Your kitchen's decor, whether in a newly-purchased home or one you've lived in for years, may stubbornly stamp the room as out of sync with the rest of your furnishings. Perhaps you loved a country kitchen look for decades, but recently you've fallen for the simplicity of Mission style interior design. You've replaced dining and living room furniture and accessories, but those kitchen cabinets shout, "Been there, done that!"

Or perhaps you've never warmed up to your new home's spare, Euro-style metal cabinets with their white doors and tiny oak accent bands. You want your kitchen to look hospitable--the cozy hub of the home--but all-new cabinets aren't in your budget.

Cabinet Refacing to the Rescue

There are many ways to accomplish cabinet refacing. Some aspects lend themselves to homeowner projects. Here are some choices:

1. Replace existing doors, drawer fronts, and hardware in your style of choice.
2. If needed, restain or paint the cabinet cases so they blend with the new doors' color and style. Staining requires excellent ventilation and good access to the cases, so removing and rehanging the cases may be something you want to hire out, even if you do the staining or painting yourself.
3. Alternately, cabinet refacing manufacturers usually have laminates for the cabinet case which match the new doors and drawers. Lamination is easier for homeowners to do themselves than staining or painting, though the refacing company can do this on-site. It may be cheaper than painting or staining, and matching the doors is a sure thing.

Even if today's economy is delaying your desire to update your kitchen, cabinet refacing will save substantially over buying new cabinets. Get bids from building supply and kitchen stores, then say "goodbye" to your kitchen's "old" look.