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Young House Love » Our Second House » How To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

| By Sherry Petersik | January 4, 2021 | 989 Comments

How To Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets

Painting your cabinets is a perfect way to makeover a dated kitchen without splurging on a big renovation. It doesn’t cost much and, with the proper preparation, your paint job will look great and last a long time. We’ve used the tutorial outlined below to paint cabinets in 4 separate kitchens (not to mention cabinets in other rooms too) so we’re confident it’s a DIY project that will work for you. Follow along below!

Before and After Of Wood Kitchen Cabinets Painted White

The kitchen featured in this tutorial is from our second house which had solid oak cabinets throughout (along with wood paneling!). So while steps focus specifically on painting wood cabinets, the process is similar for any cabinet material. You can also refer to our tutorials about painting already-painted cabinets and painting Ikea cabinets.

Steps To Painting Cabinets

Here is a brief overview of how to paint your kitchen cabinets. The process takes time, patience, and a little bit of elbow grease – but nothing is especially complicated or tiring. At worst, it’s just a bit repetitive – especially if you a big kitchen.

  1. Remove cabinet doors and hardware
  2. Patch cracks and holes (optional)
  3. Lightly sand all surfaces
  4. Apply a liquid deglosser
  5. Prime one coat
  6. Paint two coats
  7. Rehang cabinet doors
  8. Reinstall cabinet hardware

This project can be completed by one person but may go faster with help. Proper surface preparation is the key to success here, so don’t rush steps 2-5.

John Painting Ikea Cabinet Doors With Small Foam Roller

The overall time lime depends on the size of your kitchen, but even painting a small kitchen will span several days due to drying and curing time between coats. You also want to make sure you have ample space to spread out your cabinet doors, like in a garage or spare room.

How To Paint Cabinets Video Overview

You can see these steps in motion by watching the detailed video below. To view an abbreviated version of this process, you can see a quick version of painting cabinets on YouTube.

Note: You can also watch the video above on YouTube.

Supplies Needed To Paint Cabinets

Paint Primer Roller Tray Paint Roller And Other Cabinet Painting Supplies

The materials you’ll need to paint your kitchen cabinets aren’t much different from other painting projects. So you may have many of these supplies already on hand.

  • Primer
  • Paint (we recommend satin or semi-gloss finish)
  • Small 4? or 6? foam rollers 
  • Roller trays
  • Short, angled paint brush
  • Drop cloths
  • Painter’s tape
  • Painter stands or tripods
  • Electric sander & sandpaper
  • Electric drill & driver
  • Liquid deglosser
  • Wood filler (optional)
  • Putty knife (optional)

You could use a paint sprayer for this project, but we don’t feel it’s necessary. If you already own a paint sprayer and are comfortable using it, go for it. It can save time. But we’ve never regretted painting by hand instead.

What paint should I use to paint my cabinets?

Water-based, latex paints formulated for cabinets or trim are best for painting kitchen cabinets. Oil-based paints used to be recommended, but are not necessary or practical for a DIYer. They are smelly, difficult to clean up, and can yellow over time. Also, water-based paints have come a long way and offer a similarly smooth and durable finish. Our favorite cabinet paints are Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel and Benjamin Moore Advance. If you prefer a different brand, consult the paint desk expert for the best formula for your job. Buy the highest quality paint your budget allows.

Step 1: Remove cabinet doors & hardware

Carefully unscrew all cabinet doors from the frames using an electric driver. Remove existing hinges, knobs, pulls, or other hardware. If you are reusing this hardware, be sure to collect it in a bag or box for later. You may also want to label each door with painter’s tape (I.e. “lower left stove cabinet”) to help avoid confusion during reassambly.

Cabinet Doors Spread Out On Kitchen Floor For Painting

You will also need to slide out any drawers from the frames. If possible, unscrew the drawer front from the box. You may also need to empty some drawers and cabinets. We don’t typically paint the inside of the cabinets, so most things can stay in place while you work. But take care to cover or temporarily move items while you sand, to keep them from getting dusty.

Step 2: Patch cracks and holes (optional)

You can skip this step if your cabinets are in good condition and you’re reusing the existing hardware placement. For our cabinets, however, we planned to swap the existing single-hole knobs for two-hole pulls. The existing hole was in the wrong place, so we used wood filler to patch all of the existing hardware holes before proceeding. We were also changes the hinges, so we patches the holes for those too on both the doors and frames.

