San Marino homeowners take their kitchens seriously. This is a community where homes are showpieces, where attention to detail matters, and where quality is expected rather than merely hoped for. So when kitchen cabinets start showing their age, the assumption is often that a full remodel is the only way to restore the kitchen to the standard San Marino residents expect.
The Hidden Quality in Older San Marino Cabinets
But here’s what many homeowners don’t realize. The cabinets themselves, especially in older San Marino homes, are often built to a standard of quality that modern cabinet manufacturers don’t match:
Solid wood construction with dovetail joints
Genuine hardwood face frames
Substantial hardware mounting
Quality that was standard decades ago but rare today
These aren’t the particle board boxes with veneer facing that pass for cabinets in most new construction. These are pieces of furniture that were built to last indefinitely.
What’s failing isn’t the cabinet. It’s the finish. Years of cooking vapors, hand oils, cleaning products, and simple exposure to light break down even the best finishes eventually. The wood underneath is almost always in excellent condition. This is where cabinet refinishing makes sense as an alternative to replacement.
Understanding the Cost Difference
The cost difference is substantial. A full cabinet replacement in a San Marino kitchen can easily run forty to sixty thousand dollars once you factor in:
Demolition of existing cabinets
Disposal costs
New cabinet purchase
Professional installation
Associated electrical work
Plumbing modifications that often become necessary
Cabinet refinishing costs a fraction of that while preserving cabinets that are actually superior in construction to most of what’s available new.
The Professional Cabinet Refinishing Process
The refinishing process we use at Romani Restoration is comprehensive and methodical:
Phase 1: Removal and Workshop Preparation
Every cabinet door and drawer front is removed and brought to our workshop. This allows for controlled conditions during stripping, sanding, and finishing. Temperature and humidity affect how finishes cure, and working indoors eliminates variables that can compromise results.
Cabinet boxes remain in place but receive the same level of attention as the doors. Old finish is stripped, repairs are made where needed, surfaces are sanded smooth, and new finish is applied. The difference is that this work happens in the kitchen itself, which requires careful preparation to protect countertops, appliances, and flooring.
Phase 2: Finish Stripping and Wood Assessment
Stripping old finish from cabinets requires knowledge of what products to use on different types of finishes and woods:
Some cabinets have lacquer finishes that respond well to specific strippers
Others have polyurethane or varnish that needs different treatment
Using the wrong product can damage wood or simply not work effectively
This is where experience matters. After 38 years, Marco knows which approach will work for each situation.
Once old finish is removed, the real condition of the wood becomes visible. Often there are small repairs needed:
A split panel here
A loose joint there
Hardware holes that have become enlarged over time
All of these issues get addressed before any new finish is applied. The goal is to restore the cabinet to like new condition, not just to make it look better superficially.
Phase 3: Precision Sanding
Sanding is done in stages with progressively finer grits. This creates a surface that’s smooth enough to show the wood grain clearly but textured enough to allow proper adhesion of stain and finish:
Too smooth and stain won’t penetrate evenly
Too rough and the final finish won’t have the glass like quality San Marino homeowners expect
Phase 4: Custom Stain Mixing and Color Matching
Stain selection in San Marino kitchens often involves matching existing elements. Floors, trim, furniture, even ceiling beams might factor into the decision. Marco mixes custom stains for every cabinet project, testing on sample boards until the color is exactly right. This isn’t about getting close. It’s about getting perfect.
In some cases, homeowners want to change the color entirely:
A kitchen that felt dark with cherry stained cabinets might be transformed with a lighter tone
Cabinets that were originally a golden oak color might be updated with a more contemporary gray or weathered finish
The wood determines what’s possible, but the range of achievable colors is much wider than most people realize.
Phase 5: Professional Stain Application
Application technique matters as much as the stain itself:
How thickly stain is applied
How long it’s allowed to penetrate before wiping
The direction of application relative to the grain
All of these variables affect the final appearance. This is craftsmanship, not assembly line work. Each door receives individual attention to ensure even color and proper grain enhancement.
Phase 6: Durable Protective Finishing
After stain comes the protective finish. For kitchen cabinets, durability is paramount. The finish needs to resist:
Water spots
Cooking oils
Cleaning chemicals
Constant handling that cabinet doors endure
It also needs to maintain its appearance over time without yellowing or hazing.
