Magazines and kitchen websites are ideal sources for kitchen remodel ideas. We regularly create kitchens and bathrooms based off little more than a magazine clipping. That’s just the beginning of the story with these Cypress clients.
While our clients were clear on a desired look, they were equally clear about what they didn’t want: a sub-par remodeling experience as previously had been the case with other contractors. They wanted a contractor they could trust to create an antiqued look for their cabinets.
Getting the look right for this kitchen remodel
Antiquing is achieved through a specialized glazing process that is both time-consuming and expensive. Only after TriFection’s Jeff Reina brought antiqued cabinet doors from another recent project, utilizing a similar glaze, did these clients know for sure they’d found a contractor who could be trusted to get it right—in spite of the fact that we were not the lowest bidder. Based on their past experiences, our clients appreciated the concept of getting what you pay for.
Even so, to help keep the project within the desired budget, we agreed to paint their existing stained cabinet boxes and fronts instead of building new ones. While the older cabinets were in decent shape, they needed repairs from TriFection’s finishers before painting to our standards would be possible.
The magic of this kitchen remodel is in the glaze
Glazing is more than paint. It’s an art, requiring skillful hand application of multiple layers of paint, beginning in this case with a base color of Dover White from Sherwin Williams. For optimum finish quality, doors and drawer fronts were all glazed and painted in our cabinet shop’s controlled environment.
A finished door was then brought to the project site for matching purposes. Ultimately, it took an entire week to match the glaze on the cabinet boxes to the doors & drawers and add all the finishing touches that distinguish a TriFection project.
Counters, floors and walls round out this kitchen remodel
The counters, window sills and corner breakfast room cabinet were then all topped with Solarius granite from Midwest Tile Marble & Granite. The backsplash, meanwhile, was covered with Lucente Tromba linear glass mosaic from Emser. The newly added undercabinet lighting shows them off nicely. Plus, we added a new undermount farmhouse sink with a copper finish to complete the antique look.
Our client selected new appliances from Nor-West Appliances, including a new GE induction cooktop, oven and microwave as well as Zephyr pop-up downdraft vent. Ultimately, we had to run new dedicated circuits to power these new appliances, making certain the home was in compliance with electrical code.
Dated wood paneling was removed from the breakfast area and replaced with textured sheetrock. We painted all the kitchen and breakfast area walls in a complementary Navajo White color from Sherwin Williams. Finally, the floors were covered with Marazzi Eclipse Solar Coat 20”x20” tiles, all of which comes to life beautifully under the glow of newly installed LED recessed cans.
Another picture perfect kitchen remodel
Completed just in time to host their family Christmas, our clients are thrilled with their new kitchen—especially the cabinets. In fact, they’ve even welcomed prospective TriFection clients in to witness our craftsmanship first-hand. After all, the only better source of ideas than magazine clippings is seeing the real thing in person.
