Why Hiring a Non-Refinisher Could be a Costly Mistake

Heather Perkins • July 6, 2023

Top 5 Reasons to Not Hire Interior Painter for Your Cabinets

While interior painters may seem like a convenient option, there are several reasons why they may not be the best choice and may require additional vetting.

1.  The art of refinishing is something that takes many years of knowledge and specific tools to master the trade.  Product know-how, temperature & humidity control, catalyzation, reduction, tannin-blocking techniques, and troubleshooting are just some of the finer details that go into ensuring the finest finish. While some interior painters are also excellent refinishers, be cautious of residential painting companies who have added cabinet painting as a new service offer homeowners a "jack of all trades, master of none" business model resulting in possible subpar results.

2.  Residential painters may not have access or care to resource the higher-quality paint (like ICRO, Renner, Milesi, and other fine 1/2k water based products on the market) and materials and equipment needed to achieve a professional finish. Refinishing sprayers and equipment are a very expensive investment but critical to controlling environmental factors like dust and contamination, for example. Air scrubbers, dustless sanding (like Surf Prep, Mirka, Festool), and proper ventilation systems are not for the faint of heart painters.  It's a serious upfront expense for companies to properly be able to guarantee flawless results. Residential painters may paint your doors and drawers on your front lawn!  We've driven by homes in our area where we've seen cabinets laid out on ladders on the homeowner's front lawn...not exactly a controlled environment and definitely NOT professional.  This is a fine example of cabinet painting gone wrong. 

3.  Knowing your wood and/or substrate is essential in picking out what products to use.  Residential painters may not know the difference between maple, oak, cherry, birch, other types of wood, and/or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).  This could lead to costly mistakes when using the wrong products.  Knowledge of cabinet anatomy may also be lacking and may lead a residential painter to unknowingly caulk in between panels, stiles, and rails causing possible future cracking due to wood expansion/contraction.

4.  Cabinet refinishing is all about the little details. Interior painters often lack the attention to detail and precision required for the art of refinishing leading to uneven coatings. Proper spray technique and knowing how thick to spray is an essential skill refinishers excel in. Spraying and/or rolling walls is a whole lot different than spraying and/or rolling cabinets...substrates and products are worlds apart and require a specialized application. 

5.  Reinstallation of doors and drawers can require skill.  Knowing the differences between various hinges and how things should be properly rehung may not be the expertise of an interior painter.  Often cabinet refinishers can have your doors/drawers hung better than before they were painted.   




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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.
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