Watch Danielle’s Transformation On YouTube
Preserving The Original Build
If you’re a homeowner or DIY enthusiast, you know the struggle: you love the classic structure of your home, but your kitchen cabinets are stuck in the past! A full kitchen gut-job is usually super expensive, messy, and totally overwhelming.
Enter Danielle Levi. She faced this exact dilemma with her kitchen, which boasted cabinets that were incredibly old, actually dating all the way back to 1932 as part of the original build of her house! While the boxes themselves were rock solid, the old, dark doors were draining the life out of her space.
Danielle found the perfect solution: Front + Center cabinet refacing. She proved that you don’t need to tear out history to get a modern look that you’ll love. With a smart approach, she gave her entire kitchen an astonishing, affordable transformation without touching the original structure.
Same Cabinet Boxes, New Look
The fact that Danielle was refacing cabinetry from the 1930s is a testament to the durability of old construction. Danielle’s cabinet boxes were in great structural condition, but it was time for a new look. She recognized that the most affordable and sustainable choice was to keep those original boxes and simply refresh their exterior.
Front + Center allowed her to completely swap out all the visible components. She replaced the doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, giving the kitchen a brand-new, custom look.
Danielle’s Style Selections:
- The Door Style: Danielle chose the elegant Timken door. This style is a beautifully balanced take on the classic Shaker, offering clean, modern lines with a subtle profile for added architectural detail.
- The Color/Finish: To brighten the space, she opted for Sage. This gorgeous, muted green acts like a calming neutral, instantly bringing organic freshness and a high-end feel that looks spectacular against wood and white elements.
- The Hardware: A true reflection of modern taste, her choice of sleek, updated pulls completely complements the Timken doors and finishes the look with a crisp edge.
The DIY Journey
Step One: Measuring + Ordering
Danielle started with the most crucial step: measuring. Front + Center provides detailed guides and custom support to help DIYers get precise measurements for their custom doors and drawer fronts. Front + Center knows that getting these measurements right is key to a perfect fit when the order arrives.
Step Two: Prepping + Painting the Cabinet Boxes
Danielle now had everything measured and ordered from Front + Center so she could now focus on prepping the old cabinet boxes for their revival. Here were her steps:
- Removing the Old Fronts: She stripped off the old doors, drawer fronts, and hardware.
- Cleaning and Sanding: A thorough cleaning and light sanding of the cabinet face frames ensures the new paint and 3DL will adhere properly.
- Painting the Boxes: Danielle painted the face frames and sides of the boxes with a color matched to her new Sage doors.
Once the custom-cut and engineered fronts arrived, the kitchen upgrade shifted into high gear. This is where the magic of refacing really happens!
Step Three: Installing the Custom Doors
Since her new fronts arrived custom-drilled for the hinges and hardware, the assembly was straightforward:
- Installing Hinges: Danielle placed the soft-close hinges into the pre-drilled door holes and secured them in place with a rubber mallet.
- Hanging Doors + Drawers: Danielle attached the new doors and drawer fronts to the existing drawer boxes, securing the drawer fronts by running the new hardware screws through the drawer box and into the pre-drilled fronts.
The finished kitchen is a stunning, durable space that looks like a high-end custom install. Danielle’s project is proof that a beautiful, modern kitchen is accessible to any DIYer, regardless of how dated the cabinets are!
The Results: Before & After
Danielle Levi’s beautiful Sage Timken kitchen shows us that you don’t need a demolition crew or a massive budget to achieve a stunning, custom look. The final result is a transformation from old 1932 cabinets to a bright, modern, and beautiful space.
Front + Center made the process easy and affordable, delivering a jaw-dropping before-and-after that truly redefined the heart of her home. It’s time to stop dreaming and start refacing!
To start your own cabinet refacing project go check out our free estimator page to get started and learn more.
For more looks at this project and other content from Danielle Levi, go check out her YouTube or Instagram pages.
