Expert: maura macaluso - 1/7/2010

Question
I've purchased maple cabinets in a honey color to match previously purchased Kraftmaid cabinets in a honey spice color  purchased around 13 yrs. ago. I took the cabinet door to Lowes to match it and in the store, it did match. I just received all the cabinets and they seem to have a different base color altogether. My old cabinets are more yellow-gold and the new cabinets are honey but with a very pink undertone. Is there anything I can do to or put on the new cabinets to help the color at all be more of the yellow-gold color? Please forgive my ignorance but I don't know ANYTHING about refinishing cabinets. I would just send the cabinets back but was told none of the finishes are going to match any better due to the way maple wood ages and Kraftmaid finishes. Guess I should've checked that first but assumed my sales rep. would've gave me a heads up on that. Anyway, any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you. Bonnie

Answer
Hi Bonnie,  First rule of any color matching(paint, fabric or finishing etc..) is to never do it under florescent store lights.  Whole different color sprectrum involved with that lighting than inside your kitchen.  Unfortunately, matching existing cabinets bu going to a box store will not work for you.  You are going to need to get a professional, give him your door and let him  make up a few samples, using different stains and finishes. Then take the samples home and live with them a few days before choosing. It will be extremely hard to get an exact match and you will have to settle with something fairly close even with a professional involved.  There are too many variables involved here.  Yes, wood does change color with exposure to air, light and kitchen grease. 13 yrs is a long time and there will certainly be a big color change. Furthermore, the same tree species will produce different color woods depending on the soil it grows in.  the same color stain will give different results from can to can(mix can be slightly different).  even the same stain will be different from two different companies. there should also have been a clear coat applied to your original cabinets after they were stained.  This clear coat also adds its own minor color change to the finish as they are not really clear, but most will yellow a finish to some degree.  As for your already purchased cabinets, i would try to return them and get your money back because I agree you probably will never be happy with the match.  You really will need a professional cabinetmaker or refinisher to make the samples and document exactly how each sample was treated and may even have to have them come to your kitchen and do the color matching on site.  Yes, it will cost more but it is really going to be the only way that you will have a chance of getting the match close enough so it will be acceptable to you.  Thanks for the question and good luck with your project.