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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. Seth says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:34 pm

    this project is on our house list too! SO glad to have you as a reference… this post will be our go-to guide! it looks amazing and the story behind how you tackled it makes it even more impressive! AMAZING! #DIY

    Reply
    • Toni wife of seth :) says

      January 4, 2012 at 5:45 pm

      It looks incredible. Now i’m going to try to convince seth to put it on our 2012 list, because last week he told me “we’ll see”. But he seems just as enthused as i am about yours, so I hope your posts inspire him to let me work on it soon

  2. Ivette says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:37 pm

    Gorgeous! You did a great job of course, and we will be using your technique to refinish our own cabinets this summer.

    Reply
  3. Erin @ One Project at a Time says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:40 pm

    We actually just decided this past weekend that we are painting our cupboards white! We’ve lived with them for about 8 months, hemming and hawing about whether we would regret painting the wood, but in the end we think that they just don’t do our kitchen any justice. You can see them here: http://oneprojectatatime.blogspot.com/2011/10/our-updated-house-tour.html

    I’m so excited I can’t wait to break out the paint!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 8:00 pm

      It’ll look great with new painted cabinet – that way your kitchen transformation can be as good as your other ones. Thanks for the fun house tour!

      -John

  4. andrea worley says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:46 pm

    thanks for posting this great video! it really cleared up a lot of questions i was having about painting cabinets! thank you mucho!! you guys always do such a great job of explaining things, and making them easier!

    Reply
  5. Lindsay says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:47 pm

    Hi! This looks AMAZING!

    We are about to undertake the same thing in our kitchen and for some reason the thing stressing me the most is what brushes to use. I know you send an angled brush and a foam roller, but can you tell me the exact brands/sizes you used? Thanks!!

    p.s. not that I want to copy you or anything, haha.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 4:36 pm

      Our angled brush was he 2″ one we use for most painting projects (Premium XL Tight Spots 2? Angle Short Handle Brush) and the rollers were 4″ Whizz brand.

      -John

  6. Paula M. says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:53 pm

    Amazing job! Congrats on another expertly done job, getting fabulous results with lots of labor but few dollars!

    One question (as I weigh painting my cabinets this year or next year):

    What type of grit sandpaper do you use for “roughing up” the cabinets? I’m so accustomed to sanding to make things smooth (as in sanding down the wood filler to smooth it). By contrast, what do you use to “rough up” the cabinets later for better adhesion of the primer and paint? And how feasible would it be to do that by hand, not with an electric sander?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 4:33 pm

      We used 60 grit to rough it up because that’s what we had around. You could definitely try by hand, but be sure to do lots of hand stretches because it’d be tiring. You’d probably appreciate the $30-ish investment in the electric sander, in my opinion.

      -John

  7. Stephanie says

    January 4, 2012 at 3:56 pm

    You guys, it looks SO awesome in there! LOVE IT SO MUCH! Except… not loving the stools so much. They just seem out of place there now… like some random school furniture got misplaced in my dream kitchen. I will reserve any further judgment, however, until you’ve completed it all. Who knows… you might make a believer out of me. Was not sold on the living room, but with the addition of the new rug, ottoman and desk chair, I’m on board…

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 4:31 pm

      Yup, we’re feeling they need a little oomph too, but are waiting to figure out what that is until more of the room is complete. The “unfinished charm” of them isn’t really making sense when they don’t have much finished to contrast off of! :)

      -John

  8. Marah says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Looks great! Just curious, why satin finish instead of semi gloss?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 8:01 pm

      It’s actually just what the BM folks recommend. The glossier the finish, the more obvious the imperfections are, and this type of paint was actually formulated for cabinets in a satin finish first (they later added the semi-gloss option for folks who wanted something shinier, but they’re both durable and scrubbable – so it’s just a question of how glossy you want to go). So we went with the original (satin) because we knew it’d hold up and hide any imperfections a bit more. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  9. Mel says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    I just love it. Great job. It is all coming together so nicely!

    Reply
  10. Alex says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    thoughts are with you for that deadline!! you can doooooo it!!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 4:29 pm

      Thanks Alex!

