Updating Cabinets in Older and Character Homes

Older homes often have kitchens with real character: solid wood doors, detailed trim and cabinetry that has lasted for decades. They also tend to have tired finishes, awkward storage and layouts planned for a different way of living. Updating the cabinets does not have to mean losing what makes the house special. Updating cabinets in older and character homes takes a little more planning.

Here is how to approach a cabinet update in an older or character home, and which options keep the most of the original.

Assessing cabinets in older and character homes

Before you choose a finish or style, take a careful look at the cabinets themselves. Cabinets in older homes are often sturdier than people expect. Others have been patched, painted over several times or damaged by years of small leaks.

Check these points:

• Boxes: are the sides, backs and shelves solid, or soft and swollen from water?
• Doors and drawer fronts: are they flat and intact, or warped, split or swelling?
• Drawers: do they run smoothly, or have the old runners worn out?
• Existing paint: how many layers are there, and is any of it peeling?
• Layout: does it still suit how you cook, or does it waste space?

If your home is several decades old, older layers of paint may contain lead. Have them tested before anyone sands or strips them, especially if you plan to do any of the work yourself.

Keeping the original doors with refinishing

If the boxes and doors are in good shape, refinishing lets you keep the original doors, with their profiles and craftsmanship, and change only the colour and finish. Cabinet refinishing keeps your existing doors, drawer fronts and boxes.

The doors and drawer fronts are removed, sprayed in our shop with an industrial two-component coating and bake-cured, a factory-grade process. The frames are finished in your home. Expect about four days of work in the home, with a 7 to 10 day gap while the doors are in the shop. Because the doors are done in the shop, there is less dust and noise in your house, and the work comes with a written 3-year refinishing warranty.

In a character home, colour does a lot of the work. Soft whites, creams, muted greens and deep blues often suit older architecture, especially paired with classic hardware such as cup pulls or simple knobs.

New doors in a fitting style with refacing

Sometimes the original doors are too damaged, warped or swollen to save. Sometimes a past owner replaced them with a style that never suited the house. In either case, cabinet refacing is worth a look. It keeps your existing boxes and adds brand-new doors and drawer fronts, with the frames finished to match.

Refacing gives you the chance to choose a door style that suits the age of the home. Simple recessed-panel doors, such as a Shaker style, sit comfortably in many older houses. New doors come with a written 5-year warranty.

Adding modern function to an older kitchen

Older kitchens were rarely designed with today’s appliances, recycling or storage habits in mind. You can add modern function without stripping out the character.

Organizers inside existing cabinets

Deep base cabinets and blind corners are common in older kitchens. Custom organizers and space savers such as pantry pull-outs, tray storage, garbage and recycling pull-outs and blind-corner solutions make that space usable. They are custom-built with soft-close and can be added on their own or with a refinish or reface.

Carpentry and modifications

Some changes need a carpenter. Ceiling-height upper cabinets can echo the tall built-ins found in many older homes. Converting doors to drawers makes deep lower cabinets easier to use, and an island or added cabinetry can give a small, closed-in kitchen more workspace. Our custom carpentry and cabinet modifications are handled by carpenters and finishers under one roof, and the carpentry portion usually takes a day or two.

Plan for the work behind the walls

Older kitchens sometimes need updates that have nothing to do with the cabinets, such as old plumbing, too few electrical outlets or weak ventilation. These jobs need licensed trades. We do not do plumbing, so a licensed plumber is needed for any sink or pipe work.

It helps to sort out these items before or alongside the cabinet project, so your finished cabinets do not have to be disturbed later. If you are replacing countertops at the same time, they can be coordinated through FloForm.

Balancing character and convenience

The kitchens that feel right in an older home usually keep a few original details and update the rest. Keep what has character and still works, such as solid doors or original trim. Change what holds you back, such as a worn finish, a dark colour or storage you cannot reach.

Since 2009, our family-owned team has transformed about 7,000 kitchens across the Lower Mainland, with 30+ in-house employees and no subcontractors. Book a free in-home quote and we will look at your cabinets, talk through what is worth keeping and give you clear, line-item pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Can old solid wood cabinets be refinished?

Often, yes. If the boxes, doors and drawer fronts are solid and in good shape, refinishing keeps them and changes the colour and finish. Cabinets with damaged or swelling doors may be better suited to refacing, which keeps the boxes and adds new doors.

Will updating my cabinets take away from my home’s character?

It does not have to. Refinishing keeps your original doors and their profiles, and refacing lets you choose a new door style that suits the age of your home, so the kitchen still feels like it belongs to the house.

Do you handle plumbing or electrical work in older kitchens?

No. We do not do plumbing, so a licensed plumber is needed for sink or pipe work, and electrical work also needs a licensed trade. Our work covers the cabinets: refinishing, refacing, organizers and custom carpentry.