3 Super Easy Ways To Modernize Ash Cabinets

Trends come and go in the cabinet industry. And ash cabinets haven't been in the spotlight for quite some time. Its light wash and grain were a big hit in the 1970's, but now? Not so much.

It's kind of a hardwood to sell (...get it?).

Even though it's an affordable wood option, the use of ash in cabinets has sunk drastically due to the rise in popularity with painted cabinetry, darker woods, and subtle, clean lines. But ash can actually look really modern, and dare we say, trendy in today's kitchen. That's why we came up with 3 super easy ways you can incorporate ash cabinets in your next project (and save a couple bucks while doing it).

1. Stain it

Ash is naturally a light colored wood and in this day and age, lighter woods in cabinetry can sometimes look a bit dated. A great way to revitalize ash and give it a new updated look is to use a stain. In the picture below, we wanted to compare natural ash with a stained ash. And man oh man, what a difference. The stained ash on the right was stained with M.L. Campbell's Espresso, one of our most popular stains.

On top of that, KBIS announced that 2020's three most common finishes are:

1. White paint (no surprise there)
2. Natural or stained wood
3. Grey paint

So we thought: what happens when you combine two of the most popular finishes and stain Ash grey? Magic happens, that's what.

Kind of beautiful, right? We thought so too. This look is versatile and would work best in modern, transitional, traditional, rustic, and coastal interiors.

2. Paint that ash

A huge misconception about ash is it doesn't look good painted because of it's heavy grain. But for rustic styles, having the grain show through is a great feature that gives the cabinets a lot of character. Plus, if there are parts you don't want the grain to show, you can use a wood or grain filler to achieve that smooth painted look.

Here are some painted ash cabinets we came across on Instagram that transformed these kitchens in to modern spaces:

source: @irish_cabinetmaker

source: designbymagic

3. Add modern elements into the kitchen

Can ash be outdated? Yes. But when it’s combined with modern elements like quartz countertops, two toned cabinets, or marble accents, it shines and stands out in a beautiful way.

source: @samistephens

So what do you say? Give Ash a chance for your next project. We're all about it and we think you will be too.

If you want to give it a try, you're in luck.

Ash is currently 25% off all products.

Promo Code: 25%OFFASH

While supplies last.