This kitchen in Redington Shores had solid cabinets in a dark wood finish, with brown granite on top. Between the two, the room swallowed up all the light coming in. Nothing about the boxes or the layout needed to change, so we refinished every cabinet and drawer in Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015), put on stainless pulls and soft-close hinges and slides, and the brown granite was swapped out for white. Same kitchen, a lot brighter. With us, cabinet refinishing starts at $5,000, and most medium kitchens land between $8,000 and $10,000.
What changed in this kitchen?
- Cabinet color: dark wood cabinets and drawers refinished in Repose Gray, a soft, light neutral gray.
- Hardware: every knob and pull replaced with stainless steel pulls on the doors and the drawers.
- Soft-close: new soft-close hinges and drawer slides, so nothing slams.
- Countertops: the brown granite came out and white granite went in, which brightened the room even more next to the gray and the stainless appliances.
Why does the countertop go in first?
Whenever the countertops are being replaced on a refinishing job, they go in before we refinish. Pulling old stone off a cabinet is rough work, and you don’t want that happening on top of a brand-new finish. New tops first, then the cabinets get finished. That’s also why a refinish with new countertops runs closer to two weeks than one.
Why Repose Gray?
Dark wood and brown stone soak up light, and in a beach-area home that works against everything you want the room to feel like. Repose Gray is light enough to open the space up, but it has enough depth that it doesn’t look stark, and it hides everyday wear better than a bright white does. It sits easily next to white stone and stainless.
Cabinet refinishing at Bayshore starts at $5,000. Most kitchens run $8,000–$10,000 and large kitchens $11,000–$15,000, with 5 to 7 working days on site. A second color for a two-tone look is a $500 add-on, and the sprayed finish carries a 2-year warranty against blistering and peeling.
Typical ranges from our recent projects. Your written estimate, built after we see your space, is what your project is priced on.
Is refinishing the right call for your kitchen?
- Yes, if the boxes are solid and you like the layout.
- Yes, if you want a new color, not a new kitchen.
- Yes, if you want it done fast. Our average refinishing job is about five days on site.
If the boxes are damaged or the layout doesn’t work for you, I’ll tell you that refinishing isn’t the answer. Refacing or new cabinets are usually the better money in that case. If you’re not sure which one you need, here’s refinish vs. reface vs. remodel side by side.
How to brighten a dark kitchen without remodeling
- Lighten the biggest surfaces first. Cabinets and countertops cover the most area, so changing those does more than anything else.
- Pick a light color with some depth. In bright beach-area light, a soft gray like Repose Gray looks clean without the glare of a stark white.
- Match the hardware to the appliances. Stainless pulls tie into stainless appliances and make the room look planned.
- Add under-cabinet lighting. It lights the countertops and makes a lighter finish glow at night.
Refinishing changes the room for a fraction of the cost of new cabinets. With us, it starts at $5,000, and most medium kitchens land between $8,000 and $10,000.
Want a straight answer on your own project? Call us at 813-489-1552 or book a free in-home estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cabinet refinishing cost in Redington Shores?
With us, refinishing starts at $5,000, and most medium kitchens run $8,000 to $10,000. Large kitchens run $11,000 to $15,000.
Can you add soft-close hinges when you refinish?
Yes. New soft-close hinges and drawer slides go in when the doors and drawers are rehung, the same as we did on this kitchen.
How long does cabinet refinishing take?
About five days on site on average. If you’re replacing the countertops and backsplash too, plan on about two weeks.
Do you work in Redington Shores?
Yes. We work across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco, including Redington Shores and the rest of the beaches.
Thinking about a new color for your cabinets? Book a free consultation and I’ll tell you straight whether refinishing is the right fit. You can also see how we price refinishing, or another real job in our Lutz White Flour kitchen.
