Anyone painted kitchen cabinets?

[sunkist]

I'm thinking about painting my kitchen cabinets from oak to white. Has anyone done this before? Did it still look good after several months, a year? And if so how did you do it.
Thanks!!!

 

[freckles and boo]

We have white cabinets. We didn't paint them. They were in the house when we bought it, but I would never voluntarily have white cabinets again. Ours look dingy unless I stay on top of them, especially by the handles. They show every smudge.

 

[Angelhalo]

We have white cabinets. We didn't paint them. They were in the house when we bought it, but I would never voluntarily have white cabinets again. Ours look dingy unless I stay on top of them, especially by the handles. They show every smudge.

Ditto. We have white painted cabinets and I despise them. They show EVERYTHING. I feel like I am constantly wiping them down with clorox wipes and we don't even have kids. I can only imagine what they'd look like if they did. I swear I will NEVER again have white cabinets.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

Just subscribing here. We had our (hideous 70s wood-grain formica) bathroom cabinet painted white and it looks great, but it doesn't get degree of use of kitchen cabinets.

I would think it would help to poly over the white paint, and I would want it professionally done. Can't wait to hear if anybody has had this done.

 

[Nette]

My mom painted her cabinets (solid oak - 70's style) about 8 years ago. They look great still. I think the secret is that she didn't use white. She used an eggshell and a cream color. She also made sure to use a scrubbable enamel.

 

[sunkist]

thanks for everyone's replies. The off white is a good idea. , I cannot afford to but new cabinets, so I hope painting them will be a good idea.

 

[crz4mm2]

Yes. I painted cabinets in my old house. They were a very DARK wood (or fake wood LOL) of some sort. You have to strip or sand like crazy and then prime first, and then paint. I had a heck of a time with mine. I would seal them afterwards to prevent chipping.

Good luck. I'd like off white too.

 

[Piecey]

We'll be painting the cabinets in the house we just bought... my MIL has amazing patience for stripping, sanding, priming and painting so they'll be her project.

Ours will be "Cavern Moss" green while our kitchen will be "Gold Rush Yellow"

 

[rcraw45425]

OUr kitchen cabinets were pickled, the ugly yellowish kind. Several years back we painted them a cream color with high gloss enamel, they still look fine after about 5 years or more. We also had the type of doors with just a small strip of molding around the edge and a finger groove for you to pull them and the drawers open. We also added hardware (that cost a fortune, my kitchen is pretty large and has a ton of cabinets and counter top area). This, along with adding decorative molding and trim, changing the formica to granite, and changin color and lighting, completely changed the dynamic of the room.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I love the look of off white/cream colored cabinets with stainless or black appliances, but not with white. It just makes the cabinets look "off", IMHO.

 

[rie'smom]

I painted mine a cream color and when I grew tired of that, I painted the exterior of the cabinets a soft apple green and the interior a darker shade of the same color. I love the green. I'm thinking about painting the island a candy apple color.

 

[arminnie]

I had my cheap dark wood cabinets painted white in the early 90s when white kitchens were the rage.

I had it professionally done. I remember that I paid more to have it spray painted (as opposed to brushed). I thought it held up very well. I did originally have knobs so did have to retouch a little. It was much better after I put knobs on.

 

[Charade]

We've been thinking about painting ours. I've had the same med oak color cabinets for a looooooooong time. I'm really tired of them. There is a special paint made for cabinets that I see advertised in my "Family Handyman" magazine.

The cabinets we have have a visible grain that I would love to get rid of. I think that paint I mentioned does that. I'll try to dig up a link for it and post it.

You must degrease them first or nothing will stick to them. Sanding might also be necessary if they are glossy.

 

[golfgal]

Yes. I painted cabinets in my old house. They were a very DARK wood (or fake wood LOL) of some sort. You have to strip or sand like crazy and then prime first, and then paint. I had a heck of a time with mine. I would seal them afterwards to prevent chipping.

Good luck. I'd like off white too.

No you don't have to do all that prep work--get a can of Liquid Sand. You paint it on, clear liquid, that makes the surface tacky and paint sticks to it. Use a good OIL based enamel paint and you will be fine. We painted cabinets in 2 houses doing this (oh and some really ugly paneling) and they looked GREAT. One kitchen was white--like others said a PAIN to keep clean--the other was a Wedgewood Green. I LOVED how those turned out. We lived in that house for over 2 years and they still looked great when we moved out.

 

[RonnieJo66]

Does anyone have before and after pictures of their work?

Thanks

 

[nskjerven]

We have dark oak cabinets that are from a 1976 remodel, in great condition and quality, just TOO Dark. My DH tried to paint them and did an awful job. The prep work is a must in my opinion. We had them professionally done about a year ago, along with crown moulding and granite counter tops, changed the whole look of the kitchen. They are now an off white as many have suggested and sprayed rather than brushed.

I'll see if I can dig up some pics of the before, middle and now to compare...

 

[sunkist]

I was thinking about renting a sprayer or just buying one depends on how much they cost.

 

[rszdtrvl]

ME!!

Before :

After :

Our cupboards were the original when we bought the house. My father almost had a heart attack because we painted over the "beautiful wood".

We had to strip all of the varnish off, and clean up all the grease.

At Ace Hardware they have specific paint for wood cabinets. It is very very strong and durable. We have not had it chip yet, and we painted about 3 years ago. We painted it "almond".

I got our cabinet pulls at Home Depot. I love the way they look. Very classy.

The entire transformation took a little over a week to do on my own. DH said that it was MY thing.

It was tough but so worth it! I love the way we modernized it.

We did :

Cabinet paint, new door/drawer pulls, and new hinges.

I think it cost around $150 for everything, including cleaning materials, brushes, sandpaper, paint, pulls, hinges, etc.

I would do it again in a heartbeat!!

 

[SunshineOR]

I did it about three years ago. I was so sick of the seventies dark wood. It was a LOT of work, sanding, priming and painting. I had to do two coats or primer and two of paint and still felt like it could have used another coat, but I was TIRED! If I could afford it, I'd definitely get it done professionally, but for a cheap and sloppy paint job, it did totally transform my kitchen and I don't regret it!

The lighter color and paint do show fingerprints more and need more frequent wiping and cleaning. Still, I prefer it to the hideous dark wood. I'm sick of the yellow and planning to repaint this winter to an off-white or cream. I'm hoping that the re-paint will be much easier.

 

[Charade]

Here's the link to the cabinet paint that's in my Family Handyman magazine

www.insl-x.com