Although making your own cabinetry can be rewarding and fruitful, it is an advanced project that is beyond the scope of this series of articles. It is a time consuming and challenging operation that can elevate the pride of home ownership to heavenly new levels, or end in nightmarish disaster. It is not a project for the beginning woodworker and is challenging enough to tax even the intermediate woodworker or handy- man or woman’s skills and tool availability. Because of its complexity, Rockler recommends one of the Updating Your Cabinetry options that is listed in this series of articles as a time and money saving alternative. Nonetheless, in this article we’ll take a quick look at the basic considerations for making your own cabinetry.

Make an Assessment

Knobs & Pulls

New door and drawer opening hardware puts a stylish exclamation on your home crafted cabinetry. Rockler has an exciting array of knobs and pulls available to suite every style and whim, from traditional to Shaker to Euro-style, decorator or Restoration. For the distinguished look that can only come from custom crafted handiwork, consider adding carved hardwood pulls or antique finished pulls from Rockler’s Premier Collection. Or perhaps some Ivy Green Leaf pulls and Knobs from Rockler’s special designer collection. Now is the time to cut loose and have some fun. There are dozens of additional types and styles available including:

• Brass Knobs and Pulls
• Classic Brass Knobs, Pulls and Hinges
• Kitchen Knobs and Pulls
• Porcelain Knobs and Pulls
• Restoration Knobs and Pulls
• Rustic
• Southwestern Style Knobs and Pulls
• Stickley, Mission, Arts & Crafts Knobs and Pulls
• Victorian and Glass Knobs and Pulls
• Whimsical Knobs and Pulls
• Wooden Knobs and Pulls

Accessories

You’ll want to review our page on Accessories to check out Rockler’s full line of innovative systems that can turn your kitchen into a designer showcase. Making your own cabinetry offers a perfect opportunity to customize your kitchen with interesting and up-to-date accessories. Whether it’s shelving accessories, low-voltage under cabinet lighting systems, pantry organizers, tambour appliance garages, lazy susan's, kitchen rail systems, or reverse-a-racks, all can be perfect solutions to old storage problems. Hanging racks, glass molding, or plate rack dowels can create storage from otherwise useless space. Whether it’s the addition of split rope topper molding, lattice panels, brass grilles or glass etchings, you can make your custom kitchen a place of distinction and efficiency with simple and easy to install extras. Consider what can be accomplished with just a few feet of wineglass molding, fluted rosettes, or bun feet added to your custom made cabinetry. Over sink trays, shelf lift mechanisms, and pullout trash bins can add convenience and organization to please the most discriminating kitchen boss.

Determine Your Needs

Choose Your Updates

Whether it's shelving accessories, lighting systems, the addition of split rope topper moldings, lattice panels, brass grilles or glass etchings, you can make your kitchen a place of distinction and efficiency with simple and easy to install extras. You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish with just a few feet of wineglass molding, fluted rosettes, or bun feet, added to your favorite fixtures. Low-voltage lighting, pantry organizers, sink front tray sets, pullout trash bins, appliance garages, and shelf lift mechanisms add convenience and organization to please even the most discriminating kitchen boss. Rockler has a full line of innovative systems that can turn your kitchen into a showcase. Best of all; most are affordable, practical solutions that are quick and easy to install.

Custom Projects

Although the results of a new finish can be quite dramatic, refinishing your cabinets is a time consuming, complicated and labor-intensive process. To do the job properly you must strip, bleach, sand or scrape, and restain your existing cabinet surfaces before adding a new top coat or varnish. You must also know the species of wood that you are refinishing before beginning. This can be further complicated by the fact that your kitchen cabinetry could be made of several differing types of wood species. Although it is possible to restain and refinish your cabinetry in a finish darker than its original hue, it is nearly impossible to refinish them in a lighter one. But, if you own high-quality natural wood cabinets that require updating, and you want to maintain their natural wood appearance, you may decide to refinish them with new stain and top coating.