      -John

  11. Natalie Derrickson says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    LOVE IT! You guys did such a good job! I wish I’d had a jig for when I did my cabinets! That was truly the worst part.
    Here’s the link if you want to check them out: http://derricksondish.com/2011/07/the-cabinet-transformation-its-finally-over/

    I used Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations which worked great and I think could be the best option if people want to do dark cabinets.

    So what I’m trying to say is: GO YOU!!!

    xo

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:59 pm

      Thanks for sharing Natalie! We’re always happy to hear experiences with Rustoleum’s product – we’ve heard good thing so we’re glad to see it worked out well for you guys too!

      -John

  12. Elizabeth says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    It looks fabulous!

    Reply
  13. Jessica @ The Southern Belle Baby says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    Oh my gosh, it is FABULOUS!!! I have been looking forward to seeing the “after” post of the cabinets, so I gave a little squeal of joy when I saw this in my reader. I need to touch up our white cabinets which the previous owners did a *lovely* job of painting white… to the tune of spray painting the hinges white WHILE STILL ATTACHED TO THE CABINETS. For real, you can see the little spray paint mark around them. Anyway, once I’m not pregnant any more, I am totally taking a page out of your book and re-doing ours, too! Congrats on your gorgeous new kitchen, it is so awesome!

    Reply
  14. jaj says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Your hard work of typing this out will NOT go in vain!! Off to do our cabinets!!!!

    Oh and CONGRATS on the hard work. The kitchen looks beautiful. Can’t wait to see the complete finished job!

    Reply
  15. beverly says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:30 pm

    wow. you guys rock. i am so impressed.

    Reply
  16. Kate from zmombie.com says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Holy Canoli that looks awesome. What an improvement.

    Reply
  17. Heidi P. says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:38 pm

    I just kept saying “wow” in hushed tones as I scrolled back and forth between the before and after shots. Amazing. So fresh and so clean clean. Congratulations!!!!!

    Reply
  18. Elizabeth says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:39 pm

    Good job Youngsters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so excited to see this post this morning. :)

    Reply
  19. Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Ooh, it’s looking so awesome! Wow, can’t wait to see the rest!

    Your video made me laugh like one hundred times.

    Reply
  20. Amanda K says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:51 pm

    check this out — i was googling for some kitchen ideas and came across this blog…with a photo of your first kitchen! i’m sure y’all find this sort of thing all the time, but i thought i’d send it nonetheless:
    http://maisondecor8.blogspot.com/2011/07/readers-kitchen-dilemma.html

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 8:02 pm

      Thanks for the tip! Off to check it out…

      xo,
      s

  21. Celeste says

    January 4, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    It’s a beauty! Awesome work.

    Quick Question:
    For white or cream cabinets do you suggest to paint the surrounding wall color the same as the cabinet color?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 5:15 pm

      We actually like painting nearby walls with a contrasting color – we did sea blue in our last kitchen and you can see the grellow in this one. It helps the white cabinets really stand out against the walls. But if you’re going for a more subdued look, you certainly could paint a similar color – though you probably want a little bit of a contrast, even just subtle.

      -John

  22. Tiffany says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    Well done guys! This looks amazing. I’ve been checking your blog everyday and watching the progress. So looking forward to starting our own house! You guys are a huge inspiration. My husband said to me the other day “why don’t we get that old farm house, so then we can renovate like John & Sherry!” x

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 5:14 pm

      Sounds like fun to us!

      -John

  23. Annie says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:04 pm

    !!!!!!!!!!!!

    Yay, y’all!

    Reply
  24. Katrina says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    So much brighter!! :) Love the progress

    Reply
  25. Megan says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:15 pm

    The bottom two pics for comparison really show how much bigger the room feels! The fridge is definitely pushing itself into the middle of the room but with the new arrangement, it’s not the focal point! And the second view of the hallway makes the room feel much bigger just by brightening up everything! Don’t you just love the power of paint?!?!

    Reply
  26. Kitchens Ireland says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Some crown moulding would look really nice on your cabinets. Congrats and happy new year!

