Category Archives: Kitchen Remodel Trends

What We’ve Learned Doing Cabinet Refacing for 40+ Years!

Refacing Delivers Exceptional Value: Refacing delivers the look and integrity of a brand-new kitchen for significantly less than a full replacement.

Every Kitchen Is Custom: Every kitchen is unique and every installation is custom; there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Your Vision Comes First: Listening to customers describe their vision of a ‘dream kitchen’ is every bit as important as providing the technical expertise to bring that vision to life.

Endless Design Possibilities: Customers appreciate a wide selection of premium materials, popular door styles, and today’s most sought-after painted and stained hardwood finishes, along with durable Thermofoil colors, textures, and realistic wood-look finishes.

Beauty, Function & Lasting Value: Balancing beauty, functionality, and durability refreshes the look of your kitchen and modernizes the space, delivering lasting value and the highest level of customer satisfaction.

Quality Hardware Makes the Difference: Quality hardware delivers optimal performance, durability, and everyday functionality. Soft-close hinges, full-extension drawer glides, and organizational accessories provide smoother operation, quieter closing, and dependable performance for years.

The Finishing Touches Matter: Cabinet modifications, storage organizers, sinks, and even decorative hardware choices are options that are often the finishing touches which help make the biggest impact.

Trust Is Built Through Craftsmanship: Honest advice builds lasting relationships, and exceptional results come from understanding each customer’s vision, paying attention to every detail, and delivering craftsmanship that stands the test of time.

Our Customers Say It Best: Pacific Kitchens’ reviews prove that our commitment to expert craftsmanship creates kitchens that remain beautiful and functional for decades.

Beyond the Stone: Matching Your Countertop Finish to your Lifestyle

Pacific Kitchens offers affordable, custom fabricated countertops in quartz, quartzite and granite when refacing your existing cabinets to attain the look of a completely updated kitchen. When selecting the stone for your new kitchen countertops, you will also need to consider which surface treatment or “finish” applied to the stone best suits your lifestyle.

When viewing stone slabs, you’ll come across a variety of surface finish choices in both natural stone and engineered stone, such as polished, honed, satin and leather. No doubt that each choice will certainly affect the overall look of your completed project, but it will also affect your daily countertop cleaning routine, as well as how you and your family use your countertops in your daily life. Here’s a few things to consider when making your choice of ‘finish’.

A Polished finish is smooth and glossy and can brighten up a kitchen with very little sunlight, making the space feel larger. Its sleek, yet elegant, flat surface handles food and baking prep, dining, homework and more. Polished stone beautifully accentuates the stone’s veining pattern. Its easy to clean and more stain resistant than a honed, satin, or leathered finish. All of these attributes are likely what make it the most popular finish.

Honed, satin, and leather finishes are currently trending as a more ‘minimalist’ look. These finishes have a more mattified appearance which mutes the stone’s veining, but nicely camouflages watermarks, fingerprints, and possibly even dust and crumbs. But the camouflage is also the reason more frequent cleaning may be necessary. For instance, creating a matte finish on a natural stone like quartzite opens up the pores on what is an already naturally porous stone, making it less stain resistant than a polished stone and generally requiring more attention to cleaning versus minimal cleaning! Further, keep in mind that the leather finish is an uneven and slightly bumpy surface, so it may not be best as a writing surface or for bakers who need a smooth surface to roll out dough.

You’ll choose from hundreds of stone and engineered stone slabs in various colors and finishes from our local vendors. Please note that Pacific Kitchens cabinet refacing saves you thousands of dollars over a complete tear-out, with or without new countertops. No problem! Our craftsmen will create a new updated look, personalized to your style and color preferences.

For a free in-home estimate, call Pacific Kitchens today at 858-277-0701.

2026 Beach Kitchen Transformation

Mixing solid maple and Thermofoil Refacing in this kitchen remodel creates a sophisticated, two-toned aesthetic that balances organic warmth with modern practicality. The dark blue Thermofoil finish on lower cabinets grounds the space while the light earthy stain on select white maple on upper cabinets provides natural texture and warmth for this beachside beauty. These modern contemporary flat doors and drawer fronts are also exceptionally easy to clean. The soft white quartz countertops with subtle grey veining and custom neutral backsplash serve as a bridge to unify the maple’s cozy comforting tone with the sleek modern finish of the Thermofoil. The combination of materials and colors for this beach ‘get-away’ were inspired by the artistry of the homeowner and our expert craftsmen brought her vision into reality. Call us today and ask about other options we offer along with cabinet refacing, such as custom built modifications, add-ons, cabinet storage solutions, countertops, backsplash and, of course, a free in-home estimate.

