Solid Wood Vs Stainless Steel Cabinets

My kitchen cabinets are in dire need of Refacing. My house had been built in the late sixties but of course you would never know that because it had been well kept and had gone through upgrades. The next upgrade is my kitchen cabinets, which currently are solid woods in dark brown hue. The cabinets are among the few things that may give away the age of my house. I had been thinking about changing the whole cabinets until I got the price for how much I would need to spend. After checking for how sturdy they are, I have opted for Refacing with solid wood instead of stainless steel.

Before I made up my mind on which sort of cabinet I want, I had to do some homework. I searched for what would give me the look and design that I want. Below are what I found about some of the benefits and pitfalls of using wood or steel cabinets.

For solid wood cabinets, you can't beat the fact that you have a choice of various shapes and styles. Wood can be luxuriously made to allow you to have intricate carving and artistic representations showcased on your very own kitchen. Along with the carving artistry they allow, wood cabinets can also be painted or stained to your favorite color or shade. For instance, you can choose from light wood such as beech, oak, or maple if you want a lighter appearance in your kitchen. These could also be decorated by staining, plastic laminating, or glass. These are possibilities you won't have with stainless steel cabinets.
On the down side of wood cabinetry is that woods tend to "sweat" with moisture coming from your cooking, and this moisture eventually lead to paint peel off or deterioration in the wood quality. Stainless cabinets will withstand any liquid you throw at it, as all you do is wipe off.

Among the benefits of stainless steel cabinets is the modern look that it can bring out of your kitchen. Stainless steels cabinets are durable. They last for a long time, taking some beating and still looking marvelous. As I currently juggle the idea of Refacing or changing my whole cabinet, stainless kitchen cabinets will not put you in that condition because they never need to be refaced.

In addition, metals are strong and only need occasional wipe down with special oil to exhibit their lustrous look. Stainless cabinets cut down on amount of upgrades that would be needed to be done later, and thus save you tons of money. There is also the benefit of the ease of installment. Stainless cabinets usually are assembled prior to delivery. All you follow is the easy step by step guide to getting them screwed onto their designated places.

The down side of stainless steel cabinets would be that if you are someone who loves colors, all you will see in your kitchen will be bland gray walls. Your kitchen would look chic and fabulous, but void of colors. Another thing is the risk of rusting. Yes it says stainless, but sometimes what you get is not what you were promised. You have to make sure that the brand you get really is stainless. They are supposed to be rust-proof, so be sure to check before you purchase. Also, you need to remember to reapply the special oil that allows it to remain strikingly glossy.

But despite the shortcomings of wood, I feel it is the best choice for me at this time. The possibilities with woods far outweigh the chic but monotonous appearance of the stainless steel.