Cabinet Hardware Hole Filled In With Wood Filler

To apply the wood filler, use a putty knife to push it into the hole and smooth it. Once dried, sand off the excess. You may need to do a second coat, since it may shrink slightly as it dries.

Step 3: Lightly sand all surfaces

Prepping your wood cabinets for paint is the MOST IMPORTANT step if you want a long-lasting, durable result. Skipping the next few steps puts your paint job at risk of scratching or rubbing off, especially in high-traffic areas. So while this part is probably the most labor-intensive, please don’t shortchange it! We also have more detail in a dedicated post about prepping cabinets for paint. Here is an overview:

Use an electric sander and medium-grit sandpaper (like 120) to lightly sand every surface you will be painting. This means doors, drawer fronts, faces of cabinets, sides of cabinets, etc. You do NOT need to remove all of the existing finish. The goal is NOT to get it back to raw wood (although that it is okay). The goal is simply to rough up the surface enough to help primer and paint bond to it. You may need to hand sand small corners and nooks.

John Sanding Wood Kitchen Cabinet

This process will be dusty, so try to do it outside or in a well-ventilated space (we did most of ours in our sunroom, above). When it comes time to sand the frames in place, cover items in your kitchen as needed to keep sanding dust from getting everywhere. After you’re done sanding, wipe your cabinets clean using a tack cloth.

Step 4: Apply a Liquid Deglosser

Liquid deglosser (sometimes called “liquid sandpaper”) helps etch the surface of your cabinets & frames, helping ensure a strong bond with the paint. Krud Kutter Gloss Off is our preferred deglosser. The one pictured below is difficult to find.

Some people use a liquid deglosser in place of sanding, but for wood cabinets we recommend doing both to be safe. It also helps remove any built-up grease or oil residue you may have missed while sanding, especially in nooks and crannies. You may also have heard of using a chemical called TSP (trisodium phosphate) instead. However, TSP is more of a cleaner than a deglosser, so we don’t recommend it.

Liquid Deglosser On Wood Cabinets Before Painting

You can apply it with a rag or paper towel or put it in a spray bottle. It doesn’t need to be rinsed or wiped off. Just give it a few minutes to soak in. We sometimes do two applications to be safe.

Step 5: Prime One Coat

The last prep step before painting is priming! Primer is a critical element to good coverage and a long-lasting finish. Do not skip it! We like a Zinsser all-surface primer. It can be used off-the-shelf if you are painting your cabinets white or another light color. For darker or more saturated paints, consider having your primer tinted to match.

Cabinet Door Fronts Coated With Primer

As you can see above, you’re not going for perfect coverage. Primer will be splotchy as it dries. This is okay. The main goal is to get a thin, smooth, and even coat. To do this, we recommend (1) using an angled paintbrush to get into edges or corners, then (2) using a small foam roller to remove brush strokes and coat the large, flat surfaces. Go slow and watch for drips along edges!

Cabinet Doors Get Painted In Sunroom On Paint Risers

We suggest propping your doors off the ground with painter stands to make priming and painting easier. And if you’re painting both sides of your doors (which we think you should!) we’ve developed a specific order that helps minimize marks or dings on your freshly painted doors. It requires a bit of patience as you wait for one side to fully dry before flipping it over to do the other.

Cabinet Boxes In Kitchen Primed With Primer

Don’t forget to do your cabinet frames and boxes too! You may want to use painter’s tape and drop cloths to protect walls, floors, appliances, and countertops.

Step 5: Paint Two Coats

Once your primer coat has fully dried and cured (see the manufacturer’s instructions on the can for specific times), you may repeat this process with your chosen paint. We used the color Benjamin Moore Cloud Cover. Again, use a combination of a brush and foam rollers to get a smooth finish. The paint may look slightly textured from the foam roller, but it will even out as it dries. Just remember: your main goal is thin & even coats without drips!

Handing Painting Cabinet Box With Foam Roller

As a rule of thumb, we do two coats of paint for any painting project. But it’s especially important with painting cabinets. More thin layers is stronger and less prone to scratches than one thick layer. Just be sure to allow enough dry time between coats before touching or recoating.

