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Kitchens Design Dilemma

Solid kitchen cabinets?

last month

We bought some salvaged jarrah kitchen cabinets that were described to us as solid wood. The frames definitely are but we realised that the panels are veneer. Is this common? Note where it is labelled ‘not jarrah’ this means not solid jarrah but a veneer.

We were going to sand and stain them but I’m also considering bleaching them for a rustic look. Or potentially knocking out the panelling and installing mesh instead.

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Comments (2)

Kath
last month
About the frames, if it was me, I'd be sanding them and sealing with something clear, or using hard wax oil. That way you celebrate the jarrah, not try to make it something else by staining. To me, bleaching isn't a rustic finish. About the insert panels, the partly sanded one in the first photo looks like the same treatment may work well. However, it could depend on their condition - given that the close-up shows the corner lifting.
Jan Dobson
last month
Very common for cabinet door insets to be veneer. While completely solid cupboard doors are possible, weight and cost constraints make them rarer. The veneer, especially on older doors, may be thicker and allow gentle sanding. Replacing the inset with glass, mesh or even veneered jarrah if you can’t resurrect the original could all look great. As could other treatments. I love natural timber, and YouTube has multiple tutorials on restoration, but sometimes, for many reasons, that is not the best solution. Trust your instincts, and do what works for you
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