Dispose of the stripper as directed by your local community.

Prepping the cabinets for new stain or paint

Once the cabinets and doors have been stripped, they can be prepped for staining. Materials needed include an assortment of sandpaper in different grits, and rags. Sanding is usually done to remove traces of old paint or varnish, or to repair an area that has been gouged. The danger with sandpaper is that too heavy of a grade, and you may end up removing more of the wood than you intended. For cabinets in fine shape, a light brushing with ultra fine sandpaper is all that’s needed to prep the surface. Stubborn stains, scorch marks, or gouges that have been refilled with wood putty may require a heavier grade to start with, then switching to a fine grade. Once the cabinets have been sanded, they can be dusted with a slightly dampened rag and allowed to dry.

Staining the cabinets

Materials needed included stain, gloves, high quality brush, 0000 steel wool, mineral spirits, rags, and a clear sealant. Since instructions for applying stain can vary by manufacturer, it’s best to always use their directions. Most instructions call for applying the stain using a smooth “up & down” brush stroke, and letting the stain dry before proceeding to the next step. This next step usually involves applying additional layers, or lighting brushing the stain with 0000 steel wool before applying a sealant.

Reassembling the cabinets

Once the cabinets and doors have been stained and completely dry, they can be reassembled. This is a great time to change out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets to complete the new look. New handles cost between $2 to $5 each, with hinges ranging in price from $1 to $3 each. Home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowe’s carry a wide selection of cabinet hardware in both vintage to contemporary styles. Expect to pay between $150 to $250 to replace all the hardware on your cabinets.

For less than $400 and a week of your time, you can restore those dingy old kitchen cabinets into a sleek new contemporary version. Considering that new custom cabinets can cost upwards of $10,000 and more, refinishing those old cupboards is an option definitely worth thinking about.