Two-tone kitchens in 2026

Two-tone kitchens continue to lead design trends in 2026, offering a stunning balance of depth and style. From soft whites paired with earthy tones to rich wood stains against neutral palettes, the possibilities are endless. This kitchen was transformed by our Pacific Kitchens’ expert craftsmen and showcases refaced cabinetry in soft white maple, beautifully anchored by an island in a deep ‘Iron Ore’ shade with custom trim.

Beyond aesthetics, this design prioritizes functionality with deep, accessible drawers and a hidden slide-out trash receptacle. Seamless modifications for built-in appliances and the customer’s hand-picked hardware create a polished, bespoke look.

Ready to update your kitchen? Call Pacific Kitchens today for a Free In-Home Estimate.

Natural wood grains

Whether you’re looking to create a warm wood look throughout your kitchen or simply a natural wood grain focal point on an island or pantry, natural wood grains are once again being showcased!

For example, shown in the adjacent photo is an entire kitchen refaced by Pacific Kitchens in ‘Dark Tuscany Chocolate’ maple hardwood, featuring decorative glass door inserts and quartz countertops. Soft whites and earthy organic colors on cabinets also pair beautifully with wood grains on an island or pantry. In addition to solid maple, oak and cherry hardwoods, Pacific Kitchens offers a large variety of “Thermofoil” refacing choices in various wood grains. Customize your kitchen with your choice of color, stain, hardware and accessories.

Cabinet refacing is an eco-friendly choice that gives your kitchen a fresh, modern look without the waste and expense of a full remodel. By keeping your existing cabinet boxes and updating the doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, you reduce landfill waste, conserve natural resources, and save thousands. Cabinet refacing is the smart sustainable choice for a beautiful kitchen makeover.

We’re making a ‘Splash’!

stone and tilePacific Kitchens is now offering both stone and tile choices for your backsplash. Both stone and tile selections are popular modern options, and our fabricators have many years of installation experience. Granite, quartz, quartzite, or tile splashes all offer easy maintenance and durability, and all can be customized to your design aspirations. You may choose to use stone matching your countertops in a variety of splash heights, including one that extends up the wall to meet cabinets. A customized splash as a focal point extending upward behind the oven is also popular. Or you may prefer subway tile, glass tile, or any of the other variety of tile choices in bold colors, textures and patterns to complement your stone countertops.

stone and tileDon’t need new countertops? No problem! For many customers, all that is needed to give your kitchen a fresh new updated look is cabinet refacing, while your existing countertops and splash remain unchanged. For nearly 40 years, we have transformed kitchen cabinets from ‘outdated to outstanding’ at about half the cost of all new cabinets!

To schedule a Free In-Home Estimate and receive our PK 20% discount, call us now at 858-277-0701.

Colorful Kitchens

Our kitchens continue to get more colorful in 2025!

colorful kitchensWith more than half of the year gone by, we’ve seen some subtle changes to kitchen cabinet color schemes. While white cabinets remain a prominent option for kitchens of all sizes, using an accent color on an island, or two separate colors on upper and lower cabinets for a two-toned look continues to be popular. We’ve also seen that deep, bold cabinet colors are increasingly gaining in popularity, especially for mid- to large-sized kitchens.

Going into the latter part of 2025 and continuing through 2026, we expect to see even more– not so subtle–changes. More creamy, warm and neutral tones are making a comeback! However, bold colors aren’t going away; they’re being paired with the new warm shades. For example, creamy off-whites and earth tones are now being shown with complementary shades of deep green, dark blue or warm wood tones. In fact, warm wood tones remain prevalent in kitchen designs and will continue to be in high demand. Picture a creamy neutral shade on upper cabinets and a complimentary woodsy earth-tone on lower cabinets, or simply a wood-toned accent color on an island, a floating shelf or separate pantry.

This shifting trend toward deeper shades and warm wood tones can add dimension and character to kitchens of any size. In many mid- to larger-size kitchens, bold colors have already begun to be the featured color versus just an accent color and the new warm wood tones are versatile enough to use as either. Some industry experts are even talking about shades of sage, olive and terracotta for 2026! Whatever your dream kitchen looks like, there are many great options to choose from at Pacific Kitchens. From Rigid Thermofoil (RTF) in dozens of colors and wood grains to solid hardwoods in select maple, cherry and oak for your customized color or stain, we specialize in ‘outdated to outstanding’ kitchen remodels. Call us today for a Free in-home Estimate 858-277-0701.

