Any suggestions on updating warm-toned tongue-and-groove cabinets in a 70s farmhouse without losing their original character?
Asked by Murat Kurutluoğlu 
2 months ago
Last Updated: September 26, 2024
I’m about to start my first remodeling project on the house I grew up in, which my dad built back in the 70’s. I really want to keep a lot of the original character, but give it a modern update. The first area I’m focusing on is the Downstairs Bathroom, and I’m having trouble figuring out what to do with the cabinets. They’re made of a warm-toned, tongue-and-groove solid wood under the sinks and there’s a whole wall of cabinets. Since we live on a farm, I don’t want to go for a super minimalist or modern look. Any suggestions on how to enhance the cabinets without replacing them would be awesome!
Well… I’m a big fan of the natural beauty of wood, so my suggestion is to avoid painting them. I recommend cleaning with murphy’s oil soap, oiling them (if they’re not sealed), and then updating the knobs/pulls with new hardware. Contrastive hardware would really make them stand out.
Perhaps considering replacing the sink/counter with something lighter/brighter??👍 Especially if you’re going in that same direction with the floors.
I’ll be changing almost everything in the bathroom except for the cabinets and a gorgeous old clawfoot tub resting against the far wall. New sinks, vanity, countertop, and floors are already (mostly) removed and will be replaced. Since the cabinetry is the focal point of the bathroom, I’ll design the rest of the renovation around it.
I’m not exactly planning to paint, but I really dislike the very warm, red tones as well.
I’m not sure if it would work (or if you really want to spend so much time on it), but maybe try bleaching them? Since they’re tongue and groove, it might take a bit more effort. Or… what if you added picture frame trim to each door (after sanding) and stained them black?
I might have to look into bleaching them, never even knew that was an option for cabinets. I thought about adding some kind of frame or trim around the doors, but with all those curves, not sure if it would work out. Lots of places for bathroom gunk to hide in…
Oh yeah, definitely time for some clear caulk! 😂 Reminds me of my old kitchen cabinets that had the trim around a beadboard panel.
New knobs. Maybe you could tackle an ambitious project by sanding and staining them in a color you love 🙂
Hey , I’m definitely planning on putting in new hardware. It’s a lot of wood to sand, but unless someone has a brilliant idea to share, it seems like my best option.
If it were me, I’d remove the cabinet doors, strip or lightly sand the finish, and reassess the situation. From there, you can decide whether to stain it a different shade or opt for painting it.
I think keeping the cabinets in their natural state is the way to go, just swap out the old knobs for new metal ones and consider updating the floor, walls, lighting, etc. These cabinets have a lot of character.
I totally agree with everyone else, I think refinishing and upgrading that sink with a beautiful granite/corian/marble or quartz top would be a great idea. You could use a stripper on the wood, keep its natural color, and reapply polyurethane. It might be a bit of work but I believe it will be worth it. Take your time and work on a small section at a time!
You know, as much as I’d like to finish this in a weekend, I have a feeling it’s going to take at least a month! 🤣
While most people suggest keeping the wood natural, how it appears in its natural state varies greatly depending on the type of wood. I recommend testing a small area on a door or drawer before proceeding. Unfinished oak can have a strong yellow hue, so you may want to experiment with a bleaching or lightening method to adjust the color. Overall, I agree that preserving the natural wood look is a good choice.
I plan on conducting some experiments before making a decision. I have no clue how this wood appears without any finish, so that will heavily influence my choices. I’m leaning towards keeping the wood in its natural state rather than painting it.
Personally, I would definitely choose either black or white paint for that. The current wood look appears outdated to me.
If you’d rather not work on the wood, focus on the colors and materials in the rest of the room. Try painting the walls black, using a white countertop, black floor tiles, and metal hardware.
Got it!
I suggest changing the sink to a more neutral color instead of refinishing the cabinetry. You might want to look into soda blasting.
Thank you, !
How about stripping the wood and applying a colored stain? A dark green stain would offer a lot of design possibilities.
If it were me, I’d sand them down and add a fresh coat of paint. You could also consider replacing the vanity top/sink.
You might want to consider paint washing as an alternative. It’s similar to white washing, but with a beige or linen color to reduce the orange tones in the wood. I’ll look for an example picture to show you. Definitely invest in new hardware, although I personally adore the cabinets. The texture they provide is really unique.
I probably wouldn’t go as intense with the wash, but that’s just my preference. 😊
I’ve come across a few instances of this approach and I really enjoy it!
One idea is to remove the doors from the cabinets next to the sink and create open shelving. Add a fun wallpaper to tie in your new colors. Consider moving the electrical outlet to the open shelf area and hanging a stylish mirror over the sink. You could even paint just the sink cabinet and leave the others as they are.
Personally, I would lighten up the wood and possibly consider using soapstone. You have the option to bleach the wood or apply a whitewash for a fresh appearance.
You could sand, stain, or tone it to your preferred color, seal it, and switch out the hardware. This simple change could really give it a brand new look.
If this were mine, I’d consider spray painting the hardware black and opting for black cabinet knobs. I’d also paint all that dark wood in linen. You could either replace the vanity top or reface it with epoxy. Consider putting porcelain tile that resembles either wood or slate down on the floors. I believe you could tackle all of these updates yourself for under $500.
I would suggest sanding and staining with a few different colors, as well as changing the hardware to give the cabinets a pallet wood look.
Built in the 70s, my home has homemade plywood cabinets that are high quality, but the dark stain with a green hue was too overwhelming. We removed the doors, lightly sanded them, painted with BIN shellac primer, and added trim. In your situation, I would skip the trim and just paint. It may take some time to achieve a nice finish. We had the doors off the cabinets for 6 months while working on them.