White Painted Kitchen Cabinet Doors Laid Out

This part should be super satisfying. You’re finally seeing your hard work pay off and your vision come to life!

Step 7: Rehang cabinet doors

Once everything has fully dried, you can reassemble your kitchen. Screw hinges back on. Slide drawers back in place. You can even put things back in your cabinets.

John reattaching cabinet door in painted kitchen

Things might get banged around in this process, so we often like to give our paint an extra day to cure before beginning. You’d hate to scuff up or scratch off the fresh paint right away!

Step 8: Reinstall cabinet hardware

At the same time, you can all reattached your cabinet knobs or pulls. However, this will be a bit more involve if you – like us – filled all of the old holes and need to make new ones.

Marking Holes For Cabinet Hardware With Template

We have an entire post – with video! – dedicated to how to install cabinet hardware that will help you do this with precision and speed. But as you can see above, we highly recommend purchasing a hardware template for this step.

How long does it take to paint kitchen cabinets?

Kitchen Crown Molding Top Before

Painting these kitchen cabinets took us 15 days to complete. A lot of that time, however, was waiting for things to dry and cure. They were not 15 days of straight work! So while this isn’t a project you should expect to knock out in a weekend, it’s also not something you need to take 2 weeks off of work to complete. It can easily be done on nights and weekends, like we did. We even had a toddler at the time!

How much does painting cabinets cost?

Painting kitchen cabinets yourself is very affordable, especially compared to the alternative of hiring it out OR replacing your cabinets entirely. We completed this project in 2012 for just $300 and half was for new hinges and pulls. So if you are reusing your hardware, you can expect to spend even less. Here is a rough estimate of what you might spend to paint kitchen cabinets.

  • Sandpaper: $10
  • Liquid deglosser: $10
  • Primer, 1 gallon: $30
  • Paint, 1 gallon: $80 – $120
  • Paint supplies (roller, brush, trays, etc): $40 – $60
  • TOTAL COST: $170 – $230

If you don’t already own an electric sander or drill, those may cost you about $50 each. You can complete those tasks by hand to keep your budget down, but it will significantly increase your time and effort.

Other Cabinet Painting FAQs

Before And After Of Painted Kitchen Cabinets White To Pink

Here are some other frequently asked questions about painting kitchen cabinets:

Do I need to apply a sealer or topcoat?

No, you do not need to apply a sealer, varnish, or polyurethane to your painted cabinets. Paints, especially those formulated for cabinets or trim, don’t require a protective topcoat. In fact, applying one could cause your color to yellow.

What finish paint should I use on cabinets?

We recommend using a satin or semi-gloss paint for a hard, wipeable finish on cabinets. Gloss or high-gloss paint can offer a sleek, modern look with high shine, but should be applied professionally with a paint sprayer to avoid brush or roller strokes. Matte, flat, or eggshell finishes will be harder to wipe clean.

What color should I paint my cabinets?

There is no limit to the colors you can paint kitchen cabinets! We love classic white cabinets, but colorful cabinets have also been trending lately – like our current cabinets (Artsy Pink by Sherwin-Williams) or our friends’ painted cabinets below (Halcyon Green by Sherwin-Williams).

Bee Yellow Back Door Against Halcyon Green Blue Kitchen Cabinets

We always recommend testing any color before proceeding. Colors often appear brighter or more saturated than they seem on a small swatch. Whites also can appear stark or cold, so we recommend something with subtle yellow or gray. Any of these expert’s favorite white paints work well on cabinets.

More Kitchen Cabinet Projects

Adding Crown Molding To Kitchen Cabinets

Looking for other budget-friendly ways to update your kitchen? Here are some other projects you might be interested in:

  • How to Add Crown Molding To Cabinets
  • How to Properly Prep Cabinets For Paint
  • How To Paint Ikea Cabinets
  • How to Install Kitchen Hardware
  • Organizing a Small Kitchen
  • Installing Hidden Ginges on Old Cabinets
  • Staining Wood Cabinets Darker without Sanding

Update: Our painted cabinets are still holding up great. Check out a little update post here.

*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.