    Reply
  27. Christie says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    I love the stools … had been looking for old school chairs just a few weeks ago.

    Reply
  28. Carli says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:27 pm

    WOW!! Gorgeous! Amazing work you two. It looks amazing!

    Quick question… the photo of the framed in fridge looks awesome, but have you ever entertained the idea of putting floating shelves on that wall? The wall space right above the counter space and beside the opening to your dining room?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:52 pm

      We have! Though right now we’re leaning towards something a bit less heavy duty – maybe a simple piece of art or a narrow picture ledge. We’re kinda of enjoying how much the upper half of our kitchen “breathes” now without all of the upper cabinets so I think we’ll try to keep some of that feeling intact.

      -John

    • Carli says

      January 4, 2012 at 8:14 pm

      Ooooo art work would be perfect there! Good call. I agree, without all those cabinets above, the kitchen sure does have an airy feel to it. Love it! Keep up the great work.

  29. Rachael@LovelyCraftyHome says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Looks great!! I can’t detect any seams at all in the photos. Looking forward to seeing the tile!

    Reply
  30. Cody says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Hi! Is anyone else having a hard time seeing the photos from Christmas and the cabinets? Mine have x in the corners and I’ve never had that problem on this computer. Any advise? (no, I can’t click “show picture”) :(

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:50 pm

      So sorry Cody! We’ve heard of this problem popping up intermittently for folks (still not sure the cause) but usually it resolves itself in a day or two. Let us know if it continues. You can also try a different browser or try emptying your cache.

      -John

  31. Marissa says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:44 pm

    Amazing transformation!! So very impressive and inspiring. Question on your paint choice: why did you choose satin finish? I thought semi-gloss was the recommended finish for high traffic items like kitchen cabinets because it’s more wipeable.
    Thanks for all the tips! Can’t wait to see the tile and shelves!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 8:05 pm

      It’s actually just what the BM folks recommend. The glossier the finish, the more obvious the imperfections are, and this type of paint was actually formulated for cabinets in a satin finish first (they later added the semi-gloss option for folks who wanted something shinier, but they’re both durable and scrubbable – so it’s just a question of how glossy you want to go). So we went with the original (satin) because we knew it’d hold up and hide any imperfections a bit more. Hope it helps!

      xo
      s

  32. Tara says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:47 pm

    Fabulous fabulous fabulous! What an amazing transformation! One quick question – I’m looking to paint my old oak bathroom vanity & hopefully brighten up my dingy guest bath. Would you recommend the same exact procedure for bathroom cabinets as for your kitchen cabinets? Or would there be any differences given that a bathroom can have more moisture but not as much wear & tear as a kitchen.

    Also I’m not looking for absolute perfection…..I think ‘good enough’ would be fine for me….so in light of that, are there any steps I can skip to make the whole process easier?

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:48 pm

      One thing you could do to make them more moisture resistant is go for a semi-gloss, not satin finish. That will help more it more bathroom vanity friendly. As for skipping steps, you may not need to sand or degloss as much in a bathroom (since you hopefully don’t have the grease issue you have in a kitchen) but if you’ve got the time it’s always safest so you don’t end up with chips or scratches easily (because they’re a bear to touch up). You also might get away with one coat of paint, depending on the color you’re doing. Good luck!

      -John

  33. Lindsay@Tell'er All About It says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    Absolutely love, love LOVE!!! This is looking SO AMAZING! Great job, guys!!! There’s still a ways to go, but you’ll knock it outta the park, I’m sure :-)

    Reply
  34. Hannah says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    TOTAL ABSOLUTE CRAZY AWESOMENESS! you should be so proud! i am halfway done with our kitchen(appliances, granite, backsplash) but i know the one thing that will make a huge difference will be painting the cabinets…and you have given me inspiration!!!!! great job!!! :)

    Reply
  35. jeannette says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    the greenness of the upcycle — priceless.
    vs. $7k? even if i had it, i’d rather do it your way.
    the time breakdown is very helpful too, thanks. it breaks a real schlep down into one-day-at-a-time manageable-by-humans tasks.
    and its durable, and looks gorge.

