Before & After: A Dark Cherry Kitchen Transformed to Crisp White Shaker
A 2004 builder kitchen with heavy cherry cabinets came out looking like new custom millwork — in eight working days, without replacing a single box.
This kitchen had good bones and a dated look: solid maple boxes, cherry-stained raised-panel doors, and a bulkhead that made the whole room feel shorter than it was. The homeowners had two replacement quotes over $38,000 before they called us.
The Starting Point
The cherry finish was intact but glossy and heavily yellowed near the range. Hardware was small and dated, and the interiors were dark enough that everything inside needed a flashlight. Layout, though, worked perfectly — which made this a textbook refinish.
What We Did
- Removed and labelled 34 doors and drawer fronts for shop finishing
- Degreased, sanded, and grain-filled every face for a smooth surface
- Sprayed boxes on site inside a sealed, filtered containment area
- Applied catalyzed 2K polyurethane in a warm white, satin sheen
- Installed new brushed-brass bar pulls and soft-close hinges
The Result
Eight working days from door removal to reinstall. The kitchen reads like new custom cabinetry, the room feels a full size larger, and the total came in at roughly a third of the replacement quotes. Two years later the finish still wipes clean around the range with a damp cloth.
What It Cost
This was a mid-size kitchen at just under $8,000 including hardware. Most Calgary kitchens of this scope land between $6,500 and $9,500 depending on door count and colour change.
