FAQs

Residential Services & Scope

Painting and refinishing restore your existing solid wood doors and boxes with a factory-grade coating, while refacing discards your doors and drawer fronts entirely to replace them with new ones.

Cabinet Painting & Refinishing: We chemically strip, sand, prime, and spray your current doors, drawer fronts, and face frames. This preserves structurally sound wood and saves 60%–70% compared to tear-outs.
Cabinet Refacing: Keeps the cabinet boxes but installs brand-new doors and veneers the frames. It costs significantly more ($12,000–$20,000) and often replaces solid wood with synthetic laminates or veneers.

Yes, provided the cabinet boxes and doors are structurally sound.

Laminate & Factory Finishes: We apply high-adhesion chemical-bonding primers that bite into slick surfaces without peeling.
Previously Painted Cabinets: We sand and evaluate the existing paint film. If stable, we seal and topcoat; if failing or chipping, we strip and level the substrate first.
Deep Oak Grain: We offer high-build grain-filling primers to fill open grain before applying finish coats.

Durability, Chemistry & Care

No. Our commercial grade 2K hybrid coatings cure to an impact-resistant enamel shell that will not soften, lift, or chip under daily contact.

Why Wall Paint Fails: Latex wall and trim paints dry solely through water evaporation. They leave a soft, porous film vulnerable to breaking down from steam, cooking grease, and acidic skin oils around handles.
The Hybrid Difference: Our commercial 2K alkyd urethane enamels integrate the rock-hard leveling of an oil-alkyd resin with the durability and flexibility of advanced acrylics, forming an impermeable barrier that resists fingernail scratches and ring strikes.

Wipe clean with a soft microfiber cloth lightly dampened with warm water and mild dish soap (like Dawn).

Approved: Warm water, mild dish soap, neutral pH surface cleaners.
Avoid: Ammonia, bleach, vinegar, citrus degreasers, abrasive scour pads, and silicone furniture polishes.
Because the cured hybrid surface is non-porous, sauces, coffee, and grease stay on top of the film and wipe clean without aggressive scrubbing.

Process & Home Logistics

Most standard kitchen projects take 3 to 5 business days.

Off-Site (Days 1–5): Doors, drawer fronts, and loose trims are removed to our South Haven shop for decontamination, mechanical sanding, bonding primer, and multi-pass spray booth topcoating.
On-Site (Days 2–4): Our crew spends 2 to 3 days in your home masking, sealing, and spraying the fixed face frames inside a clean-room containment bubble.

Investment, Pricing & Estimates

Refinishing costs 60% to 70% less than a complete cabinet tear-out. In Southwest Michigan, replacing cabinets routinely costs $25,000 to $50,000+ once demo, new countertops, and plumbing/electrical adjustments are factored in. Spraying your existing wood cabinets with commercial-grade 2K alkyd urethane coatings typically ranges from $3,500 to $8,000.

Remodel Path	Average Cost	Project Duration	Disruption Level
Full Cabinet Replacement	$25,000 – $50,000+	6 to 12 Weeks	High; full demolition & utility rework
Cabinet Refacing	$12,000 – $20,000	1 to 3 Weeks	Moderate; covers frames in thin veneers
The Decorators Choice Spray Finish	$3,500 – $8,000	3 to 5 Days	Minimal; preserves 100% solid wood

Estimates are calculated based on:

Piece Count: Total number of individual doors, drawer fronts, and false panels.
Cabinet Material & Condition: Current finish stability, wood species, and existing grease or smoke contamination.
Grain Texture: Closed grains (maple, cherry) versus open grain (cathedral oak, walnut), requiring high-build grain filling.
Layout Additions: Islands, pantries, built-in bookcases, open shelving, or matching bathroom vanities.
Hardware Modifications: Filling obsolete handle holes, re-drilling for new pulls, or upgrading to soft-close hinges.

