Adding glass to a few key doors will relieve some of the visual weight of the wood and add some reflective value to your kitchen.

And of course you can hire a cabinet company to do this for you, but with a bottle of wine and a saw you might be AMAZED at what you can accomplish (it’s how I trim my toenails…) Seriously though, want to know how?

House (including Gel Stain details) Refacing (specific details for staining oak) Update Idea #2 – Change the Hardware (or add some) More often than not, the 1980’s / 90’s oak cabinets don’t have hardware (handles or knobs).

While functionally it’s not a big deal because you can still open them, decoratively it’s like you’re missing the last piece of the puzzle.

did a FABulous job of updating her kitchen while keeping the rich tone of her oak cabinets.

Usability/Function How frequently will you be using the hardware?If you access the drawer/door multiple times each day be sure to select something that is easy and comfortable to grip and will hold up to a little bit of abuse. If you're going to be installing them in the kitchen be sure to choose something that can be easily cleaned, avoid intricate knobs with carvings that dirt and grime can get stuck in.Size Is the height or length of the knob or drawer pull you're considering larger or smaller than the previous one?Her cabinets were in FANtastic shape so she kept them ‘as-is’ and chose beautiful hardware and accessories to complement their style.I’d love to give you a how-to on Staining Oak Cabinets, but I’d rather leave it to the pro’s….What kind of new hardware should you install in your updated kitchen? Will you be able to see the holes from the old hardware?There are so many choices out there it can be overwhelming. Because I am being asked these questions on a daily basis I’ve put together a general guide to updating hardware and have included some of my favorites to share with you. As a general rule, I like to keep the different metals in a kitchen to no more than two.