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Filed Under: Favorites, Home Improvement, Our Second House, Painting

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Comments

  1. Alissa says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:20 am

    Looks fantastic! Do you think that the reason those retrofitted corner cabinets look perfect is because you only had to make a cut parallel to the grain across the middle panel whist the others required a perpendicular cut? If the frame around the edges of those corner cabs looks pefect too (since that would be perpendicular to grain), then I’m just stumped.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:30 am

      Yes! I totally think that could be it! We also started with those two doors, so it’s possible that we were extra thorough puttying/sanding them and sort of got tired and were less thorough with the others as we went. They’re also under the counter, so the light isn’t as direct as the ones up above (the other three are all upper cabs) so that might explain it too!

      xo,
      s

  2. Sarah says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:20 am

    FINALLY! Looks so great. Awesome job!

    Reply
  3. audra says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:21 am

    Good job ya’ll! I’m trying to get my hubby on board to paint our cabinets (lower half black, upper white). We have black appliances so I think it would much more cohesive that way. How would you suggest I get him to aggree?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:23 am

      Hmm, I would show him photos! That always helps John understand how awesome something can look! Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  4. Carrie C says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:23 am

    LOVE IT! Quick question-did you use latex based paint or oil based? I read it through but didnt catch that detail. I would love a latex paint that could take the beating of a kitchen cabinet AND not require me to be so careful cleaning my brushes!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:35 am

      It’s actually Aklyd based, which is a new formula that’s low-VOC but comparable to high quality self-leveling oil-based paint. It’s such a good formula that BM recommends it over their oil stuff for cabinets!

      xo,
      s

  5. Jordan@the2seasons says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:23 am

    Love the look! Thank you so much on the how to do this whole process. I am sending this to my husband right now. Congrats on the cabinets!

    Reply
  6. Laurie says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:23 am

    Okay I admit it…..I was a skeptic. I thought “this will never work, piecing together a kitchen with spare parts like Frankenstein’s monster.” I was sure you would scrap the whole thing and order new cabinets. I didn’t count on two things: your tenacity and your talent. I totally get the whole going back into the room more than necessary. After our kitchen was done, I would stroll out in the wee hours of the morning to admire it in soft ambient lighting. I may have also stood outside our front door pretending to be a visitor so I could experience it as other people did when I opened our door.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:46 am

      Aw thanks Laurie! Sometimes we know when we’re writing about an in-progress step of something that looks completely craaaaazy that it’ll be hard for folks at home to “see” what we hope to accomplish so I’m so glad in the end it all looks good! Most of the time we’re just going out on a limb and trying to figure things out as we go, haha.

      xo,
      s

  7. Tracy Vaughn says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:24 am

    It looks so great. When I look at the side of the pantry, I keep thinking how awesome a long,framed with molding, metal chalk board would look for Clara to draw/post her art work. Thanks again!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

      Yes, we’re definitely thinking of putting that plane to use!

      xo,
      s

  8. Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:24 am

    Holy schmoly, guys!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One can never use too many exclamation points, right?

    I am sooo very inspired at how you guys made this look so fantastic. I would love to attack my kitchen, but one thing at a time. Will you be going full steam ahead with the rest of the kitchen, or will you be doing other projects around the house as well?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

      Next on the agenda is the backsplash tile so we hope to have details on that next week (not done next week, but hopefully in progress)!

      xo,
      s

  9. Melanie says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:25 am

    Looks great. Maybe this will motivate me to refinish my kitchen cabinets. They’re painted white, but the previous owners must have just gone berserk one day and said, “I can’t look at these dark cabinets anymore!” And gone nuts painting them white immediately. It doesn’t look bad to the casual eye, but when you live there and look at it every day… You can see every brush stroke, every drip (there are lots), and it’s obvious that there was no patching or sanding of any marred surface. Save me. They also obviously didn’t let the paint cure completely before slapping big honkin’ black hardware on there because it takes little bits of paint and wood off when you remove a handle. Thanks, buttheads. But hey, at least they’re already white… right?

    Here’s a question I’ve been mulling for weeks. Will you be installing your open shelves then tiling around them or tiling then somehow hanging the shelves? I imagine a risk of breaking tiles in the latter, but it’s not like I’ve ever tried it before. Just wondering. :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:47 am

      We’ve asked a few pros and they all say tile first and then add the shelves using a small bit that can go through tile. Since they’re penny tiles and not big tiles we have even less to worry about when it comes to some big crack happening so we’re crossing our fingers that it’ll work! We’ll definitely keep you posted!

      xo,
      s

  10. Meghan says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:27 am

    Be still my beating heart. Best week ever thus far on YHL. I keep clicking over to pictures of the play kitchen. Get her started early on the cooking/baking/decorating bits! xo.

