Kenneth Lewis Blog

Cabinet refinishing on stained and painted wood work by Kenneth C. Lewis.

Refinishing kitchen cabinets or refacing them, instead of cabinet replacement, lets you upgrade your kitchen at a price you can afford and allows for the new custom look you desire. If you are planning to remodel your kitchen you have found out that it is not cheap and that a significant portion of the cost is for cabinetry. Also, new kitchen cabinets can be costly and time consuming to install. All is not lost though. As long as your cabinets are in decent shape, with these alternatives you can give your kitchen a fabulous new look quickly, without busting your budget.

The most visible and used elements of your kitchen are also the most abused, the kitchen cabinets. So it makes sense that after a while cabinets start to look tired and worn and so does your kitchen. The fact is that most kitchen cabinets are in good shape structurally and only in need of a new look. Kenneth C. Lewis offers many colors, stains and wood veneers to refinish and reface your kitchen cabinets.

If the kitchen cabinet hardware is not damaged it can be cleaned and re-installed. But, this is a great time to choose new cabinet hardware, doing so will let you really add your personality to the kitchen and complete the stunning transformation of your new look. The time required for refacing or refinishing kitchen cabinets depends on the size of the kitchen but usually can be completed within 3-5 days. This means that your kitchen will not be a unusable total wreck for weeks or even months that cabinet replacement requires. Be sure to contact us today should you want to add some elegance to your kitchen with your professional refacing and refinishing solutions.

Many styles and finishes for cabinet hardware are available. Each variety is designed to accompany popular styles while maintaining a beautiful look over time. An enirely new kitchen is possible with Cabinet Refinishing by Kenneth C Lewis. Kitchen cabinets can be dressed up, revitalizing an older kitchen, or giving a newer kitchen the look and feel you dreamed of. Our services include casual finish, old world, traditional, contemporary, and the popular antique finish.

The Casual Finish goes from simple white cabinetry and fresh hue colors to natural wood furnishings, the casual style manifests itself in a relaxed, guest-friendly ambiance with mountain charm.  Expect to see plank doors or simple doors, often with bead board panels.

Old World kitchens have those large hearths or cooking grottos and distressed, unfitted cabinets. Their unique look can be traced to pre-17th century Europe.  The finish is key; stained and painted cabinetry that displays antiquing, distressing, chaining, wormholing and cracking gives an authentic warm-age patina.

Traditional kitchens have a formal, elegant look characteristic of American and European homes of the 18th, 19th and early-20th centuries.  A traditional kitchen calls for a traditional cabinet.

Contemporary kitchens tend to be described as modern, minimalist and sleek, containing styles from the 1940s to the present.  The characteristics include horizontal clean lines, asymmetry and a lack of molding and other ornamentation.


Antique kitchens offer an authentic character, unique dimension and visual interest.  The antique style is often achieved through individual pieces, such as islands or cabinetry, designed to look like they’ve been there forever.  Expect to see distressing at many levels, from nail holes to face chunking, as the means to achieve the beauty of this aged look.

If you are interested in refinishing your cabinets, furniture, or counter-tops be sure to contact us today. We have over 25 years of experience and our method produces a quick and painless job which will leave you in awe.

Want a new look for your kitchen, but don’t have a large budget?  Cabinet Refinishing is the most economical solution for people who don’t want to as much money on a big remodeling project.  

Many people who are happy with the style and color of their cabinets choose to refinish them rather than reface them or buy new ones because refinishing is much more affordable and can make your kitchen look like new!  Cabinet refinishing is a quick and easy process that usually takes several days to complete.   The cabinets are cleaned thoroughly to remove any grease or grime.  Then the stain color is matched perfectly and applied to the areas that are damaged by sun, steam or water.  Lastly, the entire cabinet is typically coated with 3 coats of new finish to seal and protect them for years to come!  So, consider cabinet refinishing before you undergo the expense and disruption of a complete kitchen remodel.

Once the cabinet refinishing project is complete, take the opportunity to add new knobs and handles.  Don’t be afraid to mix and match hardware for a custom look.  Hardware is like jewelry to cabinets and the right pieces can make your cabinetry shine! Contact us today to find out more about cabinet refinishing and how it can upgrade your kitchen without breaking the bank.

Today was one of those truly rewarding days when a customer celebrates your work almost as much we did. We love what we do and that passion translates to an every increasing professional satisfaction.  

Our most recent kitchen remodeling effort transformed (it seemed) not only the kitchen itself, but the owners of the property.  I would not label these customers "tired and boring" like their kitchen cabinets, but at the end of the project, their new kitchen brought forth an enthusiasm for their home that was clearly lacking just days ago. They seemed almost as proud of this work as we were. The experience of improving our client's pride of home ownership makes every job a self-motivating and passionate experience. And yes we do much more than kitchen cabinets.

We recently reviewed our customer feedback forms and uncovered common themes such as  "Attention to detail", "Quality Materials", and "Professional". One great customer wrote that even our van shouts "professional". Click to read more about what our customers are saying, and while your out there, be sure to view the picture of one of our rigs that represent our brand and a rolling example of the best the Northeast has to offer in cabinet and general home repair.  

Painting Cabinets: Painted cabinets can add a new look and style to an otherwise dreary kitchen. A tough scratch resistant finish is possible, resulting in an entirely new look that is easily maintained. All of this for a fraction of the cost of a new set of wood cabinets or vanities.

Use Glazes for a Decorative Effect: Using a glaze over paint is a great way to highlight details and give the cabinets a unique look. A glaze can be used for an aged look to newly painted cabinetry.

Apply a Crackle Finish to Cabinets: This is a popular way to create a new and different kind of look. Crackling can be a bold statement or a subtle change with the right choice of paint colors. Add some glazing and crackling can take on the look of very old cabinets.

Antiquing Cabinets for a Unique Look: This involves distressing an existing finish or antiquing can be combined with new stain. Many unusual effects are possible.

Revitalize Your Current Finish: If you like the current look of your kitchen or bathroom, the finish can be revitalized to look new again. Stained cabinets can be brought back to life with just a little elbow grease, the proper materials and some good tools. Refinishing kitchen cabinets is one of the most popular and cost effective refinishing projects for both the homeowner and professional painter.

Restain Over the Existing Finish: Retaining over existing finishes is another possibility. This typically involves the use of a gel stain and can produce dramatic color changes, especially with light stained cabinets. Restaining cabinets is an excellent alternative to replacing or refacing. Restaining cabinets using gel stain over a preexisting wood finish is also an alternative to stripping and sanding down to new wood.