The Best Way to Modernize your Kitchen with Oak Cabinets

Make your kitchen look like it’s straight out of a home makeover magazine with the modern, high-end, yet affordable maintenance of oak cabinets.

All oak is not created equal but will always bleed!

Naturally occurring tannings will pull to the surface if sanding. Oaks that bleed more need treatment with a tannin blocking primer before sanding. Primers can help block out or separate these dark or orange-colored compounds that would otherwise seep through paint. You'll have to use multiple layers if they're not dealt with, so be careful not to overdo it!

Oak is quite grainy if you’re looking for a solid look

Oak is a distinct looking wood in its conspicuous grain pattern and a widely popular choice of hardwood for previous kitchen cabinet designs. Modern homeowners in the Holly-Springs and Cary NC area prefer a more distinct and natural look to their cabinets, but with less grain. The modern look is all about character, not too much of it, just enough to make your kitchen cabinets feel warm and welcoming. Modern homeowners want their cabinetry to reflect the natural elements that surround them.

The most important thing to do when working on oak cabinets is to make sure that you are doing the job professionally and appropriately. Oak is a solid hardwood that will expand and contract with the temperature and humidity of your home throughout the year. This means taking the time to get cabinet repair and painting done properly, as well as understanding how different products can be used on wood to achieve the desired final look.

Professional Cabinet Painting By A La Carte

Painting oak kitchen cabinets properly can make a huge difference in their visual appeal and longevity. If you’ve been tempted to paint your oak kitchen cabinets at home, don’t do it without good assurance. There are many factors that can affect the outcome of a paint job, and if you don’t think you have the skills or experience to be successful, hire a professional.

While you won’t completely be able to remove all the grain from your oak cabinets, hiring a professional cabinet painter such as A La Carte, we can provide estimates and advice on how best to treat, restore, and maintain your kitchen’s oak cabinets and surfaces!

Your dream kitchen is waiting to be brought to life with the right combination of properly maintained oak cabinets, fixtures, and an awesome repainting. We do color consultations as well as carpentry services in Raleigh, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, and Morrisville—so make it happen by booking an estimate with A La Carte Painting today!⁣⁣

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Kitchen Cabinet Trends 2025

By Heather Perkins • February 11, 2025

The year 2025 welcomes a collection of warm, neutral, and natural hues. In this blog, we delve into several key signature elements anticipated in today's designs. Design and Layout: Expect minimalistic, clean, and uncluttered spaces featuring concealed pantries, preparation areas, and sculleries that effectively hide messes, enhancing the experience of entertaining. Incorporating drawers throughout lower cabinetry provides additional storage, improved organization, and a practical solution for accommodating heavy pots and pans. Expansive islands equipped with built-in appliances and seating merge form and function, creating a shared space for both gathering and cooking seamlessly. Full overlay European-style cabinetry takes the center stage with it's sleek, modern appeal while traditional partial overlay takes a backseat in 2025. Open Shelving to neatly display plates, glasses, or cool trinkets and artwork add structural visual interest to and open up otherwise crowded wall space. Under Cabinet Lighting highlights countertop and backsplash and brightens the space Color Trends: Warm tones are in vogue while cool hues have taken a back seat. The era of stark white, sterile kitchens is a thing of the past; inviting warm shades encourage friends and family to congregate in a more welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, combinations of diverse textures and colors are trending. Rich, stained wood paired with gentle off-whites, greiges (a blend of grey and beige), or striking deep colors are all the rage this year. Below are some of our top color selections: Off Whites: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (Light Reflectance Value 83), Benjamin Moore White Dove (LRV 83), Benjamin Moore Seapearl (LRV 78) and Benjamin Moore Ballet White (LRV 72) Greiges: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (LRV 73), Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (LRV 55), Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige (LRV 58), Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (LRV 63) and Benjamin Moore Pale Oak (68) Moody Darks: Sherwin Williams Rosemary, Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze, Sherwin Williams Naval, Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal and Sherwin Williams Black Magic Two-toned Kitchens: Natural woods mixed with painted cabinetry Finishes: Uniform finishes across the board are a thing of the past. Incorporating a blend of sheens and metals to create a subtle yet complementary contrast with cabinet colors introduces both interest and sophistication to the area. Warm metals such as antique brass can be beautifully combined with classic bronze or satin nickel, while polished brass provides a striking complement to polished chrome. Design professionals advise a maximum combination of 2-3 metals to achieve both interest and harmony within the space. At A La Carte Cabinet Painting, we provide complimentary expert color consultations designed to assist our clients in selecting shades that perfectly reflect their personality and design aspirations. We also order up to three Samplize color swatches for our clients, allowing them to visualize their preferred color options within their own space. These oversized peel and stick swatches are crafted from genuine paint by Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, PPG, and Farrow and Ball.