Modern cabinet finishes are significantly more durable than what was available even twenty years ago. Catalyzed lacquers and conversion varnishes create extremely hard surfaces that resist both chemical and physical damage. These finishes also have the benefit of being repairable. If a door gets damaged in the future, it can be refinished individually without needing to redo the entire kitchen.
Timeline and Kitchen Functionality
The timeline for cabinet refinishing is shorter than most homeowners expect:
A typical kitchen takes two to three weeks from start to finish
During that time, the kitchen remains partially functional
Appliances stay in place and can be used
The sink remains operational
It’s not business as usual, but it’s not the complete upheaval of a full remodel either.
Comparing Results: Refinished vs New
One of the questions San Marino homeowners ask is whether refinished cabinets look as good as new cabinets. The honest answer is that they often look better:
New cabinets, even high end ones, come with finishes applied in factory conditions that prioritize efficiency over perfection
Hand applied finishes on quality wood produce depth and richness that factory finishes don’t match
Maintaining Architectural Continuity
There’s also the issue of design continuity. San Marino homes, particularly those in the older sections near the Huntington Library, often have architectural details that were carried through from room to room:
Crown molding
Door trim
Window casings
Built in cabinetry in other rooms
When kitchen cabinets are refinished to match these existing elements, the home maintains visual coherence that’s lost when cabinets are replaced with something that doesn’t quite match the rest of the house.
The Environmental Advantage
For homeowners concerned about environmental impact, refinishing has clear advantages:
Cabinet replacement creates an enormous amount of waste
Old cabinets are hauled to landfills where perfectly good wood and hardware are buried
New cabinets require harvesting trees, manufacturing, packaging, and transportation
Refinishing eliminates all of that by making use of what’s already in place
The sustainability argument is particularly relevant in San Marino, where homeowners tend to take a long view of property stewardship. These aren’t houses that get flipped every few years. They’re family homes that may stay in the same family for generations. Maintaining and preserving rather than constantly replacing aligns with that philosophy.
The Hardware Consideration
Hardware is another consideration. Original cabinet hardware in older San Marino homes is often superior in quality to what’s readily available today:
Solid brass hinges and pulls
Hand finished details
Properly installed mounting
Refinishing allows this hardware to stay in place or to be refinished itself. Replacement cabinets mean new hardware that may not measure up.
When Replacement Makes More Sense
Of course, there are situations where cabinet replacement makes more sense than refinishing:
If the layout is dysfunctional
If the cabinet boxes are damaged beyond repair
If a fundamental change in kitchen configuration is desired
Then replacement might be the right choice. But for kitchens where the bones are good and only the finish needs attention, refinishing delivers outstanding results at a fraction of replacement cost.
San Marino homeowners who choose cabinet refinishing through Romani Restoration are working with a craftsman who understands the standards this community expects. Every detail matters. Every door needs to match perfectly. Every surface needs to be flawless. This level of precision is what 38 years of experience delivers.
Call Romani to discuss how cabinet refinishing can transform your San Marino kitchen while preserving the quality construction you already have.
The Truth About Cabinet Refinishing in San Marino Kitchens
San Marino homeowners take their kitchens seriously. This is a community where homes are showpieces, where attention to detail matters, and where quality is expected rather than merely hoped for. So when kitchen cabinets start showing their age, the assumption is often that a full remodel is the only way to restore the kitchen to the standard San Marino residents expect.
The Hidden Quality in Older San Marino Cabinets
But here’s what many homeowners don’t realize. The cabinets themselves, especially in older San Marino homes, are often built to a standard of quality that modern cabinet manufacturers don’t match:
These aren’t the particle board boxes with veneer facing that pass for cabinets in most new construction. These are pieces of furniture that were built to last indefinitely.
What’s failing isn’t the cabinet. It’s the finish. Years of cooking vapors, hand oils, cleaning products, and simple exposure to light break down even the best finishes eventually. The wood underneath is almost always in excellent condition. This is where cabinet refinishing makes sense as an alternative to replacement.
Understanding the Cost Difference
The cost difference is substantial. A full cabinet replacement in a San Marino kitchen can easily run forty to sixty thousand dollars once you factor in:
Cabinet refinishing costs a fraction of that while preserving cabinets that are actually superior in construction to most of what’s available new.
