Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/11/2007

Question
QUESTION: Our kitchen cabinets are the whitewashed look that was popular about 10 years ago.  They are oak with a raised panel area around the edges.  I would like to make them a kind of champagne maple color.  Is this possible to do myself and would that color look ok on oak?  Would the best way to go about it be to strip it and then stain?

ANSWER: Hi Nola
Nice to hear from you.
You are correct in thinking your cupboards will need to be stripped then stained then a new finish put on.
But please do a test area with stripper...maybe on the back of a door.
Its been my experience that this white stain that was applied is almost impossible to get out of oak.
Your color choice would look great, but do the test please.
Good Luck and a great question
Kindest Regards
Eileen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your quick reply.  Since it is almost impossible to get the stain out of the oak, it probably will be for me too.  So, is my only option to paint the cabinets and if so, how do I go about it?  Can it be brushed on or should I pay to have it sprayed on?  And, do they need a sealer or topcoat?  How does oak look with paint instead of stain?  Would the best color be some kind of white?  Sorry to ask so many questions, but am a little discouraged.

Answer
Hi again Nola
Please do not get discouraged until you have done a test area.
Use the stripper on the back of a door.
When all the finish is removed, then apply some stain..see what happens.
Oak is funny wood to remove stain or paint from.
And what you usually see when you strip paint off of oak is all the grain lines will retain the paint.
It often happens that a coat of stain will color these white lines, but in most cases not.
It seems to depend on what kind of paint or stain was used.
So lets not discuss painting till you do the test.
You will love or hate the result LOL
Get back to me
Regards
Eileen