Our first kitchenCRATE using re-stained, natural wood cabinets is complete and we’re excited to share the incredible results!

We must admit: at first glance, we weren’t sure if these whitewashed 1990’s cabinets would respond well to stripping and re-staining.  Whitewashed cabinets are inherently difficult to refinish due to penetration of the original whitewash into the deep grain of the oak.  However, after testing on a sample piece (the old desktop surface) the team felt confident moving forward. And oh my, did it ever turn out nicely!

The rich chestnut stain color offsets perfectly against the stunning granite countertops.  Add to this the impressive glass tile backsplash that matches the veining of the granite and you have a virtual feast for the eye.

Scroll down to see the homeowner’s reaction and the incredible before and after transformation.

The Homeowner’s Experience

What was your favorite part of the kitchenCRATE process?

We would like to thank you and the team for creating our beautiful kitchen.  Completing such a large project in a short time frame can certainly be a challenge, but we would say that your efficiency could be one of the favorite parts of the entire process.  Your website promises to keep the customer appraised daily as to the progress and schedule; you certainly did that.  We also think that the package concept did work for us very well, in that we did not feel that it was necessary to consider a wide variety of possibilities.  We felt comfortable with the options provided but we also felt that other options were easily available.  Your flexibility and positive response to changes was apparent and quickly handled.  For example, our decision to add a last-minute cabinet did not seem to interrupt the workflow, much to our surprise and pleasure.

What was your favorite part about the kitchenCRATE team?

The kitchenCRATE team was certainly all that was promised in your website description.  They were all thoroughly professional and skilled in their respective tasks.  All were well-spoken, courteous, and committed to their jobs.  We appreciated their devotion to detail, and remembering the things that needed to be altered or continued the next day.  No request was too big or small and was answered with an enthusiastic we can do that!

Was there anything about the process or project that surprised you? If so, what was it?

Anyone who contemplates a major kitchen remodel has to rely on imagery and some hope that things will appear as they are conceived prior to the beginning of the work.  Choosing a granite pattern that corresponds to cabinet colors, backsplash design, and all of the other component parts can be overwhelming for an amateur.  We were very happy that the total presentation worked as well as it did and, in fact, surpassed our expectations.  This seemed to be verified by many of the workers who commented favorably on the project as it neared completion.  As much as we are tempted to congratulate ourselves, none of the choices were made in a vacuum, but with the guidance of your team members who appreciated the complexity of such a process.  Many people must dread considering such a project largely because of the sad stories attributed to a poor contractor.  Your efforts to earn our respect and satisfaction have paid off; we commend you.

Day by Day Progress

(Note: We added extra days to our normal 7-day process to accommodate the owner-request add-ons, like these…)

Here’s how we did it:

Day 1 – Demo Day!  On this first day, we set up plastic walls to protect the home from dust, protected the path from the entry door to the kitchen with building paper and masonite, and then went to town removing the appliances, countertop, backsplash, plumbing fixtures, cabinet doors, and drawers.  Next, we framed and sheetrocked the old lightboxes that were no longer needed due to the new LED can lighting.  To support the mammoth cantilever countertop at the island, we reinforced the plywood sub-tops with steel straps.

Day 2 – The electrical team began the wiring for the new can lighting, LED undercabinet lights and new pendants. Offsite, the painters began the process of striping the cabinet doors and drawers to prepare them for the new chestnut stain.

Days 3 & 4 – Next, the electricians got to work installing the pattern-specific can lighting. Seven 5″ can lights were placed strategically around the kitchen to optimize the lighting over workspaces. Then the cabinet modifications began, including a 26″ addition to the island cabinets and framing for the newly positioned built-in dinette table. Toward the end of the day we created the template for the new granite countertops, which take a few days to fabricate off-site.

Days 5 & 6 – Granite fabrication began offsite, while the kitchenCRATE team began the process of stripping the cabinet boxes.

Days 7 & 8 – The cabinet boxes were stained with a beautiful chestnut stain.  This process entails a spray application of the stain, followed by a clear coating for the utmost durability.

Day 9 – The capable team at Artistic Edge arrived to install the beautiful Kohler Bakersfield under-mount sink in Biscuit and the MSI Moscarello countertops with a bullnose edge.

Day 10 – Artistic Edge was back on-site, this time to install the Emser’s Cream 3″ x 6″ glass tiles on the backsplash with Laticrete Almond grout.

Days 11 & 12 – Artistic Edge returned to extend the tile at the fireplace to the ceiling.  Custom add-ons like these enable customers to make changes to adjacent features while our team is already on-site.

Days 13 & 14 –  Lastly, the kitchenCRATE team installed the homeowner’s previous appliances.  The transformation then hit the home stretch with the installation of the refinished cabinet doors and drawers. The final day of the project included an array of “touch-up” items: all outlets and switches were replaced, the Kohler Simplice faucet and Soap Dispenser were installed and the entire project was cleaned, top-to-bottom.

Before and After Pictures

Technical Details

Countertop:  MSI Moscarello

Backsplash:  Emser’s Cream 3″ x 6″ glass tiles

Grout:  Laticrete Almond

Cabinet Finish:  Chestnut Stain

Sink:  Kohler Bakersfield under-mount sink in Biscuit

Faucet: Kohler Simplice with Vibrant Stainless finish.

Soap Dispenser: Kohler Traditional Design with Vibrant Stainless finish.

Bar Sink:  Kohler Northland under-mount sink in Biscuit

Bar Faucet: Kohler Simplice with Vibrant Stainless finish

Are You Next?

Perhaps the Copper Bridge kitchen reminds you of your kitchen. Interested in custom cabinets? KitchenCRATE can make this happen in just a few days and for an amazingly low price.

Just click here to schedule your phone consultation using our online scheduling system.  Or feel free to call us direct during business hours at 888-995-7996!