When it comes to adding a finish to your cabinets doors, there is some terminology that can be confusing. The words “glaze” and “accent” are can be thrown around and interchanged quite a bit, but what are the differences of glaze versus an accent finish? Aren’t they the same? Although glaze and accent finishes are somewhat similar, they have two different processes.
Glaze finishes are semi-transparent colors applied thinly over stained, lacquered, or painted cabinet doors and then wiped off to leave excess color in the corners, molding, and any other decorative indents in the cabinet door. This adds more depth and texture to the wood while tinting the stain or lacquer a lighter or darker shade.
Cabinet doors with a glazed finish work well in rustic, antiqued, traditional, and country-style kitchens as it creates highlights and depth for an old worn feel. The glazing also works well with several different kitchen appliance finishes.
At Cabinet Cures, our process and 100% water-based custom glazes are what sets us apart. The glazes are applied wet over a lacquer or stain door, left to dry, and wiped off by hand as a powder, creating uniquely textured cabinet door designs for your kitchen. Each door is inspected individually to guarantee a custom and consistent look. A crystal clear top coat is applied to protect your doors for many years.
While the glazed finishes coat the entire kitchen cabinet door with a lighter or darker tone, accent finishes do not. Accent finishes are only applied to the corners, profiles, engraved designs, grooves, and bevels with a pen or brush and then wiped off. This allows the original color of the stained or lacquered door to remain the same, but still have the detail and highlighted textures and dimensions.
This detailing works well in vintage and rustic style kitchens as the accent finish pulls out the intricate characteristics of the cabinet doors. It can enhance the look of stone countertops and pair nicely with some appliances. It’s a great detail to add to your kitchen to help tie the style all together without losing the true color of your cabinet doors.
Cabinet Cures does not do accent finishes.
If you have any questions about the wood species we carry or what would look best in your kitchen, contact one of our kitchen designers to go over our options with you. We are happy to help you during the planning phase of kitchen refacing with us.