    Reply
  11. Wrenaria says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:27 am

    Wahoo! Looking gorgeous! Must feel sooo good to be done painting. I’d sit in the kitchen and soak up the new lightness as much as possible if I were you too!

    Reply
  12. Jacquelyn says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:27 am

    Looks beautiful! It must be so satisfying to see everything coming together!

    Reply
  13. Lauren Abernathy says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Your kitchen looks awesome!! You two did such a great job!

    I painted my kitchen cabinets white about 2 years ago, and I SO wish I would have done more research. They don’t look terrible, but I definitely rushed into it and didn’t prep as carefully as I should have. There is a lot more wood grain showing than I would prefer, too (probably from not using the best quality primer and paint). Do you think I could just rough it up and put a layer or 2 of high quality paint to see if it would smooth it out?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:49 am

      Hmm, I would rough it up and then ask at a place like Ben Moore if they have any “buildable primer” (which might make the grain less noticeable after a few coats). Then sand that to smooth it and paint it again with the Advance paint (it’s the best)! Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  14. Cortney says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:29 am

    YAY! So excited for you Guys, Looks AMAZING! It is like a breath of fresh air amazing! Can’t wait to see the rest!

    Reply
  15. Margie M says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:29 am

    Great Job !! Why oh why is it that when I use that same foam roller, I get a bubbly/pebbly finish?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:43 am

      Hmm, it could be that you are going super fast (that can rile up the paint and cause bubbles) or it could just be the type of paint (BM Advance is the best we’ve used!).

      xo,
      s

    • Elisa @ The Self Life says

      January 4, 2012 at 2:55 pm

      It’s likely the type of paint. I’m using a paint that recommends NOT using a roller. You can always Google the paint you’re using and see what others recommend!

  16. Emily says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:30 am

    If you guys are laying the cork over the laminate – how are you going to address the hearth? Already it looks like the hearth is set below the laminate with a bit of trim around it. Are you just going to mimic that again. Seems that the inset would seem a bit deep.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:42 am

      We’re actually thinking we’ll retile the hearth so it’s the right height. Ack, forgot to add that to the list! This could take a while. Haha.

      xo,
      s

  17. Brenda Cofer says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:30 am

    A – W – E – S – O – M – E job, guys!!! Can not believe the difference. It has got to make you all feel so happy and proud each and every morning. So happy for you. Just one quick question though.
    Do you not have to sand after the application of the primer? Just thought it would make the paint even smoother?

    Thanks and again, enjoy your beautiful home.

    Brenda

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:41 am

      It really depends on the directions on the can (some recommend it, others don’t). In our case we’re just super careful to apply thin and even coats so there aren’t any streaks or drips to sand down. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  18. ashleyK says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:31 am

    Wow! That really looks amazing! I love the hardware too!
    My parents have been wanting to paint their ’80s cabinets too, I can’t wait to send them the link to your whole process!

    Reply
  19. Sam says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:32 am

    All I can say is AHHHmazzing! You guys have worked your butts off and it looks stunning, I cant wait to see the finished kitchen. You inspire me to get up and finish the 4 rooms in the house that are slooooowly coming together.

    Reply
  20. Ang says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:32 am

    Amazing!! And now for some whining…hurry up and either lay the floors or get the tile up! Hahaha! I wish I had done this when I moved into my house, but I’m totally ripping those suckers out and getting new ones.

    You guys do a great job!

    Reply
  21. Sarah W says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:32 am

    Our kitchen cabinets are already painted, but starting to look kind of rough (bits flaking off here and there). What would you guys suggest to fix it? Sand everything down and start over?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:40 am

      Yup, I’d sand them smooth, degloss, prime, and paint! Good luck!

      xo,
      s

  22. Allyn says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:32 am

    Holy moly, such a difference paint makes! That’s why I hate watching house hunter type shows, when people wine that a room is too dark or they don’t like the color. Um, hello, it’s called PAINT.
    Please get some Glee back up dancers asap. Thank you.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:40 am

      I will be holding auditions this afternoon. I hope Mercedes comes. She’s my favorite.

      xo,
      s

  23. Randa says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:33 am

    The kitchen looks great! (as does your nail polish, Sherry!) Thanks for the helpful video – it’s definitely good to have the “play by play” in visual form.

