Thanks for your comment Patricia_1958. My husband & I just purchased a home where I need to freshen up the kitchen cabinets. They are painted white, and I have been wanting to try Annie Sloan chalk paint. I literally will be starting this project in the next month. I am so glad that you recommend using her products. I have reviewed her website and love it. If there are any other suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!

I'm glad it helped....I still want to use the chalk paint. I love the look. Did you see where you can make your own chalk paint with either plaster of paris or calcium carbonate and any latex paint? I'm going to try it on a piece of furniture soon.

I'm sorry, now I am confused. So you didn't use chalk paint with a semi-gloss finish on your cabinets? Did you just start over with a regular semi-gloss paint?

Nope--there's no such thing as a chalk semi-gloss. Chalk is very flat and you have to buff it with soft wax to get a sheen on it. I used the Behr Ultra paint and primer in one in a semi-gloss. I didn't have to apply a primer. I just standed (or I should say my husband sanded them). The first coat dried in about 30 minutes. They were totally dry in about two hours. Remember if you do it that it needs to be above 50 degrees to dry well and out of the direct sun. k Here's a little better picture

Benjamin Moore Advance is really the best solution...it's a great product. It also won't yellow if you use a light color, is low VOC, and easy clean-up for DIY. It tends to self level quite well also.

I would hesitate to replace your door/drawer fronts just because of the arches...use that money for bumping up other updates or fun pulls.

Unless there are very few nicks, dents etc. I would use a satin finish...Even semi-gloss will show imperfections. But if you really like the semi-gloss go for it.

Happy painting!
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Okay, thanks Patricia_1958. Your cabinets look great! I have actually redone (with Sherwin williams paint) a entire Kitchen in the past. I was looking into Annie Sloan to get more of an antique feel. However, I am going back and forth on what to do....something I have done (which looked great when I was finished) or something new. I have heard from friends that Benj Moore paint really is the best. However, I couldn't find the color I wanted in that brand.....decisions, decisions =) fyi, I live in the desert, so dry heat is all I've got lol

Either paint the cabinets a semi-gloss white or high-gloss (if there are no imperfections) or white wash them. For hardware, look at topknobs.com.

swsunshine, your local Benjamin Moore dealer should be able to color match any color you have found. If you are looking at reds and yellows sometimes it is more difficult though as some brands bases won't mix true to these colors.

Thanks Patrick, I will. Right now I have a 'lemongrass' color picked out by Martha Stuart (just for the lower cupaboards). I will try and see if I can get that matched up!

if you're looking at a deep color (and especially reds or black), it's best to stick w/ the paint dealer where you found the paint chip.

To ALL: How do you find your painted cabinets standing up to tomato-sauce and coffee spills???
Am very tired of my wood ones.

I had our kitchen cabinets painted professionally almost three years ago as part of a major facelift. They were whitewashed oak from 1990 - great custom construction but terribly dated finish. The cabinet doors, drawers and pullout shelves were taken to the shop for prep and painting. The frames and island were painted in place. The painter used a laquer based paint that stunk to high heaven until it dried but has proven to be very durable. You must let the paint cure for two weeks before cleaning it. This has held up very well to staining including spaghetti sauce and blueberries.

We had cabinets in the bath and family room painted with professional grade alkyd paints. We reasoned that they were not going to take the abuse. These turned out fine. We had one contractor use a foam roller to apply paint to cabinets and not brush it out leaving an odd texture. These contractors applied the paint with a sprayer and left a smooth finish. You can buy or rent airless spayers to make the job go faster.

I personally believe that sprayers give the most professional looking job....... and so much faster!
I can't remember having trouble with food stains on my wood cabinets. Quick clean ups should take care of most potential stains.

You should paint this immediately. The room will be much improved. Michael Merrill ASID

Is there a rule for two tone cabinets? Do all the bottom cabinets have to be the same color? I have all oak on three walls: left wall lower cabinets only with window, far wall lower cabinets with upper cabinets to ceiling, right wall is floor to ceiling pantry cabinets surrounding refrigerator. I want to replace area where there are just lower cabinets and then extend it by adding a long breakfast bar. I can't replace the whole kitchen so I figured the sink/dishwasher wall could be replaced with the new painted cabinets. The new will come together with the old at the corner of far wall. Any help would be appreciated.