Color, Style & Hardware

Quick-Take FAQ

How does your cabinet finish compare to standard house paint? (Residential)
The Decorators Choice sprays commercial-grade 2K hybrid urethane enamels that cure harder, resist chipping, and repel moisture better than latex wall paint. Standard latex dries into a flexible film that softens and peels when exposed to steam and finger oils. Our hybrid coating combines the durable leveling of traditional oil paint with the non-yellowing stability of acrylics, creating a washable, factory-smooth surface.
How disruptive is the cabinet refinishing process for homeowners? (Residential)
Cabinet refinishing causes minimal disruption, taking 3 to 5 days with 80% of the work completed off-site. Homeowners remain in the home throughout the project, cabinet boxes do not need to be emptied, and countertops stay accessible. In-home access is restricted for only 1 to 2 days while fixed frames are prepped and sprayed under negative-air plastic containment.
How does off-site cabinet finishing reduce builder and contractor delays? (Commercial)
Subcontracting millwork finishing off-site eliminates trade stacking by keeping active jobsites open for other subcontractors. Doors, drawer fronts, and loose trims are prepped and booth-sprayed at our South Haven facility. This cuts on-site finishing to just 2 to 3 days of containment, eliminates dust-nib flaws, and guarantees a 3-to-5-day turnaround for final inspections.

Request Your Residential Project Proposal

Send us your approximate door and drawer counts alongside 3 or 4 wide-angle photos of your space. We will review your project and provide a transparent, detailed proposal within 24 to 48 hours.

Call or Text: (269) 270-5785
Email: decoratorschoicesh@gmail.com
Shop Facility: The Decorators Choice, 336 Broadway St., Suite 243, South Haven, MI 49090
Service Area: South Haven, Saugatuck, Douglas, Holland, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan, Southwest Michigan communities and the Michiana communities of South Bend and Elkhart.
Accreditation: Fully Insured | BBB Accredited Business (A+ Rated)

Get Your Fast Personal Quote

FAQs For Our Professional Partners - Trade Partnerships & Production Logistics

We eliminate trade collisions by moving approximately 80% of all prep, priming, and coating off-site into our dedicated South Haven spray facility.

Minimal Footprint: Doors, drawer fronts, and loose trims leave the job site immediately after intake.
Open Site Access: Other interior trades (flooring, tile, electrical, trim carpenters) continue working without wet-paint shutdown delays.
Short Site Envelope: On-site face-frame masking and spraying requires only 2 to 3 days of localized clean-room containment.

Standard crews brush and roll 1K waterborne latex or wall trim paints that dry solely via water evaporation, leaving a soft, scratch-prone film that sags under moisture and picks up finger oils. The Decorators Choice sprays commercial-grade 2K hybrid urethane enamels:

Hybrid Resin Performance: Combines the deep leveling and impact hardness of an alkyd resin with the non-yellowing, low-VOC flexibility of high-grade acrylics—meeting KCMA (Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association) performance standards.
Moisture & Stain Resistance: Forms a dense, non-porous enamel shield impervious to steam, acidic food splatters, and daily handling.
Hard Film Build & Block Resistance: Dries to a hard, smooth profile that resists sticking, marring, or edge-pulling against cabinet door bumpers once rehung.

Specifications, Scope & Color Matching

Yes. We integrate new custom built-ins, unfinished MDF/maple doors, and existing hardwood face frames into a unified, factory-smooth installation:

Raw Substrates: We apply high-solids bonding primers specifically formulated to seal open end-grain, block tannin bleed, and stabilize porous MDF edges.
Seamless Field Transitions: On-site face frames are sprayed using the identical hybrid enamel batch, fluid tip, and pressure ratios as our shop-sprayed doors, guaranteeing a 100% match in sheen, color depth, and texture.
Interiors vs. Exteriors: Standard scope covers all visible casework, doors, and end panels. Interior boxes are preserved in their original condition unless specified in the project scope.

Site Containment, Safety & Punch Lists

We treat on-site face-frame spraying with strict containment protocols:

Isolation Barriers: Floor-to-ceiling static plastic sheeting with zippered entry seals the kitchen work envelope away from adjacent finished living areas.
Negative-Air Scrubbers: Continuous HEPA filtration and negative-air blowers exhaust atomized overspray and paint vapors directly outdoors.
Dustless Extraction: All on-site scuffing and sanding utilizes direct-tool HEPA vacuum extractors, ensuring zero drywall grit or wood dust migrates into HVAC returns.

