Thanks! I would love to switch out the hinges, but is that possible? They're attached to the outside of the cabinets. If I paint them, I'm assuming the paint would peel off after using the hinges for awhile?

Yes, just order hinges the same finish as your cabinet pulls.

There was another post today about replacing similar hardware in a dining room built-in cabinet.

You can still buy exposed (not European hidden hinges), in chrome, satin nickel, etc.. to match a different pull. You'll likely have some work to do filling holes and sanding before you can paint the cabinets.

The vintange hinges you have, and the cabinet pulls, are pretty cool, actually. Don't toss them. Put them on ebay or etsy, as someone else is likely looking for a few...

That helps a lot. I'll do some searching for exposed hinges (wouldn't be my first choice, but still a good alternative).
Ebay, really? I'll give it a shot. One man's trash, I guess... Thanks!

What you have are called HL hinges. They're a very New England / Cape Cod style. They look especially good with painted woodwork / cabinets. Search for HL hinges on this site and you'll see how classic they can look.

Thanks so much! Now that I know the name, I've been able to find more pictures. I suppose I can live with them for awhile - it sounds like they're not too easy to replace. This photo gave me some hope.

Always keep hope & have fun with this new dilemma.

Ha, thanks. I haven't even moved in yet, and I'm already learning that there's going to be a lot of compromising while updating this dated house.

It is not dated. It is vintage:)

Should you want to retain any of the original character, you might like this site:

http://retrorenovation.com

Thanks! I might have more luck embracing it, rather than fighting it. I never pictured myself surrounded by knotty pine and a pink bathroom, but I guess it will be an adventure!

Since your cabinets are pine, the knots will tend to bleed through normal paint. If you decide to paint the cabinets, remove all the hardware and give the cabinets a good wash with TSP (wear gloves!). The TSP will remove any polymerized grease from over the years. It should also take off any gloss. But if there's any left, give it a light sanding so the paint will stick. Then (this is key), prime them with Zinsser primer before you paint them. Good luck!

Thank you so much for the advice! I definitely still plan to paint them, and I'm going with a light color because the kitchen's tiny. I'll grab that primer!

Does anyone know if it's possible to paint hinges white?

I have painted metal floor registers white starting with Zinsser primer. I can't remember which of the Zinsser primers I used - maybe Zinsser BIN - in spray paint form. You need one that list metal as one of the surfaces it bonds to. The registers have held up well - but they don't get knocked about much. The only area of concern would be where the metal parts rub against each other. in the hinge. Also, pay attention to the cure time of the primer. Sometimes it is up to 7 days before fully cured to take some abuse.

There are some article about this if you google "paint hinges" - did not read them but maybe there are some tutorials out there.

Thanks so much!

I've painted hinges and the paint cracks where the hinge moves. I don't recommend it.

I've painted a kitchen with exposed hinges but we replaced the handles and hinges with ones the same size. We took the doors off to paint them - be sure you label them carefully so the door goes back on the same frame. The frames look the same size but they're not exactly.

I love the retro look of the exposed hinges. And the kitchen looked wonderful with the new cream colored paint. Hope you like yours too!

Thanks! I hope I'm as happy with the results of my paint job!

It would be much simpler to change out the hinges. You will be removing the cabinet doors anyways if you decide to paint them. What an undertaking. Are you sure you want to go to all that bother? Maybe live with them for a few years until you are able to replace them or have them professionally refinished :)

For the hardware, try rub n' buff or Guilder's paste it comes in many metallic colors. it will not crack. Follow the instructions on the product label. The surface has to be cleaned well. Proper preparation is key. Denatured alcohol and a 3 m scrubbing pad usually do a great job on grease. I've changed the color of many metal items with the above products succesfully. Waxes are easy to touch up and look good even if you just give the hardware light coat that just tones down the color. You might have to seal it with a clear coat if you plan on touching the handles with greasy hands.

Partim is right regarding labeling the hinges. Make sure you label the doors too and don't paint over the label. Put each set off hinges on a separate sandwich bag and mar k the back of each hinge with permanent marker ( ex. 1 top, 1 bottom) and mark the door accordingly where the hinge will cover the label.

a professional cabinet painter charges $80-100 per door and $35- 50 per drawer to do this. It is well worth it to have it done professionally, it's more work than it sounds

I encourage you to keep your cabinets. You'd be hard pressed to find the quality you already have in a new cabinet. The big box store cabinets are made mostly of composites like MDF's that release toxic chemicals in to your home. If you are curious, look up what it would cost to buy a solid wood kitchen cabinet today.

I really, really appreciate the advice.

Sandy C., I really cannot stand to look at these for a few years. The kitchen is very small and dark - I know myself and they would frustrate me every single day if I had to live with them.

