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Cabinetry
Bren Gilstorf 06/01/2026 - 9:03 AM
We have honey oak cabinets with a cathedral panel in our kitchen that look orange now. We want to refinish them. Should we stain darker or pickle or paint. I have been told wood is coming back but I hate the orange look.
Are you a pro and able to answer this question?
4 Answers
Prestige Woodworking
Rating: 5 out of 5
To change the stain, the doors need to be completely stripped to raw wood. You can't stain on top of stain, it won't adhere. To fully strip will be costly. The most cost efficient is to paint, but the cathedral look will date the kitchen. I haven't done a cathedral door in over 30 years - it comes down to what your budget is
Answered5 January 2026
1
Wolfe Painting
Rating: 5 out of 5
Since you cannot stain over stain, you need to completely remove the previous stain and lacquer with a strong stripper. Give it all a very quick wash with soapy water, let dry. Then you can restain however keep in mind that you still cannot go lighter, you have to go darker.
Or skip all that, wash them and rough sand down the cabinets, prime with a bonding primer (Styx Bonding Primer is a good choice) and paint 2-3 coats, lightly sanding between each coat.
Answered5 January 2026
1
Brass Tacks Concepts Interiors By Shannon Tucci
Rating: 5 out of 5
If you are a DYI fan, then the process of refinishing them could be economically beneficial and rewarding. As others have mentioned, the process can be challenging and stripping to stain takes some time to prepare surface correctly.
If hiring a professional to do this for you is the plan, this would be a long and expensive process. Better to investigate having new doors made and replacing the old. This is especially effective if your layout is working and the cabinet interiors are in good shape.
Alternatively, finding someone to spray the cabinets with a lacquered paint can be more cost effective. I would recommend an opaque paint over a pickled effect. A creamy white will be timeless. Or perhaps consider a darker tone on the lowers- a warm black/bronze or a muted dark olive to add some contrast and richness.
Answered5 January 2026
1
JG Contracting
Rating: 5 out of 5
Wood is definitely coming back, but the orange tone is what dates honey oak, not the wood itself.
Pickling or white washing usually doesn’t work well on cathedral panels. The grain goes blotchy and it still reads dated. Painting is always an option, but once you paint them there’s no going back.
A darker, neutral stain is usually the best middle ground. Tones like light walnut, warm brown, or even a soft greige brown will cancel out the orange while keeping the wood character. Done properly, it looks intentional and current instead of trendy.
The key is proper prep and using a stain that neutralizes orange rather than amplifying it.
Answered6 January 2026
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