Photo: Teri Turan
Whether you’re buying new ones or upgrading your existing kitchen cabinet doors, there are a few things to consider before starting your project.
New or redesigned
Perhaps the cheapest option for a remodeling is to replace existing kitchen cabinet doors. This means that the boxes with the shelves and drawers stay in place, which saves demolition, construction and acquisition costs. Only the fronts of the cabinets are replaced, which usually includes new doors, bezels, and hardware. If you are happy with the layout and number of cabinets you currently have, but want to give them a new look, this might be the way to go.
Material selection
You have to decide whether you want solid wood, wood veneer or laminate doors and fronts. For veneer cabinets, a thin layer of wood is applied to a plywood substrate or a composite material such as particle board (plywood is better, but more expensive). Laminate kitchen cabinet doors are often made from sheet of polyvinyl chloride that is heated, molded, and applied to a substrate for a seamless appearance.
If the cabinets are still in good shape, you can change the look of your kitchen simply by changing the color of the walls and re-popping or repainting the cabinets. The cladding of the cabinet, in which the veneers have to be replaced, is more expensive, but still saves 50 percent with a complete renovation. As long as your cabinets aren’t made of laminate or melamine, you can repaint them yourself. Using a citrus oil-based household cleaner, degrease them, remove the doors and fittings, and apply a primer sealant first, though you may still need to sand them before painting. New drawer and door handles will also make a big difference.
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