02 / Reface
A different style. A familiar foundation.
Keep the foundation. Change the face.
Ask Dani about reface →Illustrative concept, not a completed customer project.
Who it fits
Is this your
kind of change?
The cabinet boxes and layout still work, but you want a different door style rather than simply a new color.
What stays. What changes.
We retain suitable cabinet boxes and discuss new doors and coordinated exterior finishes. Drawer fronts, exposed ends, face frames, hinges and hardware are measured and scoped individually.
Why choose it?
Spend on the visible change while retaining a sound foundation. It can offer a bigger style change than refinishing without automatically replacing every cabinet.
A clear process
From first look
to a defined plan.
- 01
Review the boxes, construction and layout to establish whether they are worth retaining.
- 02
Measure openings and discuss door styles, finish, hardware compatibility and exposed surfaces.
- 03
Confirm the parts, repairs, supplier lead times and installation work before ordering.
- 04
Fit the agreed components and complete the coordinated exterior work in the written scope.
The tradeoffs to understand
Refacing generally retains the existing layout and interior storage. New fronts will not cure damaged boxes. Custom sizes, hardware changes and repairs affect the scope.
No surprises in the scope
Materials, preparation, repairs, protection, disposal and installation responsibilities are agreed in writing. Related structural, plumbing, electrical and countertop work is a separate scope decision unless expressly included.
Older or unknown coatings need review before disturbance. Cleaning alone does not guarantee adhesion. We do not refinish or repaint lead-positive cabinets. Read our cabinet lead policy.
Want to keep the natural wood appearance? Explore cabinet restoration, or compare all five cabinet processes.
Before you decide
Five questions.
Straight answers.
What comes off, and what stays?
Sound cabinet boxes and the existing layout stay. The agreed doors and drawer fronts change, along with the exterior surfaces and hardware listed in the quote.
How is it less invasive than replacing everything?
We avoid removing suitable cabinet boxes. There is still measuring, fitting, hardware work and preparation of exposed surfaces. Refacing is more than simply hanging a few new doors.
Can I use the kitchen while the work is happening?
Access depends on the installation and exterior finish work. We discuss what needs emptying or protecting and how the work will affect your kitchen before scheduling.
Does it improve the inside of my cabinets too?
Not automatically. Refacing generally keeps the existing interiors and layout. Storage changes, repairs and other upgrades need their own scope.
What could make refacing the wrong choice?
Damaged boxes, a layout you dislike or substantial repair needs. We inspect what you are keeping before you spend money on new fronts.
Compared with a full kitchen gut
Cabinet replacement does not automatically mean a full kitchen gut. A full gut is a broader scope that can involve countertops, flooring, walls, utilities and other trades. Keeping suitable cabinets can limit demolition, but preparation, dust control, protection and kitchen access still need a plan. Your written scope should explain what stays, what comes out and what you can use while the work is underway.
Possible project budgets
$6,000–$9,500 for this cabinet option.
New agreed doors and drawer fronts, matching exposed exterior surfaces and agreed hardware work, keeping sound cabinet boxes and the layout. Interior storage upgrades and major box repairs are separate scope decisions.
The example: a compact 10-by-10-foot kitchen with roughly 14 doors and 6 drawer fronts, no island, keeping the layout. That cabinet count is our example, not a universal 10-by-10 standard.
How does that compare with a full remodel?
A possible full-kitchen remodel budget for this example is $30,000–$50,000+, allowing for new cabinets, counters, standard appliances, flooring, backsplash and ordinary related trade work. It is a much broader project, with more coordination and potentially more time without normal kitchen access. Cabinet replacement alone does not automatically mean a full gut.
These are proposed planning allowances, not local statistical averages or guaranteed quotes. Cabinet quantities, materials, finish condition, repairs and site access affect the price. Tax, shipping, unusual repairs and exactly what is included must be confirmed in the written quote. Photos start the conversation; measurements, condition and scope determine your project price.
Start simple
A few photos.
A useful conversation.
Start with your town, kitchen goals and a few overall and close-up photos. Talk to Dani first or email photos directly. Carl can review them with you by phone and discuss a preliminary price range where the information allows. Site conditions, measurements and a written scope must be confirmed before a final quote. No instant price or booked date is promised.
Only share what is relevant to the project. Keep people, personal documents and other private details out of photos.
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