When many homeowners are ready for a change in their kitchen they think there are only two options: refinish their existing cabinets or rip everything out and start fresh. But refacing is a third option that has much of the transformative power of a full renovation for far less money. Refacing cabinets keeps the cabinet frame in place while the cabinet face and doors are replaced.
Here are some ‘before’ and ‘after’ shots of a kitchen in Arroyo Grande, CA that show just how big a difference cabinet refacing can make:
Before:

After:

Benefits of Refacing Your Cabinets
When you have your kitchen cabinets refaced the footprint of your kitchen stays the same, but its overall style can change drastically. Changing up the design of the cabinet doors and drawer fronts is a unique opportunity to take your kitchen in a different stylistic direction. Other benefits of refacing are:
- It’s less expensive
- Your kitchen stays functional during the process, because appliances can stay in place.
- Less mess
- Faster than a complete overhaul
- The opportunity to pick a new cabinet door style and paint color or stain
- You can upgrade your drawer boxes and install soft-close slide-outs
When Shouldn’t You Reface Your Cabinets?
There are situations in which it doesn’t make sense to reface a cabinet. If you are unhappy with your kitchen’s layout, you will need to move the cabinetry. Most likely the new layout will require cabinets with different dimensions, and there is little point in doing a combination of refacing and replacing.
Another time when you should skip refacing and go straight to purchasing new cabinets is if your existing cabinets are poor quality. Putting money into cabinets that will most likely need to be replaced in the near future is never a smart investment. In this situation you’re better off saving up until you can afford new cabinetry and finding a way to live with your current kitchen in the meantime. Giving your cabinets a quick facelift with a new coat of paint is a great way to help you enjoy your kitchen a little more until you can afford a full renovation.
Falling Back In Love With Your Cabinetry
Did you know that cabinet refacing isn’t just for your kitchen? You can also update your bathroom cabinets with new doors and drawers!
Our sister company, New Life Bath & Kitchen, offers full-service cabinet refacing from design to installation and cleanup. If you want help creating a beautiful and stylish kitchen without the mess of a major renovation, give us a call today to schedule your estimate