You can refinish all your existing cabinet surfaces, including your doors and drawers, or buy new, ready-to-finish doors and drawers and stain them to match your restained casework. Rockler recommends buying new doors and drawer fronts for several reasons. The harsh chemical strippers used to remove old finish can deteriorate glue and cause panel doors and other glued pieces to come undone. Edge treatments and intricate surfaces can be extremely difficult to strip and prepare for new stain and finish. Finish coats can also take an inordinate amount of time to dry, further complicating the refinishing process. Investing in new doors and drawer fronts is a solution that can save lots of time, money, and aggravation. Rockler's custom door and drawer front programs offer a wide selection of affordable, ready-to-finish styles from which to choose. Simply determine the size, style, and edge option of the door and drawer fronts you need. You can either match the style of your existing doors and drawer fronts, or chose a new one for an exciting new look. New hardware  will add the refinement of a professional kitchen update.

To begin your refinishing project, you will need to determine what type of stain and finish you will use to beautify and protect your cabinetry. There are many types of finishes available. Since the science of finish work is beyond the scope of this series of articles, Rockler recommends that you consult with a professional finish retailer or consultant.

Thorough preparation is the key to a successful refinishing job. Be sure to work in an empty and well-ventilated room, and follow the refinishing guidelines below.

1. Remove door and drawer hardware, and take all doors off their hinges.
2. Remove existing finish and stain from all surfaces by sanding, scraping with a cabinet scraper, or using a chemical remover. When using chemical strippers, follow manufacturer. s directions carefully and use necessary safety precautions.
3. If necessary, bleach old stain from existing wood surfaces. When using bleaching agents, follow manufacturer's directions carefully and use necessary safety precautions.
4. Sand or scrape existing wood surfaces smooth to prepare them for new stain. A carbide scraper or cabinet scraper works well.
5. Remove all dust from cabinet surfaces to prepare for staining and finishing.
6. Stain the surfaces of your cabinetry and casework. When using stain, follow the manufacturer. s directions carefully.
7. Apply an oil, varnish, or polyurethane varnish finish according to the manufacturer's specifications.

A Simple Job

Refacing your cabinetry typically involves the replacement of doors and drawer fronts and the resurfacing of your cabinet faces to match. It's a simple process that can breathe a fresh new life into tired, old and outdated kitchens. Rockler's cabinet refacing program makes refacing a quick and simple job with the following three-step method.

Before You Begin!

Update your cabinetry by adding doors and drawer fronts that match the fit and finish of your existing cabinetry. You can make your own doors and drawer fronts, or have them custom-made through Rockler's Door and Drawer program. Old, broken down drawers can also be replaced entirely. With plenty of styles to choose from, buying them ready-made from Rockler's custom door and drawer program is an affordable alternative that can save lots of time and energy. If new doors and drawer fronts alone won't complete the job to your satisfaction, the option of refacing your existing surfaces' end panels and face frames is a great way to coordinate existing casework with your new doors and drawer fronts.

Note: Drawers that are in good condition may need only to have their drawer slides replaced. If the replacement of broken drawer slides is necessary, see Rockler's selection of Drawer Slides.

Once you've selected your new door and drawer front styles, you can decide on a refacing alternative to match. Veneer and wood surfaces or Rigid Thermo Foil (RTF) laminate are Rockler's suggested refacing methods. For the look and feel of a wood surface, Rockler recommends Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) wood veneer and 3/16" plywood end panels. Door and drawer fronts of solid wood or matching PSA veneers are available in red oak, cherry, maple, ash, and hickory. Or, a matte white finish is also available in a durable RTF laminate on a solid MDF core. The advantages of each are listed below.

Wood offers the beauty, elegance, depth and texture that can only come from a natural wooden surface. Wood covering can be easily installed with a Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) wood veneer that perfectly matches your doors and drawer fronts. PSA Veneers are self-adhering and offer "peel and stick" simplicity. Clean up goes fast because there are no messy glues or cements required. For extra durability around corners, solid wood are available. However, solid wood will require more work and expense. Plywood panel doors are a select grade with solid wood frames for a durable and lasting emplacement.

RTF technology is a flexible and durable vinyl foil laminate that is pressure molded over a lasting substrate. A state-of-the-art laminating process creates a surface that is many times more rugged and hardier than paint or finish. It can be molded into a wide range of styles such as raised panel or cathedral arches. This is an excellent alternative for a durable and washable matte finish.