Old finishes that may contain lead
Sanding an old painted finish in a pre-1978 home can release lead dust. We set up containment, use HEPA vacuums and clean up by the lead-safe rules.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Highland Park, IL
Keep your solid wood cabinets in Highland Park and give them a new stain and a hard clear finish, with the grain still showing.
- Serving Highland Park ZIP 60035
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Wood cabinet problems we refinish in Highland Park
We refinish and re-stain wood kitchen cabinets in Highland Park: the old finish comes off, the wood gets a new stain color and a hard clear topcoat, and the grain stays in view. It is the right job when the cabinets are real wood and you want them to keep looking like wood.
Thin veneer on panels and end sides
Many pre-1940 cabinets have solid wood doors but veneered end panels and center panels. Veneer is thin, so we strip it chemically and sand by hand instead of machine sanding.
New cabinets don't match the old ones
An added island or pantry in a slightly different wood tone stands out. We re-stain both so they read as one set.
Finish worn to bare wood near the handles
Pale or grayish patches beside the knobs mean the protective layer is gone. Spot fixes rarely blend, so we refinish the full door and frame so the color reads even.
Patchy or blotchy stain from an earlier job
Maple, cherry and birch absorb stain unevenly and can blotch. If a past refinish left dark patches, we strip it and use a conditioner or gel stain for an even color.
Cloudy, milky or white-spotted finish
Hazy, whitish areas near steam sources mean the clear coat has taken on moisture. We strip or sand that layer and lay down a fresh one.
Cabinets too dark for the room
Lightening stained cabinets is harder than darkening them. We strip a sample door, show you the lightest tone the wood will take, and you decide before we do the rest.
Dark water stains near the sink
Black marks on oak below the sink often come from water reacting with the tannin in the wood. Wood bleach can lighten them before re-staining; we fix the leak first.
What the work covers
- Protection and setupFloors, counters and appliances are covered and the work area is sealed off with plastic before any stripping starts.
- Door and drawer removalEvery door and front is labeled to its opening and taken off-site for the heavy work.
- Deep cleaningGrease and wax are cleaned off first, since both block stain and clear coat.
- Sanding and repairsDoors and frames are sanded through finer grits, and dents, chips and loose joints are repaired.
- Stain or tonerStain, gel stain or a tinted toner is applied to reach the color on the sample.
- Sealer and clear topcoatDoors get a sealer and multiple sprayed clear coats, sanded lightly between coats.
- Reinstall and hardwareWe reinstall every door and drawer front, align the gaps and fit new hardware.
Options to choose from
Sheen: matte, satin or semi-glossMatte and satin look modern and hide fingerprints; semi-gloss is easier to wipe but shows more.
Oil-based and water-based wood stainsPenetrating stains color the wood itself and suit oak and other open-grain species.
Toners and glazesA toner adjusts color in thin, even layers; a glaze adds depth in corners and profiles.
Waterborne polyurethane topcoatA clear finish that stays clear instead of yellowing, with low odor while we work.
Wood bleach for spot correctionBleaching treats dark water stains and uneven color so the new stain reads even.
Before and after: kitchens near Highland Park
Before
After
DetailHighland Park kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: cabinet refinishing & staining
A postwar Cape Cod near St. John's, a typical kitchen for Highland Park. What we started with: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. The main complaint was a dull finish worn through near the handles. After: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing. On site this meant sanding and repairs, stain or toner, plus sealer and clear topcoat.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1950s ranch in Northbrook
The site: a 1950s ranch near Techny. The kitchen as it was: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. What bothered the owners most: bare wood showing where hands touched the doors. The result: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing. The job covered sanding and repairs, stain or toner, plus sealer and clear topcoat.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Northbrook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Buffalo Grove
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Didier Farms. Before: solid wood cabinets with a dull, uneven stain worn white near the handles. The reason for the call: a dull finish worn through near the handles. After: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing. The job covered door and drawer removal, deep cleaning, plus sealer and clear topcoat.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterA Highland Park postwar Cape Cod: before and after
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Highland Park →
Before
AfterCabinet Refacing in a 1960s ranch, Highland Park
Finished: new five-piece shaker doors in creamy white uppers and navy lowers on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Highland Park →How the job goes
- Visit and wood checkAt the visit we identify the species and the old finish, and note veneer and damage.
- Color sampleOne door is stripped and stained in your chosen color so you can approve it at home.
- Strip and sandDoors go to the shop for stripping and sanding; frames are prepped in place under dust control.
- Stain and clear coatColor first, then several clear layers for a hard, smooth finish.
- Reinstall and walk-throughWe rehang, align, touch up and check every door and drawer with you.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining questions from Highland Park homeowners
Can you re-stain pre-1940 oak cabinets?
Oak cabinets from those years are some of the best candidates for re-staining. Darker or neutral tones work best.
How long does a refinished finish last?
A well-applied clear finish lasts many years. Most wear shows first at handles and the sink base, which can be recoated later.
Can I stay in the house during refinishing?
Most families stay home. Doors are finished off-site, and the on-site work on frames is contained and ventilated.
Is it worth refinishing kitchen cabinets?
If the boxes are solid wood or good plywood and you like the layout, usually yes. You keep the cabinets, counters and plumbing and change only the finish.
Do you refinish vanities and built-ins too?
Yes. Bathroom vanities, a wet bar or a built-in hutch can be refinished in the same stain during the kitchen job.
Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer RepairHinges, drawer slides and water-damaged sink bases fixed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.