Natwerk Designs

How do you make cabinets look like this?

I have plain white cabinets and love how these cabinets look in this kitchen picture. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/designers_portfolio/portfolio/0,2159,HGTV_16257_1913,00.html?searchType=Portfolio&Room=DP+KITCHENS&Style=&Designer=&SearchPositionIndex=19 Does anyone know an easy low cost way to make my cabinets look like that? They aren't just white there is a darker color in the indented parts.

Public Comments

1. Sand down the sections you want stained. I suggest lightly sanding down parts of your regular cabinets. Next pick a stain that best fits you kitchen. Be sure to shake the stain well or you'll end up with poor results. Next apply the stain and immediately wipe it off. Trust me--you'll get the look you desire. Take your cabinet faces OFF before doing this job and be sure to number/label so you know which cabinet goes where. You'll also want to remove the hardware before doing the job.
2. actually those cabinets are just white, but you like the look of it being darker in the indents. so just pick a color of paint you want there (a pale version of your wall color would work great) then tape off wich section you want painted and paint the indents. wait for it to dry and then peel off the tape. then put a clear coat over it to protect it and make it last.
3. that is a color wash, and it isn't especially easy or cheap... it is done in a short period of time because one has to keep moving once they start to avoid getting dry edges... the best way is to mix the color paint you want with glaze (according to instructions on can) and use a damp sponge to apply the material and a damp cheesecloth to work it... there are classes available at local paint stores and some faux finishers will show you how sometimes... by the way the first answer that suggested sanding anything is full of prunes, DO NOT DO THAT you will regret it. it wouldn't hurt to call a couple of folks that do that and get a price from them... beats the dickens out of ruining your cabinets and you'll have a look that will look good and last.
4. Actually, I think they are 'just white'. Those cabinets have a raised feature and beveled edge. The color you are seeing is the shadowing effect on the cabinets which they did purposefully by dimming the lights in order to show off the architecural detail of the cabinetry. PROBLEM: If you have flat white cabinets you would have to add a piece of wood to the cabinet fronts that has a beveled edge. However, you would have a seam to deal with where the new wood meets the old wood. You could add a flat decorative element to your cabinets that would end up looking much better than trying to match what that picture looks like. The cabinets in that picture are pre-fabricated very expensive cabinets. Unless you have tens of thousands of dollars to play with to find and buy and install those cabinets....you will have to search for another option. (See suggestion below.) SOLUTION: The best solution, and most inexpensive option, is to find out where those cabinets came from ....or show the picture to a cabinet manufacturer....take measurements of your cabinet fronts/doors and have them make new doors for your cabinets. That would be the most inexpensive way to do it. You could cut down on the expense even more ....by having them leave the cabinet fronts that they fabricate 'unfinished' then repaint all your cabinets....and the new cabinet fronts the same color.
5. It is hard to tell for certain but the cabinets look as if they have been glazed. You can glaze over your existing white paint then wipe off the excess. If you want more of a distressed look sand along the edges where normal wear would happen, wipe down with a tack cloth or a damp cloth. Add your glaze. The areas that you sanded will be a bit darker then the rest of the cabinets.
6. You can contact a local cabinet manufacturer and have just the doors made. It is fairly cheap compared to replacing all of the cabinets and doors. You wouldn't need to replace the cabinet itself.