This Belleair Bluffs condo got its kitchen and primary bathroom cabinets refaced, plus crown molding with lights hidden behind it, under-cabinet lights and a couple of repairs, for $14,000 at today’s pricing. No demolition, no new layout, and the kitchen looked brand new in about a week. Here’s what we did, and the one small idea that ended up making the whole room.
What was wrong with the old cabinets?
Honestly, not much underneath. The homeowner loved her layout and had no interest in living through a full remodel in a condo. When I walked it, the cabinet boxes were solid. The doors were dated, the area around the microwave had never been finished right, and the base under the kitchen sink was soft from years of small leaks. That’s a textbook refacing job: new look, same boxes, a fraction of the cost and time of new cabinets.
What did we do?
- Refaced the kitchen, the primary bathroom vanity and the pantry with new white shaker doors and drawer fronts. That’s 27 doors and 13 drawers, with soft-close hinges and new handles.
- Sprayed the inside of the boxes to match, so the new look carries through when you open a door.
- Rebuilt the sink base with new framing and cabinet-grade plywood. It’s one of the most common repairs we do on older kitchens, and it has to happen before the new fronts go on.
- Reframed and finished the area around the microwave, moved its outlet up into the cabinet above, and hung the microwave.
- Added a trash pull-out next to the sink.
- Put in under-cabinet lighting and a new dimmable light over the sink.
What was the idea that made the room?
Part of this kitchen sits under a vaulted ceiling, and that left an awkward empty gap above the upper cabinets. I suggested running crown along the top of the cabinets in that section and tucking LED lighting behind it, on its own switch. She loved the idea, and it turned out great. At night the vaulted ceiling glows, the cabinets look taller and more custom, and the kitchen feels finished in a way new doors alone wouldn’t have done. It was one of the smallest lines on the job, and it’s the first thing people notice.
What does a refacing job like this cost?
Refacing is priced by the piece, so the number follows the size of your kitchen. This one, with the kitchen plus a bathroom vanity and pantry, new doors and drawer fronts, soft-close hinges, crown with hidden lighting, under-cabinet lights and the repairs, comes to $14,000 at today’s pricing. A medium kitchen on its own usually lands between $10,000 and $12,500, and refacing with us starts at $7,000. The ranges by size are on our cabinet refacing page.
How long did it take?
Our refacing jobs average about six days on site once the new doors arrive. Because the layout, countertops and plumbing all stayed put, the kitchen was usable for most of the job, which matters a lot more in a condo where you can’t just go cook at the neighbor’s.
Why was refacing the right call here?
- The boxes were sound. Replacing them would have meant paying for demo and new cabinets she didn’t need.
- She loved the layout and only wanted a new style.
- It’s a condo. A short, quiet job with no demolition is easier on everyone in the building, and on the association.
If the boxes had been water damaged all the way through, or she’d wanted to move the sink or open a wall, I’d have told her refacing wasn’t the answer.
Refacing or refinishing for a condo kitchen?
| Refinishing | Refacing | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Your existing doors and boxes get a new painted finish | New doors and drawer fronts, boxes covered to match |
| Change the door style? | No | Yes |
| Starts at | $5,000 | $7,000 |
| Time on site | 5 to 7 working days | 6 days on average once the doors arrive |
| Best when | You like your door style and the doors are in good shape | The doors are dated or damaged but the boxes are solid |
This homeowner wanted a new door style, so refacing was the answer. If she had liked her doors and only wanted a new color, refinishing would have done it for less.
What to plan for when refacing in a condo
- Association rules. Most buildings want our license and insurance on file before we start, and some limit work hours.
- Parking and deliveries. New doors arrive in one delivery, so it helps to know where we can unload.
- A usable kitchen. Because the countertops and plumbing stay, you can keep using the kitchen for most of the job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to reface kitchen cabinets in a condo?
With us, refacing starts at $7,000, and most medium kitchens run $10,000 to $12,500. Adding a bathroom vanity, crown molding or lighting brought this one to $14,000.
Can you add lighting when you reface cabinets?
Yes. Under-cabinet lights and lights hidden behind crown are easy to add during refacing, and they make a big difference for what they cost.
Can you fix a damaged sink base when you reface?
Usually, yes. A soft or water-damaged base under the sink can be rebuilt with new framing and plywood before the new fronts go on.
How long does cabinet refacing take?
About six days on site on average once the new doors arrive.
Like your layout but not your cabinets? Book a free consultation and I’ll tell you straight whether refacing or refinishing is the better fit. You can also see refinish, reface and remodel side by side.
