Cabinet Refacing, Replacing, or Re-Creating? Raleigh DIY Diva- February 2, 2006

Kitchen cabinets. Can't live without 'em. What to do when your budget is tight, and you are doing pretty much everything yourself (as much because you can't afford to hire someone as because you enjoy it)? Well, you can give cabinets a facelift by adding molding, new stain, a faux finish, or a paint job. You can also add modern touches, like removing a center panel and having glass cut to make an attractive display space. This is what we did in our previous house. A plug intended for the microwave allowed us to light the inside of the cabinet with a plug-in under cabinet light. Our new (old) kitchen does not allow for this, really. The cabinets are solid oak, which is cool. In the early 80's, it was fashionable to have cabinets and drawers with NO hardware. The result? Filthy cabinets and drawers. I need KNOBS!! Always looking for a deal, I consulted Ebay and found gorgeous, simple, Restoration Hardware brand knobs and cup pulls in Oiled Bronze. $1.95 each as opposed to $5.95 each in the store! Instant uplift for cabinets, which I had also refinished using Old English and a lot of elbow grease!