All About Cherry Cabinets
By Gabby HymanRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
From the times of the ancient Greeks, artisans sought out warm, elegant cherry wood for building furniture. Known for its straight grain and ripening color, staining kitchen cabinets cherry adds a lot of character. Cherry cabinets have moderate durability, and hold a finish to a tee. If you like them upon delivery, you'll certainly come to appreciate cherry cabinets after a year of aging in your kitchen.
Softer than maple, cherry still has a strong resistance to warping under routine care, and it deepens in shade over time. It's a sound choice in wood for both traditional as well as contemporary kitchen cabinets. Mineral streaks, small knots, and gum pockets add to its character. You'll probably benefit by having a professional staining your kitchen cabinets.
Cherry Cabinets and Staining Options
A common complaint by homeowners who try their hand at staining is that the wood often dries in blotches when staining kitchen cabinets. It's better to begin with a sealer or wash coat, then use a gel stain over oil-based varnishes. Lacquers and topcoats are not suitable if you want a glossy finish.
A range of finishes can either hide or accentuate the grain pattern. Glazing stains will bring out the details. Shellac is a common finish for a wash coat, completed with a very light sanding before applying a stain. Popular stain colors are natural, cherry, red oak, or red mahogany.
Most cherrywood is grown today in the Eastern United States, often in the same Allegheny Forest orchards that produced colonial furniture stock in its heyday. If your kitchen remodeling project calls for a Country Colonial, Mission, or Shaker décor, then cherry cabinets can be an excellent choice.
About The Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.
