apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I think refacing will certainly be less than replacing the cabinets, and as long as the inside of the cabinets doesn't gross you out it is really the way to go. I also think Ikea may sell just cabinet doors - does anyone know if this is true? If so, are they standard sized doors that would fit most american cabinets? (so much of ikea stuff is oddly sized).

I wonder if you would hate the cabinets less if you merely replaced the white dishwasher.

IKEA does sell it's cabinets in pieces so you can buy just doors. I had those ugly white with wood border cabinets and replaced only the doors- however I also had to replace the hardware. IKEA is very careful to make sure their furniture fits hardware that you have to buy through them. Be sure to ask the Kitchen Dept people for help! It's a pain in the rear if you don't have the right hinges.

I think the brochure has a guide on prices, sizes, finishes, yada yada.

Oh! And while you're at IKEA, search the As Is section. They always have loose doors that just need a good sanding or coat of paint. The prices are unbeatable.
Good luck!

we had similar cabinets, but in a darker stain. we are in the middle of the kitchen remodel and had a friend make us new doors. we painted the cabinet boxes and new doors french ivory. like yours, our cabinets were in great shape and just looked outdated. maybe you could find a local carpenter that may be able to make you new doors.
ours are turning out quite nice. and only cost $1000. but our friend gave us a deal and it's the first time he's done something like this so there have been many glitches along the way! i'm hoping it's finished in time for thansgiving!

If the doors are real wood, I'd think hard on it before replacing them with a lesser quality. I agree with a previous post that replacing the dishwasher with either black or stainless would go far in an updated effect and adding new, contemporary hardware for juxtaposition to the traditional style might make a huge difference. It's a pretty kitchen and I like your pot rack!

Depending on your budget, paint or refinishing with new hardware may also be a perfectly acceptable solution. When I took possession of my fifties-era Toronto co-ownership, the kitchen came with the original cabinets by way of a seventies era application of laminate and grooves, in black and brown. Not my style at all (it was very brown and beige) One complete kitchen painting session later (ceilings, walls, cabinets, inside and out) plus new hardware and lino floor, I have a light cream, dark cream, robin's egg blue and barn red kitchen I can live with until the big dream reno.

What is it about the cabinets that you don't like? In the photographs the finish looks fine.

My friends used Nufacers to redo their kitchen and said it was a great experience (I have yet to see the completed job). I know that they paid a lot for their renovation, but that is because they used high-end appliances but I think it will be definitely cheaper to reface as opposed to getting new cabinets. One other good thing about Nufacers is that you can just get certain things done (like just the cabinets) while other companies may require you to redo everything in the kitchen.

perhaps a simple white subway tile as a backsplash
would anchored the cabinets and justify the white dishwasher;

Teonyc once gave me some good advice on a reno done with stainless steel refacing. I'll see if I can find the email and if so, I'll post info. Also, my sister-in-law painted her cabinet pale blue and green, which sounds hideous, but is adorable. However, she had flat front cabinets, which I think may be necessary.

Ann, have you considered just painting your kitchen walls in a medium tone about the same intensity as the cabinets? You'd gain instant sophistication for very little effort or cost, and the cabinets would be much less conspicuous. With all your black detailing, you'd achieve this year's new-Baroque look very effectively.

Thanks for the tips. Part of the reason I need to change things around is that I need to also do something about the drawers which are too narrow to be useful. The Nufacers guy told me he could make one wide drawer out of the two narrow ones. I'm also hoping to get a more modern look out of it, rather than the arched panel doors. For the moment there's no way I have the budget to replace all of the appliances, so the white is remaining. Thanks!

You can change a color of your appliances with
http://fauxstainlesssteel.com/