    Question: do you guys normally sand in between paint coats, or did I read that somewhere else?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:39 am

      We don’t but many people do (depending on the directions of the paint can, some might recommend it and some might not). We just apply thinthinthin coats to avoid drips and marks so we don’t have to sand them down between!

      xo,
      s

  24. Staci says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:33 am

    Man oh man oh man. LOVE IT!!!
    I am going through severe kitchen envy! If only I could reuse the cabinets we have in our kitchen and do such an inexpensive upgrade like you guys, but unfortunately mine are oooold and not very deep (like you described before your first kitchen reno). In fact, the drawers are almost impossible to open and close. What the Dr. ordered for my space is new cabinets. Which will have to wait a few years…..

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:39 am

      Aw, we had to get new cabs for our first house too Staci! And it was all worth it in the end! Just save those pennies and take your time planning everything out (since you have time while you save money) so it’s amaaaazing in the end!

      xo,
      s

  25. OMG Ponies! says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:34 am

    I’m so happy for you guys. It looks wonderful. What an inspiring change.

    Reply
  26. Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:34 am

    Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!! IT IS SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!! Is it so creepy that I’m this excited about someone else’s kitchen, because I am! I can’t wait to see the tile!! It’s going to be amazing!!!

    Oh and I’m bookmarking this! If we get the house we really want to paint the cabinets!

    Reply
  27. Lindsay says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:35 am

    I LOVE the white! My only issue is the wall color. Does it look darker in person? Maybe it will be better once you change out the floor but the room seems sooo bright now and like you need a bold wall color to help it. I do love the arrangement now and white cabinets though :)

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:37 am

      We love the wall color in person but of course as the room comes together if we change our minds we can always repaint the walls! That’s child’s play compared to the cabinets – haha.

      xo,
      s

    • Heather W. says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:59 am

      I LURVE IT! I have the same color on my kitchen walls and it really does photograph strangely. It either looks darker or yellow or a little of both for some reason. However, in person it is so pretty. I commented on an earlier post that I thought you would love it when you were done. I have been wanting darker wood floors in my kitchen once I have the rest of the house painted and I am so excited you get to be my guniea pig for this and I can see what it will look like when you install your floors! Congrats.

  28. Wendy says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Wow. The next time I go shopping I’m going to think about what $ 250 can buy and see if I can get as good a return on my money as you two did. Congratulations

    Reply
  29. elaine says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Hurray! The day has finally come. And you don’t need me to tell you guys that it looks FANTASTIC! Great tutorial and run down too. This has been so fun to follow and I can’t wait for the next steps! :) Terrific work Team P!

    Reply
  30. Janine says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:38 am

    That looks amazing. I am anxiously awaiting the time I get to fix up my own house just the way I like it. I love the white cabinets. The whole space looks clean.

    Reply
  31. Amanda Healy says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:38 am

    Wow!! What a difference paint makes! I have to say, I LOVE the wall color you chose and the way it looks with the cabinets is just perfection. I can just imagine all the awesome stuff I’m going to learn from you both at Haven this year. Enjoy your (new!) beautiful kitchen!

    Reply
  32. Tracy says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:39 am

    So so awesome. I can’t believe how different it looks. I’ve been dying for this post to go up. So how do you like the doors above the fridge? Do they look okay even with the extra space around them? I didn’t see a photo that was close enough to tell.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:54 am

      Oh yes, the awesome thing about painting them white and adding hardware is that they fit right in! Can’t believe there aren’t pics of that here! Will have to take more angles of stuff soon!

      xo,
      s

  33. Allison says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:40 am

    Two quick questions since I have to redo painting all my kitchen cabinets now that I see how good they could look if I take the right steps and use the right tools!
    1) Do you think one needs to re-prime already painted doors that are sanded to rough up before painting?
    2) Did you use any hand sanding to get in those little grooves and weird angles in the middle of your doors or did the sander work enough?

    Thanks for any thoughts! Great job! Looking great!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:56 am

      Yes! Always reprime (it makes the paint stick, and should always be re-done for the best durability). As for sanding, we got the palm sander in there as much as we could and did do a small amount of sanding by hand just to rough up whatever we couldn’t get to. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  34. Jen says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:40 am

    gah, you make me want to demo and remodel a kitchen now! Loving (with a capital L, and not just because it’s the start of a sentence) the new kitchen.

