Lacquered cabinet door

A lacquered cabinet door (lake kapak in Turkish) is a door made from a smooth board such as MDF, coated with primer, paint and lacquer, and sanded between each coat. The finished door looks like a single seamless block of color, edges included. You see them often in kitchens, bathrooms and built-in wardrobes.

What lacquer offers

Its biggest strength is freedom of color and form. Lacquer can be made in nearly any color and finished matte, satin or high gloss. Because the paint wraps around the edges, there is no visible edge-banding line. Routed shaker-style frames, recessed grip channels for handleless designs and curved fronts are all easy to produce.

On the other hand, lacquer is sensitive to knocks. A hard hit can chip the paint at the corners, and on high gloss, scratches and fingerprints show more quickly. Repairs are possible but usually done in a workshop. Doors close to heat sources need some protection.

Choosing a finish

Matte lacquer hides fingerprints better and looks calm; high gloss reflects light and makes small kitchens feel brighter. Whether the back of the door is lacquered or melamine, which paint system is used and how many coats go on all affect price and quality.

In renders, reflection defines lacquer. High gloss needs crisp reflections, matte needs soft, scattered ones, and the color has to be judged together with the scene lighting. For advice on choosing kitchen colors, see choosing kitchen cabinet colors.