    Reply
  36. jeannette says

    January 4, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    excuse me, it’s durable. grrr.

    Reply
  37. Jessica says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    AMAZING!!!!!! It looks so good. I’ve been mentioning your kitchen to my other half (who is not interested in interior design) for the past few weeks. He also approves!

    Keep up the great work. But take a breather first. :)

    Reply
  38. Susan says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:06 pm

    Absolutely, positively, gorgeous & inspiring!

    Reply
  39. Mary says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:08 pm

    Love and admire all your hard work. Not sure, however about the school stools – sort of liked your idea of maybe painting them as they are now looking a bit drab with the rest of your FABULOUS kitchen! Sorry for the negative comment. Mary.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:45 pm

      No worries, we’re waiting to figure out what to do the spruce them up until more the kitchen looks finished.

      -John

  40. Karen@RestyledVintage says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Looks totally awesome, well done. We have recently moved from NZ to Australia and have just purchased our first house this side of the Tasman. It has lots of interior brick and timber and high-raked cathedral ceilings, which is exactly the character I was after in our next home (yay for finding it!) The kitchen cabinets are solid wood (Tasmanian Oak so I have been told) and like you, I am going to paint them white or off white. I was already excited and now I have seen yours finished, I am super excited! The house will be ours in mid-Feb, I feel like my kids did on Xmas Eve! Here are some ‘as is’ shots of the house, if you are interested :) http://www.restyledvintage.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-and-house-news.html

    xx Karen

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:51 pm

      Not sure what we love more – that ceiling or that pool. We want both!

      -John

  41. Karen says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Thanks so much for the detailed instructions. They came out so good! I am seriously considering this myself.

    Reply
  42. Kellie says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    I am dying – it looks soooo good! I have been loving following this project (ok, and every other, but this one is especially breathtaking!) You guys rock!

    Reply
  43. Yolanda says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:13 pm

    OMG!!! This looks AMAZING!!! You guys are super talented. John with his crafty building skills and Sherry with your eye for design, you make a dynamic duo. This kitchen looks beautiful. This is has been my favorite DIY makeover so far! Congrats guys!

    Reply
  44. braelin says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Awesome– love it- what a change! Do you (or others) know of any good tutorials for painting metal cabinets? Ones with giant chips of old paint showing rust below?? Sigh….

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 8:05 pm

      Hmm, I haven’t seen any but maybe googling around will help? You could also remove a door and bring it to the paint store and ask what they recommend!

      xo,
      s

  45. SM says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    The cabinets look amazing! Very polished and professional looking. I am excited to see how the backsplash looks. I might get stoned for this but I am not really feeling the lemony yellow color you’ve got going on in there. For some reason, it doesn’t play well with the tube lights. Maybe its just that the photos don’t do it justice. Once the floor and the backsplash are in it will make more sense.

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      January 4, 2012 at 7:44 pm

      Yeah, there’s definitely a lot that’s not working together perfectly yet. And once those tube lights are gone even we’re not 100% sure how the color will look, so we’re just going with the flow.

      -John

  46. Margaret says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    “…all up in my area” – one of my favorite phrases, along with “..all up in my grill” – apparently everyone stopped using that in 8th grade, I never got the memo, whatevs!

    The cabs look great, congratulations! I was alternating reading memos and reading this entry – thank god it’s so long, it got me through the afternoon! :)

    Reply
  47. monica says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    wow that looks great! can’t wait to see the final product. kudos to you guys for continuing to make your visions a reality! congratulations!

    Reply
  48. Emily @ NewlyWife says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:38 pm

    I’m so thrilled for you guys! What a nice kitchen it’s turning out to be! Seriously, don’t feel weird for doing the lingering in the pretty room thing — totally normal for all the work you put into it. Thanks for being such an inspiration!

    Reply
  49. Monique says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:46 pm

    Beautiful cabinets. Your kitchen is coming together nicely!

    Reply
  50. Amanda says

    January 4, 2012 at 6:47 pm

    Love them! And I love the incredibly thorough instructions – I’ll definitely refer back to this when I finally get around to painting the cabinets in our guest bathroom!

    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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