Design Notes
Color gets the attention. Preparation creates the finish.
Whether cabinetry is painted or stained, the final appearance depends on numerous steps that happen before you ever see the finished door.
Paint creates a more uniform color.
Stain celebrates wood’s natural character.
Neither is universally better.
They’re simply different design languages.
Different species have different grain patterns and characteristics.
Walker offers standard species, including maple, quarter-sawn white oak, walnut, cherry, alder, and hickory, with additional species available for custom applications.
Material selection matters here too.
Walker uses MDF panels in painted doors because they’re less susceptible to the expansion and contraction patterns visible in hardwood panels.
Sanding and surface preparation create the foundation.
A premium finish can’t compensate for poor preparation.
Wood is natural.
Variation isn’t necessarily a defect—it’s part of the material.
Two boards from the same species can absorb stain differently or display different grain.
That’s part of what makes wood cabinetry beautiful.
Cabinet finish should coordinate with:
The goal isn’t choosing the prettiest sample.
It’s choosing the finish that belongs in the overall design.
When you think of oak cabinetry, what do you envision? Probably a kitchen in an older home with lighter-toned cabinets and all of the “typical oak” graining showing on every door and drawer.
A deep cleaning of your new kitchen may indeed be due every few months. However, the most beneficial cleaning tasks can be done every few days to help your kitchen remain beautiful and functional for years to come.
These large-scale opinions are relatively easy for clients to determine early on in their project planning. However, as any distinguished designer can tell you, the small details are just as crucial to achieving your dream kitchen. Here, I will address some issues to consider while planning your kitchen remodel that you may not have thought of.
If you are considering two colors in your kitchen but are still unsure whether it is worth it or just a passing trend, here are some benefits it can bring to your space.
Most of us have had the experience of going to a garage sale or thrift store and finding a dresser or old furniture that is the right size and shape we’re looking for. The problem is that it may have indents in the wood caused by damage or by decorative carvings that have gone out of style.
Walker Woodworking
Walker Woodworking
Walker Woodworking
Walker Woodworking