Without being in the room I cannot really say. Best wishes on your project !
Michael Merrill ASID, NKBA, CID

jsallen, you might want to post a couple of pictures.

Yes !!! paint them.

Kroze - are the pictures you posted of the kitchen your work?

Oh yes paint, paint paint! The timber is so dull and outdated. I painted mine white added new handles and loved it so much. It was like a new kitchen. Spend time on the preparation and you will be very happy.

How do you know if your cabnets are oak or the cheap stuff. I am thinking my doors are oak but the actual cabnet is a type of particle board.. ?

yes!!!

jamie, it is my kitchen and I designed it. I used a remodeling company to do the work...... I'm an old lady. :)

jamie, sometimes the border of cabinet doors are wood and the center recessed part is particle. It is difficult but not impossible to work with that. You can definitely paint it but staining would be difficult as well as doing a glaze as I did with my cabinets. My remodeling foreman wanted to do it with his cabinets but could not because of the mixed construction materials in his cabinets.

Kroze - our kitchen looks much like your before kitchen.... I WANT YOUR AFTER KITCHEN!!! ;)

I would paint the top cabinets white and the lower cabinets a light sea blue. It's beautiful.

Jaime, call a remodeling company and show them the picture of my kitchen. They will tell you if it can be done. If you use a remodeling company, take bids from several different ones. It could save you thousands. The cheapest is probably not the best one!

We just painted our kitchen cabs white and we loooove it! It's so much brighter in there now and also feels a lot cleaner. Just a happier place overall. :) We're still in the process of putting on our cabinet hardware.

We're also replacing the countertops with quartz and putting in new appliances, sink, faucet etc. In an ideal world we would have done the countertops first but it didn't work out that way.

jaimie, my cabinets were first spray painted a biscuit color before being glazed.

Thanks for all these helpful suggestions. We have decided to test painting our powder room cabinets first since they are exactly the same at the kitchen ones. It seems a lot safer to start there. We have installed a new granite counter with a great undermount sink so we have a great starting point in the bathroom now.

So.....as for my kitchen, we will leave the cabinets as is for now and go with a darker countertop in quartz or granite, change the cabinet hardware, install a more interesting backsplash, update lighting and window coverings. And, of course, new paint and new fridge to match the other appliances.

I think I should be able to pick fairly neutral/safe colours in the counter and backsplash so that if I do go ahead and paint the cabinets down the road I will be able to pick a coordinating light paint colour.

Does this sound like a good solution? And does anyone have any more lighting and window treatment suggestions for me?

Thanks again!

I just finished a similar kitchen with the same cabinet finish. There were two sections to the cabinets. I did one side with a sage green and a black and brown quartz counter. I did a glass and slate backsplash that pulls in the brown and matches slate already on the back of the bar side of the cabinets. Those I did in a mushroom color. I did nickel hardware including new nickle hinges and did the slow close stops on the doors. I put in all Samsung appliances and the cabinet handles match the curve of the handles perfectly. It is now beautiful and magazine worthy. I am in Real Estate and did it to prepare this home for sale and yes I did all of the design work. The mushroom side ties in perfectly with the brown in the quartz too. Really beautiful stuff and more whitewash! I will post images when I get the after shots this week with the hardware on. That was the last thing that I had to do. OH and I had them professionally sprayed as I am selling the house, not painting it myself! They ended up having to paint them about 3 times and the grain now barely shows in some spots. It looks pretty slick. We used Pittsburgh Paint and I had it custom mixed to the colors I wanted.

I'd paint all the cabinets white-both upper and lower... When I moved into my townhouse in 1994, the kitchen cabinets were dark and navy wallpaper. Several years later, I painted the cabinets white and changed the wallpaper (lighter wallpaper) and flooring. It looks like a new room. The white is so refreshing.

