We start by developing you a custom set of samples. If you can show us an example of the look you desire (a photo from a magazine will often be enough), we will match it. Otherwise, we will ask you some key questions and come up with a starting point. Then we will make a first set of samples just for you. You tell us how close we are to what you're looking for and we will adjust the samples until one is an exact match.

Once we have an approved sample we will schedule a time to come to your home and remove all hardware. This will be left with you while the shop work is being performed.

We then remove all doors and drawer fronts. Sometimes we may opt to remove crown moldings and other fixtures such as shelves or valances. These items are taken to our facility for service that generally takes 2-4 weeks.

When these items are close to completion we will contact you to schedule the on-site portion. This usually takes 1-3 days to complete. In preparation you will need to remove all items from all cabinets, countertops, and walls next to cabinets. The kitchen should be emptied of all loose items.

When we arrive, the first thing we will do is cover all walkways with drop clothes. We then set up plastic walls to separate the work area from the rest of your house. All surfaces are covered, including appliances, countertops, walls, windows, floors, light fixtures, etc. We use industrial grade fans and vacuums to keep dust and overspray to an absolute minimum. Once your house is completely prepped, we begin the refinishing/refacing process.

Finally, we complete the service with a very thorough cleaning of all areas effected by the work. (x)

We begin working on your cabinets by hand-stripping them — as opposed to dipping them in chemicals that could damage the fibers of the wood or glue joints. Then we fill any damaged areas or imperfections and hand sand everything. The next steps vary from finish to finish, but that is the nature of custom finishing. No two finishes are alike. On average our finishes are made up of 10-15 different steps as opposed to most manufacturers 5 or 6.We will adjust the steps of applying dye stains, pigmented stains, tinted lacquers, glazes, and waxes in order to increase the natural beauty of the wood.

Most wood tone finishes are achieved by the following process:

We start with a penetrating dye stain to bring out the natural figure and grain of the wood species. Often we follow this with a light coat of penetrating oil stain. Next we apply a light coat of sealer to lock it all in. Then we will apply a coat of base color to start achieving the correct tone, followed by another heavy coat of sealer. These steps help to add more depth and contrast.

We then begin to close in on the final color by tinting our lacquers with various types of dyes. If necessary we will also apply glazes to adjust color further or add a distressed and aged look.

Once the sample color is achieved we begin to topcoat. Our choice is a heavy-duty pre-catalyzed (pre-cat) lacquer (we will be happy to use any coating you choose). This specialty lacquer offers the best of both worlds: It leaves your cabinets with a soft, warm look and feel that you get only from a high-grade furniture lacquer. At the same time, your finish is highly resistant to heat, moisture and scuffing. These are the benefits of varnishes and urethanes.

Our final topcoat is a water white acrylic pre-cat finish that prevents yellowing and color shifting and will help your cabinets keep their beautiful finish for many years to come.

For most cabinet jobs this is as far as we need to go. Occasionally we may decide to take it a step farther. In those cases we hand rub and wax all doors and drawers to a finish that mimics that of our finest antiques. (x)