    Reply
  35. Robin @ Our Semi Organic Life says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:41 am

    I’d bring in the TV so I could relax in the kitchen if I were you!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:53 am

      Haha, sounds good.

      xo,
      s

  36. Cathy says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:41 am

    Wow! Looks amazing! Love how big of a difference paint can make! I wanted to paint my mom’s kitchen cabinets white, but she’s worried about it getting dirty too easily. Do you have the same worry? If so, how are you going to manage to keep them clean?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:52 am

      We had white cabinets in our first house for 4 years – you just wipe them down if anything splatters (they’re very scrubbable!) so it’s not a big deal. For the most part they’re pretty auto pilot. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  37. Silke says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:42 am

    Sherry, I applaud your decision to hold off on the baby center blogging !! I can’t even imagine how that must have felt when the weight lifted off your shoulders :-)
    Congrats on this MARVELLOUS kitchen, I wouldn’t want to leave the room either! I love it !
    Silke

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:51 am

      Aw thanks Silke!

      xo,
      s

  38. Alexi says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:42 am

    The cabinets look awesome! Loving them with the white counters and stainless appliances So excited to see the kitchen get finished up!

    Reply
  39. caitie says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:42 am

    I LOVE it! You guys are incredible! It makes the space look so huge, bright and open. *swoon* I cant wait to see the backsplash!!! ;)

    Reply
  40. Briel K. says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:43 am

    I bet you are SO HAPPY to be done with the painting portion of the kitchen. I don’t envy you that job! :) It looks great! I can’t wait to see what the floors and backsplash look like.

    Reply
  41. Jeri says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:43 am

    Looks amazing! And I thought those pulls looked familiar – when I went to vendor’s site, I realized they’re from the same line as my knobs and cup pulls. Compliments on your excellent taste!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:50 am

      That’s so funny! Love it.

      xo,
      s

  42. Erin Morgan says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:44 am

    WOWZA! Ya’ll should be so proud of your yourselves – it looks beyond gorg!!!

    Reply
  43. Sarah @ { rad: renovations are dirty } says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:45 am

    The transformation is remarkable! You’ve both done an incredible job. :)

    Reply
  44. Lauren says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:46 am

    The cabinets look amazing! I can’t wait to see the backsplash and floors go in. Are you guys going to trim the top of the cabinets with molding? I think it would definitely make them look more finished and custom. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:50 am

      We actually held molding up there and didn’t like the ornate look (since a lot of the room has clean lines and chunky counters it just seemed too ornate for us! We could always change our mind down the line and add some though- you never know!

      xo,
      s

  45. Amy B says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:46 am

    Your kitchen is beautiful. Painting the dark wood has been my favorite home brightener for our past several houses. Like you, I leave the interiors of the cabinets the original wood to help with long-term scratching.

    My one tip that has been a lifesaver for me… buy enough white/light-colored, cheapest you can find, adhesive square vinyl flooring tiles to cover the bottom and shelves of your cabinets… easy to wipe clean and really brightens up the dark interior.

    Enjoy your new space… and thanks for sharing your process!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 11:52 am

      Great tip!

      xo,
      s

  46. Angi Busick says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:46 am

    Looks fabulous! TONS of value added to your home, congrats!

    Reply
  47. debbie c says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:47 am

    Looks amazing!! and you guys are amazing!!

    Giving me the itch to tackle my oak cabinets….but hubby thinks the grain will show too much….hate to spend $ on cabinets that are only eight years old….

    Reply
  48. Brandi @ His Shabby Her Chic says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:48 am

    I seriously love it! I want to come and just stand and admire so I can completely get why you do that!

    The cabinets are seamless too. Awesome job!

    Reply
  49. Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:49 am

    Gorgeous! It’s amazing what a difference the paint made…how much bigger and brighter the room seems. I want to paint kitchen cabinets now!

    Reply
  50. heather s. says

    January 4, 2012 at 11:49 am

    Looks great! In the pictures the cabinets look white on my screen, which I’m glad I like since I’m considering getting white counters in my white cabinet kitchen.

    Reply
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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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