First let me suggest that you get prices to replace the doors--it would save you a lot of work. But, if you want to paint them, start by removing all hardware. Wash well to remove any grease. Sand all areas lightly--no need to take finish off completely. Fill the grain with Wunderfil by Rockler Woodworking Supply(on-line). Sand smooth. Wunderfil is very smooth and is EASY to sand. This product is different from ordinary wood filler., so don't skip this part. Spray an oil-primer (I use spraycan Rustoleum in a color close to the paint color.) After the primer is dry, look over the job closely for any woodgrain that might still be showing. Refill those spots and prime. If you want a light color--use two coats of primer. I have used all different kinds of paint and methods of application. I think spray paint ( either oil or water-base) gives the best finish, but I have had good results by using a door and cabinet roller, as well as careful brushing.. Get a new,good-quality brush with a tapered edge. High gloss paint will last longer, but it will show imperfections more than a medium or low gloss. Another way is to put a coat or two polyurethane over the paint. This is not a job for the faint of heart, but it can be done successfully.

I'm planning to have my oak cabinets painted white. Anyone have any suggestions for hinges. They are a tarnished brass right now. Since my appliances are chrome, I think the hinges will class. Any suggestions? Would black work? or are there white hinges?

brightpixie,

I think matching the hardware style to the cabinets is the most important consideration. Mixed metals is not as much of a design faux pas as it used to be but if you are changing the hardware select it before you paint. You can fill old holes and then paint so the new hardware doesn't need to match the size of the old. You can paint your old hardware when you refinish the cabinets. Just be sure everything is prepped well or the hinges may flake.
our cabinets were professionally painted and the small European hinges were painted along with the doors.

You are lost in the 80s. Get out by staining not painting cabinets darker, add brush nickel pulls, lowes carries. I would up date floors as well to a random pattern in dark gray. If you really want a wow look go granite in a gray also. With stainless backsplash.

Remove valance get a roman shade and remove rug by sink. Dated looking. You can't hurt tile.

A counter depth refrig. in stainless all appl. should match.

Paint hinges white. Use brush nickel pulls.

Thanks. Will speak to the painter about painting the hinges white. Already have brush nickel pulls.

The best product you can use is Fine Paints of Europe oil base primer followed by two coats of their oil base finish in the sheen you like.

For cabinets, I vote Muralo paint.

I haven't read every post so I may be repeating another response. If you like a more contemporary look, stain your oak black. It's beautiful and shows subtle grains. I just put in new kitchen cabinets and saw a lot of oak cabinetry stained black . I couldn't choose it because I have a huge build out around my ovens/ stove top done in charcoal stone but I kept going to it because it was beautiful.

Thanks for the suggestion. I hear you about the black being more modern. However, my home is a beach cottage and the white would work better with the rest of the decor. Have a friend who has the black cabinets and they do look nice in her modern home. :)

If there is a way you produced a cerused oak finish on these cabinets it would be perfect for a beach house.

Is cerused oak different to white wash? Sorry, but I'm not very knowledgeable about these things.

It is a total different look. I will post one of samples tomorrow for you.

I just finished painting my bathroom cabinets. Used a good brush and really good primer plus paint. They look great but do I need to put a polyurethane on top to protect from scratches, etc! I have used polyurethane before and didn't like the yellowish cast . Cannot find a good clear polyurethane.

I am not sue why you worry about scratches on cabinetry. That is normally not a big problem except on counter surfaces which I assume are not painted. If you did get a random scratch it would be much easier just to paint over it using your remaining paint.

Choose your countertop first (for color). Personally I like ceasarstone. If your husband likes projects, I would do the following (well, have HIM do the following): choose your countertop and then choose your paint color for the cabinets. Replace the backsplash with a tile that works with your countertop & cabinet colors. Replace the stainless sink with an undermount sink (personally I like ceramic sinks) and replace the refrigerator with stainless (it will work better visually with your other appliances). Replace the cabinet hardware (an inexpensive but big bang project). I have rental properties of varying ages and I can tell you that as long as the cabinet door style is simple, and not dated, then a WHITE painted finish will never go out of style.