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Reface?

This is a question that comes up quite frequently and there isn’t a simple answer as it depends on many things. The first being, how old are your existing kitchen cabinets? What kind of shape are they in? Are the cabinets damaged and how dated are they now looking? Are you happy how your kitchen looks?

Should I Paint My Cabinets or Reface?

Keep in mind that it is the kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts that get the most abuse in a kitchen as we are always using them. If the doors and drawer fronts are in bad shape and you really want a more updated look for your kitchen, then kitchen cabinet refacing would be the way to go and would last for many more years more than painted cabinets. Most cabinets that have been painted start chipping and showing wear within a very short time.

Having a kitchen refaced, opens up so many possibilities of updating your current look and being able to get a completely different look and making it all yours. It doesn’t matter what shape, color or condition your current kitchen is in. This is because your old door and drawer fronts will be removed and replaced with brand new doors and drawer fronts that will be custom built and installed for you. For example, if you had a dark kitchen, now you could get a light one. Or if your old cabinets are oak, you could now get maple or easy care and beautiful thermo film doors that are washable and the list goes on as endless possibilities await you.

ARE WHITE KITCHENS STILL IN?

Kitchens in almost any shade of white are considered a classic design color

white kitchenWhile you may be someone who thinks Labor Day still marks the end of white as a wearable fashion, there’s no question that when speaking of fashionable kitchens, white remains a top contender year-round.

Since the 1920s, white kitchens have been described as being bright, clean and fresh. White cabinets look great with all of your accessories such as appliances, sinks, faucets and hardware of every shade. There’s sure to be a shade of white that will transform your entire kitchen, even when existing countertops, backsplash and flooring remain in place. White can also brighten up a room and still leave you open to a multitude of other colors and materials for new countertops, backsplashes and flooring, as well as some trendy new cabinet accent colors and/or wood tones for a two-tone color scheme.

Now, nearly 100 years since white kitchens basically made their debut in the U.S., producing a two-tone design by coupling white with a second accent color or a wood tone appears to be a continuing trend.  Perhaps you’re thinking of just a splash of color on the island’s base cabinet or white upper cabinets with a second color or wood tone on lower cabinets.  These examples, among others, have been popular this year and trending on social media sites. We encourage you to view all the possibilities for the custom look of your choice.

Call Pacific Kitchens (858-277-0701) for a free no-obligation estimate with one of our Design Consultants. We’ll bring samples to view right in your kitchen and leave you with a written estimate. As always, we look forward to making your kitchen remodeling dreams come true!”

Knobs, Handles or Finger-Pulls (Oh My!)

Knobs, handles, finger-pulls, cabinet hardware

hardwareknobs and handles

Along with your kitchen cabinet refacing,  door and drawer hardware shouldn’t be scary.  However, given the glazed-over look from some customers after uttering those words, you would think I said, “Lions, Tigers or Bears?”  Of course, if you have never seen “The Wizard of Oz”, you’re now totally confused as to my point about what some people perceive as the difficulty in making this decision.  Yes, there are probably hundreds of styles of hardware you can choose from and if budget allows, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars just on hardware when remodeling your kitchen.  However, here at Pacific Kitchens, we like to give our customers options that will keep your eyes, as well as your finances, in focus.

Pacific Kitchens cabinet refacing is usually about half the cost of doing a complete tearout, so it stands to reason that we also offer modern, budget-friendly hardware choices as well as hardware-free alternatives for your cabinet doors.  For our customers who prefer the doors without handles or knobs, there are a variety of door styles to choose from featuring ‘finger pulls. We can also add ‘finger pulls’ to most other solid hardwood choices, such as maple, cherry or oak.  For customers who prefer your doors and drawers with hardware, you may choose from modern popular standards displayed in our Pacific Kitchens showroom in polished chrome, satin-brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and black — at no extra cost above or beyond your refacing cost!  Since these designs are kept updated, this option remains the most popular with our customers.  Of course, additional hardware design resources are available upon request, and we are able to purchase additional design styles through our suppliers.  Our discounted price is then passed on to our customers.  Call us for a free, no obligation in-home estimate.  We are in the business of making your kitchen remodeling dreams come true!

When Remodeling, Pacific Kitchens encourages you to consider donating your newer or gently used items such as sinks, appliances, doors and doorknobs to Habitat for Humanity. Call them about pickup or delivery of items being donated, and for directions to “Restore”, their home improvement stores in the County. Click this link for more information:  https://www.sandiegohabitat.org/ReStore/About-the-ReStore.