The Professional Cabinet Refinishing Process
The refinishing process we use at Romani Restoration is comprehensive and methodical:
Phase 1: Removal and Workshop Preparation
Every cabinet door and drawer front is removed and brought to our workshop. This allows for controlled conditions during stripping, sanding, and finishing. Temperature and humidity affect how finishes cure, and working indoors eliminates variables that can compromise results.
Cabinet boxes remain in place but receive the same level of attention as the doors. Old finish is stripped, repairs are made where needed, surfaces are sanded smooth, and new finish is applied. The difference is that this work happens in the kitchen itself, which requires careful preparation to protect countertops, appliances, and flooring.
Phase 2: Finish Stripping and Wood Assessment
Stripping old finish from cabinets requires knowledge of what products to use on different types of finishes and woods:
This is where experience matters. After 38 years, Marco knows which approach will work for each situation.
Once old finish is removed, the real condition of the wood becomes visible. Often there are small repairs needed:
All of these issues get addressed before any new finish is applied. The goal is to restore the cabinet to like new condition, not just to make it look better superficially.
Phase 3: Precision Sanding
Sanding is done in stages with progressively finer grits. This creates a surface that’s smooth enough to show the wood grain clearly but textured enough to allow proper adhesion of stain and finish:
Phase 4: Custom Stain Mixing and Color Matching
Stain selection in San Marino kitchens often involves matching existing elements. Floors, trim, furniture, even ceiling beams might factor into the decision. Marco mixes custom stains for every cabinet project, testing on sample boards until the color is exactly right. This isn’t about getting close. It’s about getting perfect.
In some cases, homeowners want to change the color entirely:
The wood determines what’s possible, but the range of achievable colors is much wider than most people realize.
Phase 5: Professional Stain Application
Application technique matters as much as the stain itself:
All of these variables affect the final appearance. This is craftsmanship, not assembly line work. Each door receives individual attention to ensure even color and proper grain enhancement.
Phase 6: Durable Protective Finishing
After stain comes the protective finish. For kitchen cabinets, durability is paramount. The finish needs to resist:
It also needs to maintain its appearance over time without yellowing or hazing.
Modern cabinet finishes are significantly more durable than what was available even twenty years ago. Catalyzed lacquers and conversion varnishes create extremely hard surfaces that resist both chemical and physical damage. These finishes also have the benefit of being repairable. If a door gets damaged in the future, it can be refinished individually without needing to redo the entire kitchen.
Timeline and Kitchen Functionality
The timeline for cabinet refinishing is shorter than most homeowners expect:
It’s not business as usual, but it’s not the complete upheaval of a full remodel either.
Comparing Results: Refinished vs New
One of the questions San Marino homeowners ask is whether refinished cabinets look as good as new cabinets. The honest answer is that they often look better:
Maintaining Architectural Continuity
There’s also the issue of design continuity. San Marino homes, particularly those in the older sections near the Huntington Library, often have architectural details that were carried through from room to room:
When kitchen cabinets are refinished to match these existing elements, the home maintains visual coherence that’s lost when cabinets are replaced with something that doesn’t quite match the rest of the house.
The Environmental Advantage
For homeowners concerned about environmental impact, refinishing has clear advantages:
The sustainability argument is particularly relevant in San Marino, where homeowners tend to take a long view of property stewardship. These aren’t houses that get flipped every few years. They’re family homes that may stay in the same family for generations. Maintaining and preserving rather than constantly replacing aligns with that philosophy.
The Hardware Consideration
Hardware is another consideration. Original cabinet hardware in older San Marino homes is often superior in quality to what’s readily available today:
Refinishing allows this hardware to stay in place or to be refinished itself. Replacement cabinets mean new hardware that may not measure up.
When Replacement Makes More Sense
Of course, there are situations where cabinet replacement makes more sense than refinishing:
Then replacement might be the right choice. But for kitchens where the bones are good and only the finish needs attention, refinishing delivers outstanding results at a fraction of replacement cost.
San Marino homeowners who choose cabinet refinishing through Romani Restoration are working with a craftsman who understands the standards this community expects. Every detail matters. Every door needs to match perfectly. Every surface needs to be flawless. This level of precision is what 38 years of experience delivers.
Call Romani to discuss how cabinet refinishing can transform your San Marino kitchen while preserving the quality construction you already have.