When you are ready to have cabinets put into your kitchen, you may assume you have the choice between two finishes: paint and stain. For years, these have, indeed, been the two most common options. However, they are far from the only choices when it comes to finishing your cabinets. If you are craving a look that's a bit more unique, then you should consider these alternative finishes.
Hard Oil
A hard oil finish is a specially formulated oil that you apply to the wood. It soaks into the top layer of the wood and binds with the wood fibers, forming a hard surface. The resulting look is sleek yet natural. The wood retains its own character but with a richness that is hard to get from other finishes. Some hard oils add a little color to the wood, but they don't add deep and excessive color like stains. Another nice thing about hard oil finishes is that they help make the wood water-resistant and stain-resistant. The cabinets should be easy to wipe clean.
Accent Glaze
Technically, cabinets finished with accent glaze are painted. But after the paint is applied, an accent glaze is applied over the top of it. This glaze causes the characteristics of the paint to change. How? Well, that depends on the particular glaze. Some formulas cause the paint to crackle, creating a very traditional look. Other formulas cause the paint to develop deep, linear furrows, which lends it a modern appearance.
Weathering
Picture a whitewashed fence. You know how you can see the wood through what looks like a thin coat of paint? This type of finish could also be described as a weathered finish, and it is a common choice for cabinets in rustic kitchens. A very thin preparation of a paint-like substance is applied. It not only adds a slight color to parts of the wood, but it also raises the grain and makes the cabinetry look rougher, overall. You can find weathered cabinets that have a white, gray, or brown hue, too.
Patina
A cabinet door with a patina finish is distressed to look like it has been worn and used. Then, after the distressing wears some spots and maybe even cracks in the wood, a special glaze is applied to give the wood a sheen. These doors have a decidedly antique look and would look right at home in a more traditional kitchen.
Discuss these finishing options with a kitchen cabinetry maker in your area. There are so many choices for homeowners who don't like traditional paint or stain.
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