Most cabinet callbacks stem from chipped paint around pulls, sagging brush lines, or sticky door frames. We eliminate these failure points before handoff:

Clean-Room Booth Curing: Off-site spraying in a dedicated, filtered spray booth eliminates dust nibs, roller stipple, and brush marks.
Full Handoff Calibration: We reinstall all components, calibrate 6-way European hinges for tight, uniform reveals, drill and mount decorative pulls to template, and verify bumper clearances before your final punch walk.

Estimates & Subcontract Onboarding

How do general contractors and interior designers request trade pricing?

Send your plan elevations, door/drawer counts, or site walk-through photos with a brief scope of work. We deliver written, line-item trade proposals within 24 to 48 hours.

Partner With The Decorators Choice on Your Next Project

Get Your Commercial Estimate

Eliminate site bottlenecks, protect your production schedules, and deliver flawless, factory-grade millwork to your clients. Send us your project elevations, finish specifications, or photos with rough door and drawer counts—we will review your scope and provide a detailed trade proposal within 24 to 48 hours.

Trade Direct Line (Call or Text): (269) 270-5785
Estimating & Inquiries: decoratorschoicesh@gmail.com
Production Facility: The Decorators Choice, 336 Broadway St., Suite 243, South Haven, MI 49090
Regional Service Area: South Haven, Saugatuck, Douglas, Holland, St. Joseph, Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Portage, Mattawan, and surrounding Southwest Michigan communities.
Licensing & Accreditation: Fully Insured | BBB Accredited Business (A+ Rated)

Submit Project Plans for an Estimate

FAQs

Residential Services & Scope

What is the difference between cabinet painting, refinishing, and refacing?Expand

Can you spray over oak, laminate, or previously painted cabinets?Expand

Do you spray or brush and roll?Expand

Do you finish the inside of the cabinets or just the visible surfaces?Expand

Can I paint the cabinets myself, or should I hire a professional?Expand

Durability, Chemistry & Care

Will the finish chip, scratch, or peel around handles like standard wall paint?Expand

Will white or light-colored finishes turn yellow over time?Expand

What is the expected lifespan of a spray-refinished cabinet?Expand

How do I clean and maintain sprayed cabinets?Expand

How soon after painting can I use my cabinets normally?Expand

Do you offer a warranty?Expand

Process & Home Logistics

How long does a typical cabinet refinishing project take?Expand

Can we stay in our home and use our kitchen during the project?Expand

Do I need to empty all my cabinet boxes and drawers?Expand

Are paint fumes and overspray dangerous in the home?Expand

How do you prevent sanding dust from spreading through the house?Expand

Investment, Pricing & Estimates

How much does cabinet painting cost compared to replacement?Expand

What factors affect the price of my projectExpand

How do I count my doors and drawers for an accurate quote?Expand

Color, Style & Hardware

Can I choose any color I want?Expand

Can you make 1990s cathedral oak cabinets look and feel smooth?Expand

What is the best sheen level for kitchen cabinets?Expand

Can you replace my hardware or switch to hidden hinges?Expand

Quick-Take FAQ

Request Your Residential Project Proposal

FAQs For Our Professional Partners - Trade Partnerships & Production Logistics

How does subcontracting cabinet finishing to The Decorators Choice reduce on-site trade stacking?Expand

What is the standard turnaround time for off-site shop spray finishing?Expand

How do your coatings compare to the field-applied trim paints used by standard painting crews?Expand

Specifications, Scope & Color Matching

Can you finish raw custom millwork and pre-existing site-built cabinetry to match?Expand

Can you formulate exact matches to specified designer color decks?Expand

Do you offer grain-filling solutions for remodels with existing open-pore oak?Expand

Site Containment, Safety & Punch Lists

How do you control overspray, airborne dust, and VOCs on an active job site?Expand

How does using The Decorators Choice eliminate post-occupancy punch-list callbacks?Expand

Estimates & Subcontract Onboarding

How do general contractors and interior designers request trade pricing?

Partner With The Decorators Choice on Your Next Project

Get Your Commercial Estimate