The Costly Kitchen Reno Mistake I'll Never Make Again

"We gutted the original kitchen and laundry room, expanded the space, upgraded our appliances, and splurged on matching stone countertops and backsplash. But when the time came to select a color scheme, we just couldn't get the idea of black cabinetry out of our heads. We fell hard for the deep, dramatic hue and envisioned a sleek, modern kitchen with black cabinets, marble countertops, and brass fixtures. The vision was chic, elegant, and magazine-worthy."

"There's no doubt black kitchen cabinets look stunning in the right light. Even now, an evening with low lighting and lit candles brings out an edgy appeal that white or wood-tone cabinets don't quite serve. Black cabinetry can make a kitchen feel modern and sophisticated, and for a while, it did exactly that. I'll admit the design came together beautifully, and we're light-years better from where we started."

"But now that we're living with them day in and day out, it's clear we overlooked some important practicalities. The first thing we noticed - and one of the main reasons I regret going with black - was just how delicate the finish is. After only a few months, we started seeing nicks and scratches along the cabinet edges, especially on high-touch area"

Renovation included gutting and expanding the kitchen and laundry, upgrading appliances, and installing matching stone countertops and backsplash. The chosen color scheme centered on deep black cabinetry paired with marble countertops and brass fixtures to create a sleek, modern look. The aesthetic proved elegant and dramatic, especially in low lighting. Over several years, black cabinets revealed practical problems: a delicate finish that shows nicks, scratches, and wear on high-touch edges, leading to costly maintenance and regret. Compliments prompted a blunt recommendation against choosing black cabinetry despite its initial visual appeal.

Read at Apartment Therapy