For dark cabinets, the three Sherwin-Williams colors I’d compare are Iron Ore (SW 7069), a soft charcoal that reads almost black; Tricorn Black (SW 6258), a true black; and Urbane Bronze (SW 7048), a dark gray-brown that feels warm instead of stark. In most Florida kitchens, I’d put any of them on the island or the lower cabinets and keep the uppers light. Here’s how they differ and what a dark refinish costs with us.
The three at a glance
| Color | What it looks like | Pairs well with | Best spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Ore SW 7069 | Soft charcoal, almost black, a little warm | White or light quartz, brushed nickel or brass | Island, lowers, or a whole kitchen with lots of light |
| Tricorn Black SW 6258 | True, neutral black | Bright white uppers, brass or chrome | Island or lowers in a bright room |
| Urbane Bronze SW 7048 | Dark gray with brown undertones | Wood tones, warm stone, gold or copper | Island, lowers, or a bar |
Iron Ore: the easiest dark color to live with
Iron Ore looks black from across the room but softer up close, which makes it more forgiving than a true black. It works with white or marble-look quartz and with both cool and warm hardware. Walls in a soft white like Alabaster or a muted green like a sage keep it from feeling heavy.
Tricorn Black: the boldest choice
Tricorn Black is about as black as paint gets. It’s striking on an island against white perimeter cabinets, especially with brass hardware. On every cabinet in a small kitchen, it can swallow the room. It also shows dust and fingerprints more than anything else on this list. Pair it with a clean white like Snowbound on the walls or uppers.
Cabinet refinishing at Bayshore starts at $5,000. Most kitchens run $8,000–$10,000 and large kitchens $11,000–$15,000, with 5 to 7 working days on site. A second color for a two-tone look is a $500 add-on, and the sprayed finish carries a 2-year warranty against blistering and peeling.
Typical ranges from our recent projects. Your written estimate, built after we see your space, is what your project is priced on.
Urbane Bronze: dark but warm
Urbane Bronze has brown in it, so it feels warmer and more natural than black or charcoal. It looks great with wood floors, warm stone and gold or brass hardware. If the rest of your kitchen leans warm, this is the dark color that won’t fight it. Creamy whites and soft beiges on the walls suit it.
Should dark cabinets go everywhere?
Usually not in Florida. Our light is bright, but most kitchens only get it from one or two windows, and a full kitchen of near-black cabinets can feel smaller than it is. The look I usually recommend is dark on the island or the lowers and light on the uppers. It’s also easier to change later: repainting an island is a much smaller job than the whole kitchen. With us, a second color adds about $500 to a refinish.
What to know about dark finishes
- They show dust and fingerprints. A matte or satin sheen hides more than a glossy one.
- Chips show more. Any finish can chip if a pot hits a door edge. On a dark color, the light wood or primer underneath is more visible. We leave a touch-up bottle in your color; use multiple light coats, sanding lightly with up to 320-grit between them as it builds.
- Test it big. Dark colors change more with light than light colors do. Look at a large sample in the morning and at night.
You can compare cabinet colors next to countertops and tile in our Design Portal. If you’d rather go lighter, here are three grays compared: Repose, Dorian and Gauntlet.
How we refinish cabinets
Doors and drawer fronts go to our shop to be sprayed, and the frames get the same steps on site: a chemical sand, a physical sand, two coats of shellac-based primer, then two coats of a 1-part pre-catalyzed finish, sanded between coats. Spraying is what gives a dark color a smooth, even look. Brushed dark paint shows every stroke. Here’s the full process.
What does a dark cabinet refinish cost?
With us, cabinet refinishing starts at $5,000. Most medium kitchens land between $8,000 and $10,000, and most large kitchens between $11,000 and $15,000. Two-tone adds about $500. Most jobs take 5 to 7 working days, and sprayed finishes carry a 2-year warranty against blistering and peeling.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iron Ore or Tricorn Black better for cabinets?
Iron Ore for most kitchens. It reads almost black but is softer and more forgiving. Tricorn Black is the bolder choice for an island in a bright room.
Is Urbane Bronze gray or brown?
Both. It’s a dark gray with brown undertones, so it feels warm next to wood and gold hardware.
Do black cabinets make a kitchen look smaller?
On every cabinet in a small kitchen, they can. On the island or lowers with light uppers, they add depth without closing the room in.
Where do you refinish cabinets?
Across Pinellas County, including Largo, Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Belleair and Seminole.
Thinking about dark cabinets? Book a free consultation. I’ll look at your light and your counters with you and tell you honestly whether dark will work in your kitchen. Bayshore Remodels is licensed (CRC1335471) and insured, with 500+ projects across Pinellas and Tampa Bay since 2021.
