Kitchen Before and After Photos: What to Look For

Before-and-after photos are often the first thing homeowners look at when they start thinking about updating their kitchen cabinets. A good set shows you what is possible with cabinets like yours. A poor set can make a job look better, or worse, than it really was. Knowing what to look for in kitchen before and after photos helps you judge any company’s work.

Here is how to read cabinet makeover photos with a sharper eye, so you know what you are actually seeing and which questions to ask.

Start with the same angle and the same light

The most useful before-and-after pairs are taken from the same spot, at a similar time of day. When the camera position matches, you can compare the cabinets directly instead of adjusting to a new viewpoint.

Lighting can change a kitchen more than you might expect. An after photo taken on a sunny afternoon with every light on will look brighter than a before shot on a grey morning, even if the change was small. If the light is very different between the two photos, focus on the cabinets themselves rather than the overall mood of the room.

Work out what actually changed

A photo pair can show a striking difference, but it helps to know which parts of the room were touched. Go through the frame and ask:

• Are the countertops, backsplash and floors the same, or new?
• Is the hardware new, or are those the original handles?
• Were the appliances, lighting or sink replaced?
• Has the layout changed, such as an added island or taller upper cabinets?
• Is the door style the same, with only the colour changed?

If the counters, floors and appliances are unchanged, the difference you see came from the cabinets and hardware alone. That is a good guide to what a cabinet makeover could do in a kitchen like yours, where you keep the rest of the room.

Refinished or refaced? How to tell from a photo

The door style is the quickest clue. If the doors have the same shape and profile before and after, and only the colour has changed, you are probably looking at a refinish. Cabinet refinishing keeps the existing doors, drawer fronts and boxes and changes the colour and finish.

If the doors have a different style, for example raised panels replaced by flat shaker doors, the kitchen was likely refaced. Cabinet refacing keeps the existing cabinet boxes and adds brand-new doors and drawer fronts, with the frames finished to match.

Knowing which service you are looking at helps you match photos to your own situation. If you like your door style, focus on refinishing examples. If your doors are swelling or damaged, or you want a different look, refacing photos are the more useful comparison.

Look closely at the finish

Wide shots show the overall change. Close-ups show the quality of the work. When a gallery includes detail shots, look for:

• Smooth, even colour with no brush marks, roller texture or drips
• Clean edges and corners on doors and drawer fronts, where a weak finish tends to wear first
• Frames that match the doors in colour and sheen, since frames are finished separately
• Consistent sheen across the whole kitchen, without patchy shiny or flat spots
• Tidy lines where cabinets meet walls, ceilings and counters

With oak cabinets, you may still see the texture of the grain through a painted finish. Some homeowners like that, and others prefer a smoother look. Photos of refinished oak are a good way to decide which you prefer.

A sprayed shop finish tends to look more uniform than paint brushed or rolled on in a kitchen. Our doors and drawer fronts are sprayed in our shop with an industrial two-component coating and bake-cured, and the frames are finished in the home.

Check that the photos are real projects

Not every kitchen photo online shows a real project. Stock images and computer renderings can be useful for ideas, but they tell you nothing about the work of the people who will be in your home. Real project photos tend to include ordinary details, like a kettle on the counter, a dish rack or an imperfect camera angle.

Pair photos with written reviews. Pictures show the result on the day it was finished, while reviews tell you how the project went and how the crew treated the home. You can read our customer reviews alongside our 4.9-star Google rating from 500+ reviews.

Use kitchen before and after photos to plan your own

Once you know what to look for, browse our kitchen gallery with your own kitchen in mind. Save photos of kitchens with cabinets, countertops or flooring similar to yours, and note the colours and door styles you keep coming back to. Those saved photos make a useful starting point when you talk to an estimator.

We have transformed about 7,000 kitchens since 2009, with a team of 30+ in-house employees and no subcontractors. When you are ready, book a free in-home quote and have your saved photos handy. We will look at your cabinets, talk through what is realistic and give you clear, line-item pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Why do some after photos look so much brighter?

Lighter cabinet colours reflect more light, so a kitchen often does feel brighter after a change from dark wood. Differences in daylight, camera settings and room lighting can also exaggerate the effect, which is why matching angles and light matter.

Can I tell from photos whether my cabinets can be refinished?

Photos of kitchens like yours give you a good idea of the look, but the condition of your own cabinets decides what is possible. Swelling, water damage or loose joints are easier to judge in person, which is what the free in-home quote is for.

Do the photos show how long the finish lasts?

No. A photo shows the finish on the day it was completed. For durability, look at what the finish is and how it is applied, read reviews, and ask about the warranty. Our refinishing comes with a written 3-year warranty, and new doors from refacing carry a written 5-year warranty.