Re: Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

My daughter had her maple colored ones painted white, done by a pro painter, and it looks great !! Let a pro do it.

Hoovermom · ‎03-19-2010

I had mine repainted. They look so good. Make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing.

Sakuya · ‎02-15-2011

How are you supposed to know if someone knows what they are doing?

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

@coffee drinker wrote:
Anyone who has had their kitchen cabinets painted, please note the experience you had. Happy it was done, disappointed and wish you never had it done? I'm very serious about getting mine done. I have typical builders grade cabinets in a wood-tone finish and they're 15 years old. They seem to make the kitchen so dark. I've got someone coming tomorrow to give me info on what will be done, etc. The contractor has been highly recommended and I've seen the work he has done. Just gorgeous. His price was less than I thought which surprised me.

Comments, please.

@coffee drinker

I say go for it and although I had mine done and was not pleased with the outcome as I had a contractor who did not do a very good job compared to some of my friends, I am still pleased because my kitchen, even as my architect son who likes wood, says looks so much brighter. So if he has a good reputation and you clean them very well, you should have a good outcome. Do everything he tells you in the prep. Following everything he instructs to a "t" will give you a good outcome with agood contractor.

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

@Mom2Dogs wrote:
@coffee drinker. My cupboards were 30+years old...dark stain. Last year I had them professionally painted to an off white, I am happy with the results, they clean easily and I have only had to touch 1 spot (very small). The kitchen is much brighter.

The person that did ours took off all the fronts and took them to his shop - cleaned, sanded, primed, painted them....he had to spray the fronts of the shells in place. It was messy but to be expected.

Make sure if you have a grain the painter feels confident that he can cover the grain with the paint...mine look pretty good. Also if there are any flaws they will show up. I noticed on one of the side panels the wood was really worn and the bottom edge.... and I should have had him fill and sand that area but did not think about it until the kitchen was done.

I do notice where the cupboards come together in a couple of spots - (the seam)...but my house was built in the early 70's and there has been some settling. Overall we were pleased.

Make sure you get to keep any left over paint, you might need to touch up a spot or two.

@Mom2Dogs

Your results sound like mine. Happy you did it but there are some things you wish you had known or pointed out ahead of time, minor, but still things we notice that could have been done better. That's how I feel. My neighbor had a much better contractor and he was far more expensive than mine but I am overall pleased. My house is lighter and brighter and nobody seems to notice the flaws but me.

Nonametoday · ‎03-09-2010

@Janey2 wrote:
@coffee drinker @Did you consider refacing the cabinets?

@Janey2 @coffee drinker

My son and his wife did that but their house was much older than 15 years and the cabinets were in pretty bad shape (the doors) and they had them refaced but if they are still in good condition, I would just have painting done as long as the contractor is very reputable. Refacing looks very modern, as if it just came off the boat from that place from which Amzn buys all its goods.

Lucky Charm · ‎03-09-2010

@Sakuya wrote:
How are you supposed to know if someone knows what they are doing?

References? Ask to see others' work. Many times they have a website and will show you pics on their phone of jobs they're currently working on. Before and afters.

I've never had my cabinets painted, but if I did, we would do it ourselves. I'm a fan of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and know I'd find a color I'd love.

No sanding or prep work, just clean and paint, then apply her wax.