Maribeth’s kitchen points to another excellent idea for retro styled kitchen cabinets: Have your kitchen cabinets built out of MDF, then paint them.
I’ve actually mentioned this idea before, and it’s listed as a way to go with bathroom vanities, but I’ve never done a full blown post about it for everyone considering kitchen cabinets.
All about painted MDF kitchen cabinets:
- Resists moisture: MDF is the acronym for Medium Density Fiberboard. I think that means wood particles and glue all melded together really solidly. Don’t be put off. The stuff is heavier than wood, and the beauty part in particular, is that it resists moisture. I have MDF cabinets in my bathroom for that reason. UPDATE: See Robert’s comment below with more thoughts on this material. Do your own research to make the choice that is right for you…
- You can paint MDF slab doors: You can paint MDF slab doors — but you cannot paint all-wood slab doors. Real wood, when it is pieced together, expands and contracts when exposed to moisture or humidity. The paint chips/cracks along the joints. MDF, on the other hand, is manufactured in big pieces, 4’x8′ pieces, if I’m not mistaken, so it can be cut to size — even pantry doors — then painted any color. I’m telling you, you will not know it’s not wood.
- Versatile: As you can see from Maribeth’s photos, a slab style door is very vintage, yet also very classic — you can dress it up either way.
- Specs for an authentic retro door: Vintage steel kitchen cabinets all have slab doors with what is called a “radius” edge, and the doors are installed as “full overlay” — that is, you don’t see any of the cabinetry behind the doors or drawers. This set up – full overlay – also gives you the biggest drawers.
- Virgin adhesion: There’s more: You can paint these guys any color, and since you’re going straight onto a virgin MDF surface, you should get great adhesion.
- Retro and custom touches: Under the sink cabinet, carve those horizontal ventilation slats… paint your cabinets a glossy color…and install retro or vintage pulls…
A good cabinetmaker can replicate these ventilation slats in MDF and people won’t know they aren’t metal. Add a cookbook shelf. Build in a desk. If you get the right cabinetmaker, he or she can craft these things. It’s flat wood – you can do anything. Scour all my vintage galleries and posts for ideas.
- Affordable: As Maribeth points out, these cabinets can be built very affordably. She had her entire kitchen and laundry room done for $6,000, including painting. And she has A LOT of cabinets. But note, before I found my metal cabinets, I had my kitchen also specked out for MDF cabinets. I bet I had as many cabinets as Maribeth, and the store wanted $14,000, and painting was not included. So, shop around, recognizing of course, that getting a quality, reliable craftsmen is another story altogether…
- Be conscious of cabinet construction, too: The construction of the cabinets (what you don’t see) also matters. When we were shopping, I bought an online subscription to Consumer Reports to get their tips. Tips I still remember are: Dovetailed drawers. Slides and glides matter. And so does the thickness of the “box”. Thicker plywood is better. As Maribeth pointed out, she originally was just going to repaint her old cabinets. But when they took off the countertop, the boxes were in such bad shape, they were not worth saving. That was the state of my 70s cabinets, too. The boxes were, like, one step above cardboard…the doors were basically falling off them within 30 years. Even if you don’t think you are going to be in your house 30 years, I think it is wise to save up and pay for better constructed boxes up front. It’s probably better for the environment and for your house karma, too.
Cindy says
Love that backsplash, too!
Shane says
It does look very good. If this was available in the ’50s, like under car neon kits, it would have sold like hotcakes.
Kiki Dulane says
The cabinets in my 1951 ranch house were re-faced with wood grain Formica in the early 70s probably, but I’d like to have them re-faced again. I was thinking of just painting the Formica, but maybe this MDF idea is the best one… Maribeth’s kitchen is such an inspiration!
MidCMitzi says
Oh my, I just noticed Maribeth’s giant wooden fork and spoon in the first picture above–I love those!!!!
Sherry says
I have made a pantry cabinet out of MDF, and replaced some cabinet doors with it too. It can be routed in the same way that wood can – looks very cool. The only thing to watch for is to drill pilot holes before driving in the screws or it will chip, but I have heard that there are new screws on the market that eliminate that step.
Janice says
Excellent suggestion Pam! Just another example of why I love this site. I honestly learn something new every day. Hopefully, with the right prep, we’ll be happy with the painted veneer. I just don’t have the heart to tear out the most solidly built cabinets I’ve ever seen. Since it’s only the cabinet frames that will have painted veneer (the doors and drawers will be new) and we’re empty nesters (no slamming and banging of cabinet doors), I’m hoping the chipping will be minimal. I’m anxious to also hear the opinion of Cabinet Pro Joseph and others who have done this.
Janice says
LIke Buffy, I spoke to a cabinetmaker about making new flat paneled doors and drawers for my 1954 kitchen which went through a bad experience with 1980 oak veneer. The box construction is SOLID so we are leaving them in place and painting everything to cover up the veneer. The cabinetmaker suggested maple and now I’m second guessing him given Pam’s comment about moisture. I also thought it was silly to use a high quality wood to only be painted. I will definitely bring this to his attention – thanks Joseph for a professional opinion and to Pam, for making me think twice.
pam kueber says
Janice, I am not a super expert on this wood stuff. But, this was my experience and what I was told by various cabinet companies when I went to buy slab-style doors that would be painted. They all said: Use MDF if you don’t want cracking. That said, it seems like I have seen vintage cabinets that painted up pretty well. Cabinet maker Joseph…and others… what do you think?
pam kueber says
Also Janice – painting veneer, why not? I think the key is to use a good primer product that will facilitate adhesion. And then, not getting too upset if the paint chips here and there over time. That said, it seems like I have heard of some good products. Try Zinsser….?
Joseph says
For Buffy: I’m a cabinetmaker, and I can tell you that you would have no problem replacing your doors with doors made of MDF. Chances are you would use Blum hinges for these doors, but if you run it through a local cabinetmaker, it shouldn’t be a problem.
buffy davis says
We don’t have the money to have all new cabinets made. The construction on the boxes is pretty good and they’re in good condition since our house is under 10 years old. I’m wondering if it would be possible to make just the doors and drawer fronts out of MDF. Do you think the new fronts would be too heavy since MDF is heavier than most solid woods?
pam kueber says
Hi Buffy, I don’t have the expertise to advise on this question, sorry. It’s the right question for you to ask, though, I think….
JSPajak says
IKEA cabinets are available with plain painted doors that have a retro look. APPLÅD is the name of the doors. Here is a kitchen done with these: http://kitchenideas.com.au/ikea_applad_u_shape_kitchen.jpg.