Wow, aveart, thank you so much for the thoughtful reply. It sounds like I should really look into hiring a professional. If I end up spending $1,000-$1,500 for the job, at that price, are you sure it's worth keeping the old ones? I'm not planning to resell the house too soon, but I'm afraid of putting more money into it than I'll eventually get back. Would another buyer walk in and see the old painted cabinets as an eyesore? Would I be better off with something cheap yet modern from IKEA instead? This is my first house and I don't want to make a big mistake I later regret. I really appreciate any advice!

$1500 is a really great price for refurbishing quality cabinets - a new set of MDF cabinets can easily run $5000 + for a tiny kitchen diy. We did a galley kitchen in our condo with Ikea cabinets (they look awesome and are good quality for the price) and with everything it still ran us over $7000, including the hardware and laminate countertop.

OK, jjuchli, repainting it is! I was so clueless about how expensive it is to update things. I have a $10,000 budget to update the house before we move in, and I'm beginning to realize it is not going to go very far.

I lived in a house that had those pulls and hinges. The previous owners had painted the cabinets white and left the hardware black. It was a modified Cape Cod (in Arizona, if you can believe it) and I loved them. There was a fireplace in the kitchen. It was very charming. They did a very bad job painting the cabinets which is the part I didn't like. They look just like the picture you showed. You don't like that? It all depends on what final look you're going for. If you like charm, keep those and save up for a more updated look later.

Clean the surfaces as stated earlier & use a light paint to white wash. It will make a world of difference. Embrace the old. You will learn to love it.

Definitely save the old hinges, knobs and handles. Sell them on ebay or etsy and put the $ toward your reno budget!

Lots of people love character homes - and white cabinets are pretty gosh darn timeless!

Because kitchen cabinets are so high wear and tear, getting them professionally done could wind up saving in the end - I've seen a lot of diy repainted cabinets that just don't wear well over time - mostly because most of the specialty primers/paints made for high wear aren't given enough time to cure - curing can take anywhere from 3-7+ days for oil, and 21-30+ days for latex. (More if you go on really thick.) It is heartbreaking to do the huge work on painting cabinets, only to have them peel/dent/bubble/etc. because they were used before fully cured.

A great source for well-priced home renovation materials is your local Re-store. Hope you have one near you. They are run by the charity Habitat for Humanity, and have some fabulous deals on whole kitchens. People donate their kitchens, hardware, lighting, really anything for the home. I have a friend who is handy and purchased a kitchen there that she installed in her home. Gorgeous. Especially since your kitchen is small, you are more likely to find a donated kitchen that can be made to fit your space. And they definitely have a lot of stuff like hinges.

And as far as your pink bathroom, these are all the rage in some circles. Check out savethepinkbathrooms.com for ideas, including 99 ways to decorate a pink bathroom. You may also want to check out retrorenovation.com.

I just checked and I do have a Re-store near me. Thanks for the tip! Unlike your friend, though, I am not very handy...so I'll have to wait on replacing the whole kitchen. I will check it out for other fixtures and furniture!

If you don't like your hinges, there are reasonably priced alternatives. Home Depot has these soft-close ones for $12.98 for a 10-pack. They are visible on the frame of your cabinet, but since they are attached to the back of the door, nothing shows on the door front. I have the feeling you would like these hinges better than the ones you have. Just be sure they fit your door. Probably best to take a door with you to the store when you buy them. Or keep your bill if you need to return them.

Matching handles are $15.98 for a 10-pack.
At these prices, it makes no sense to paint yours if you don't like them. Pass them on to someone who likes this look, either by selling them or donating to ReStore. You'll need to fill in the holes and sand before painting. I have found the staff at ReStore to be very knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions about home renovation. They don't seem to be as rushed as some of the staff at the big box stores.

Thank you! You're right - I absolutely love those hinges and handles, and I'd be thrilled if they worked with my cabinets...BUT is it possible to use those hinges on my cabinets? I'll definitely take your advice and bring one to an expert. Thanks again!

I have painted several kitchens and they all stood up well. It was sometimes necessary to touch up a spot here or there but I just kept some extra paint in a mason jar so it only took a minute or two.

OMG it looks my kitchen when we bought our house. My husband primed with auto primer so the knots wouldn't show through. Painted them a very light grey (used enamel paint), new pulls and hinges. Now thinking about going white, as ugly as the cabinets were they are built like iron and you would be amazed what a good paint job can do.

Rustoleum makes a hammered spray paint metallic finish with built in primer. Keep all the hardware. It will look fine on the painted cabinets.

I wouldn't touch the hinges or pulls. Or the wood. That's what gives your kitchen character. You'll ruin the look by trying to change or paint hinges. Believe me, I almost always tell people to change hinges and pulls and paint-- but not in this case.

Paint the walls of the kitchen white and use bright colorful towels and cafe curtains to add interest. Be careful to note that the pine is orange so use green or aqua blue as accent colors with the white wall and white subway backsplash.

Add linoleum floors.