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A Colorado Home’s Stunning Entertainment Center with Custom Cabinet Doors
When it comes to home upgrades, a little creativity can go a long way. Just ask Charles from Centennial, Colorado, who transformed his entertainment space with a personal touch. He took on the task of upgrading his entertainment center using CabinetNow's custom cabinet doors, and the result is nothing short of stunning. His DIY project not only elevated the aesthetic of his home but also gave him the satisfaction of crafting something truly unique. Here’s how he achieved this beautiful transformation.
The Vision: A Cozy, Modern Entertainment Center
Charles was looking for an affordable way to revamp his entertainment center without sacrificing style. After exploring different options, he turned to CabinetNow’s custom cabinet doors. Specifically, he ordered our unfinished Shaker cabinet doors with MDF panels and a paintable hardwood frame, which provided him with the flexibility to add his personal touch. The unfinished doors are a popular choice for DIY enthusiasts like Charles because they can be painted to match any color scheme, allowing for full customization.
Pro Tip: If you're opting for unfinished doors like Charles's, make sure to choose a paintable finish for the best results. This will help the paint adhere evenly and create a smooth, professional look.
For his project, Charles chose to paint the Shaker cabinet doors in a serene aqua blue—a color that adds warmth and a relaxed vibe to his space. The shade created a cozy yet modern feel, perfect for a family room where comfort and style go hand in hand. He painted both the back wall and base cabinets the same serene blue, achieving a seamless, harmonious look throughout the room.
Image Creds: Etsy.com (shown in Smoky Blue)
Pro Tip: If you'd prefer to skip the painting step, CabinetNow offers pre-painted Shaker cabinet doors in colors like Sherwin Williams Poolhouse 7603 or Smoky Blue 7604, which offer a similar serene blue hue for a ready-to-install, low-maintenance option.
The Process: DIY and Full Overlay Perfection
Charles wanted his new entertainment center to reflect both his personality and the clean, minimalist lines he admired in modern design. By choosing full overlay cabinet doors, he created a smooth, contemporary look with no visible frame around the doors. This full overlay style ensures that the doors cover the entire face frame of the cabinet, creating a sleek, unified appearance.
Pro Tip: Full overlay cabinet doors are perfect for minimalist and modern designs. They eliminate any gaps, giving your cabinets a more polished, seamless look.
Here’s how Charles went about measuring and installing his custom cabinet doors:
- Full Overlay Cabinet Measurement: Full overlay cabinet doors are designed to cover the entire face frame, offering a clean, modern look without gaps between the door and cabinet frame. These doors are especially popular for minimalist designs, where a sleek and seamless aesthetic is key.
Example:
Cabinet dimensions: 20"W x 36"H
Width: 20 – 0.25 = 19.75"
Height: 36 – 4 (toe kick) – 0.25 = 31.75"
Final Door Dimensions: 19.75"W x 31.75"HPro Tip: For smaller cabinets under 24" wide, always subtract 0.25" from the width and height to ensure a perfect fit for your custom cabinet doors.
- Split Door Formula:
(Width of cabinet – 0.25) ÷ 2 – 0.0625 = width of both doors
Height of cabinet – 0.25 = height of doorsExample:
Cabinet dimensions: 36"W x 46"H
Width: (36 – 0.25) ÷ 2 – 0.0625 = 17.8125"
Height: 46 – 4 (toe kick) – 0.25 = 41.75"
Final Door Dimensions: 17.8125"W x 41.75"HPro Tip: For cabinets with larger openings, it's essential to use the split door formula to ensure that each door fits properly within the frame. This will also give your cabinets a more balanced, symmetrical appearance.
This careful attention to detail gave Charles’s project a perfect full overlay look, making his custom cabinet doors appear seamless.
Customizing the Details: The Shaker Cabinet Door Edge
When selecting his Shaker cabinet doors, Charles chose the OE2 Outside Edge option, which is a 1/8" x 1/8" bullnose edge. This simple yet elegant edge detail adds a subtle curvature to the doors, providing a polished, finished look. The bullnose edge is a popular choice for modern cabinetry because it softens the lines without being overly ornate, making it ideal for minimalist designs like Charles' entertainment center.
Pro Tip: Adding a bullnose edge, like the OE2, to your custom cabinet doors can make a significant difference in the overall look of your project. This edge is particularly effective in creating a soft, smooth transition between surfaces, perfect for a contemporary style.
Painting the Custom Cabinet Doors: A Step-by-Step Guide
For Charles, painting the custom cabinet doors was the fun part, but it did require careful preparation. Here are some pro tips for painting your own Shaker cabinet doors:
- Sanding: Before applying any paint, lightly sand the unfinished MDF panels and hardwood frames with fine-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface for the paint. This step is crucial for achieving a flawless finish.
Pro Tip: Use a sanding block or orbital sander for even pressure and to prevent uneven sanding, which can cause visible marks on the finished surface.
2. Priming: After sanding, apply a quality primer to seal the wood and create an even base for the paint. Use a brush or roller designed for cabinetry to ensure a smooth application.
Pro Tip: Make sure the primer you choose is compatible with the type of paint you're using. A good primer will provide better adhesion and a smoother finish.
3. Choosing the Right Paint: Charles chose an acrylic latex paint, ideal for MDF and wood surfaces. It’s durable, provides excellent coverage, and is available in a wide range of colors. A soft, satin finish was perfect for his serene aqua-blue look.
Pro Tip: Satin finishes are perfect for cabinetry because they offer a smooth, elegant look that’s also easy to clean. For more durability, consider a semi-gloss finish.
4. Multiple Coats: Apply at least two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying the next. This will give the cabinet doors a rich, even color.
Pro Tip: Allow your paint to cure fully between coats (24 hours or more) to prevent smudging or uneven texture.
5. Sealing: To protect the paint and ensure durability, Charles applied a clear polyurethane sealant. This step helps preserve the finish and protects the doors from everyday wear and tear.
Pro Tip: When choosing a sealant, opt for one that is water-based for easier cleanup and to avoid yellowing over time.
Installing the Custom Cabinet Doors: A Seamless Finish
Once the doors were painted and dried, it was time to install them. Charles carefully built his base cabinets, aligning them to the wall for a flush, seamless look. He then attached the Shaker cabinet doors to the cabinet frames, securing them for a full overlay fit. The result? A sophisticated entertainment center with modern, sleek cabinet doors that blend beautifully with the rest of the space.
Pro Tip: For a professional look, ensure your cabinet doors are aligned perfectly with a cabinet door jig, which helps to drill holes accurately for hinges. View our full guide for installing Shaker cabinet doors.
The Final Look: A Serene, Cozy Entertainment Center
The completed project was everything Charles had envisioned. The custom cabinet doors in serene aqua blue transformed his entertainment center into a cozy focal point of the room. By taking the time to choose high-quality materials, measure carefully, and execute the installation himself, Charles created a stunning piece that elevated the entire space.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your entertainment center or embark on another DIY project, custom cabinet doors offer a versatile and stylish solution. With the ability to personalize colors, edges, and sizes, the possibilities are endless. Just like Charles, you can create a modern, seamless look that’s uniquely yours.
Pro Tip: When planning your next cabinet door project, take the time to measure and calculate your needs carefully. Whether you’re using the full overlay formula or considering edge options, every detail counts when it comes to achieving that perfect, polished finish. If you are ready to create your dream space with custom cabinetry fill out our free quote and design consultation form!
2. Measuring for Split Door Full Overlay: For cabinets with openings greater than 24", like those used in Charles’ entertainment center, the split door formula is applied:
