I would get the uppers sprayed white you can even ask a local car body shop to do it. Don't put all uppers back get a clear glass pair, leave bottoms as they are and tile a white back splash.

I love them as are. It's different from every white kitchen I see.

I don't understand why people are so disinclined to painting cabinets. Swapping out a five thousand dollar counter top is much more difficult. Our last home had brown cabinets, brown floor, beige countertop. We painted the wood cabinets a pale creamy color, swapped out the sink for a red porcelain one, and called it a day. We loved it, and when it went up for sale, not a single person said 'oh you've ruined the cabinets' they all said 'what a bright happy kitchen'.
Moral: do what makes you happy. The people before you did, so will the ones after you.
Also: it's a big job, it took me all summer, you might consider getting quotes.

laurenk1974,

5 1/2 years ago we bought a 6k sq ft house and are in the middle of a whole house remodel. We have redone all 6 bathrooms and used white painted cabinets in all of them. They are wearing fine.

I can tell you that if someone knicks a white painted surface, it does show more than a stained wood surface. So depending on how people live in your house and/or how "OCD" you are, maintenance can be more work.

For the bathrooms, we used unfinished cabinetry (poplar?) and painted it ourselves. Proper sanding for prep, HVLP sprayer for application. Used Styx primer ($50+ per gallon) and Muralo Ultra Waterborne paint ($75 per gallon).

Muralo is comparable to BM Advance, but less of a learning curve, and a much faster cure time.

The kitchen in our house had already been remodeled, but with maple cabinets. It is a classic house that needs white kitchen cabinets, so we will be painting those at some point, using the same products.

Someone above suggested auto paint. I remember researching that a little, and IIRC, auto paint is not pliable enough to use on wood.

I couldn't tell from your pictures how far the crown moulding goes. If you use a different white for the cabinets, it needs to match, and if you use glass inserts in any of your cabinet doors, you will want to have the interior painted as well.

The undertones of white are sometimes difficult to see until the whole area is done. We are using a BM color (AF-35 Vapor), throughout the entire house, and it has been perfect. White, but not stark.

If you do decide to DIY, I would be happy to PM you with more details.

@TonyMontana- I don't think you've shared how the professional who painted your cabinets did so? What was the application method, and what kind of paint? Prep done? I think all of these details matter re: wear. Please share so we can learn?

Thank you everyone for your input. I've decided to do it and I am using a professional cabinet painter. I'm also going to do white subway tile backsplash after the painting is done.

uhhhhh!!! no question!!! Do what you love! Life is too short. Make sure you get it done by someone who knows what they are doing. I painted dark cabinets and they are chipping through already. There is a special process that will keep them from chipping.

4 years ago we had our dark brown espresso cabinets painted white and it was the best decision ever. The kitchen also has (still) espresso brown floors and dark brown/black granite. The only place the paint has rubbed off is where I drag the garbage can in and out. They were professionally painted with Sherwin Williams best quality paint. It cost $1500. for the job. We had the counters priced out to change and it would be $6000 - a huge difference. I still don't like them, but the painted cabinets really lightened up my space. Before painting we added 2 more can lights with led bulbs (for a total of 8) to take away the yellow cast the incandescent bulbs made plus we added 3 pendant lights over the counter. None of that helped as much as painting.

@ Eileen Snow, you like many fake "pros" on here think that if you send it off to a painter that charges a fortune to paint cabinets, you think they use some kind of magic paint. I've tried all different methods and the truth is you really don't have to do anything. I've painted houses with oak trim and if you touch it and let it try. The paint isn't coming off unless you scrape it off.

The cabinets pictured where sanded bare, primed, and painted with paint meant for wood. A kitchen that is heavily used will always turn out like the picture no matter what paint you use. Paint is a good sealer but not good for wear and tear by touching. Finger nails, banging pots, pans, and dishes, natural oil from your skin ect. Its almost common sense really.

This will probably be the last I comment on the subject. If people wanna screw their stuff up go ahead. The more people do, the value goes up in my real cabinets. Win win for me.

I forgot to mention we did use an oil based paint and we also have pulls and knobs which probably helps with the wear and tear on painted surfaces.

laurenk1974 & Eileen Snow - would love to know what brand(s) of primer & paint your painters use! lgstacey - and what NOT to use?

You can tell that primer was not used on the cabinets that Tony posts all over these threads. You can see where the paint is rubbing off and the natural wood is coming through with no other color in between. Even a tinted primer wouldn't be the same exact color as the surface paint. It's just a poor paint job. I'm not sure why he takes it so personally that many people like the look of painted wood. It doesn't affect the value of his cabinets one way or another.

Tony Montana - I think we all get that you had a bad experience and your advice is to NOT paint your cabinets. That, in, and of itself, does not render everyone else's experience to be a negative one.

My husband and I had a very bad experience with Rubio Monocoat on our wood floors. I have posted about that in numerous discussions on houzz.com.

However, I try to convey what NOT to do & what to do, so people have more information on which to base their own decision.

Tony, we aren't falling for it. You've been called out on other threads for the fact that clearly no primer was used. Insults and poor grammar doesn't help your cause.

I did a reverse image google search and found where Tony got these photos. He has repeatedly been dishonest about the method in which these cabinets were supposedly "professionally" painted. They were painted DIY with a $75 kit and no primer and no sanding. Here is the link to the blog where the owner shows her process for these exact cabinets - http://www.ashleysgreenlife.com/2016/07/rustoleum-kitchen-cabinet-update-touch.html

have you thought about just replacing the doors- two toned can look very nice or have a fine carpenter cut the doors and put in glass? would open up the area and with lighting could be lovely

Wow, such animosity! That's crazy- we're all just homeowners here. I'm no pro, and am not pretending to be one, never did. Just a homeowner asking honest -to-goodness questions. If one experience was so bad, I simply wanted to knwo what the process was so I wouldn't think the 1000's of dollars i just paid to have my cabinets redone professionally was a waste. But that's ok- I know my guys did the job correctly, and here's hoping it wears as well as I think it will. But no way I'm going to be mean to someone- anyone- who's just seeking advice.

I'll look up the exact brand of primer and exterior coats my guys used and post back to answer the above question. Thanks everyone--- and in the immortal words of Jerry Garcia- ain't no time to hate, barely to time to waste.....

I would definitely paint them. Also you may consider more lighting-I cannot tell if you have more lighting but you want it to be bright. If you can get a smaller refrigerator that is more flush with the countertops it will also make the space look larger. Try a light but not white backsplash with white cabinets with interesting hardware. Good luck!

So glad you are having them painted! Post photos when you are done!

lauren, I am glad you decided to paint. They will look beautiful. Let us know how it turns out.

Not sure if you've painted yet, laurenk1974, but I'd love to see an after photo of your painted cabinets. Looking back at your original photo, I bet white cabinets will look gorgeous with that countertop and flooring. (I would never pair those red wood cabinets with that floor! Not sure what the builder's designer was thinking.)

Thanks!

I did change all the lighting as well

Looks stunning! White is so popular. While cherry never goes out of style, it does have its drawer backs and works better in large kitchens with lots of light.

Wow, beautiful!! Glad you're happy with it!

It's beautiful. The painter did a great job! I love it.

Excellent!

I hope lots of other people find this thread when they have the same dilemma and that it helps them to pull the trigger on painting.

Looks fantastic!

I really like the darker cabinets. Lighten the look with lighter walls and accessories or check in to new doors if you like the layout. I know the big box home improvement stores sell a product but maybe you could also get from a cabinet shop. The countertop will look completely different with lighter cabinets.

Wow....looks SO much better. Love it!

It looks so much better @laurenk1974!

Yes have you heard of milk paint ? that would look awesome see you tube there are some great before after videos

You are awesome Tony Montana.

Beautiful and classic!

Cabinets have been painted white since the 1920s. It is a classic and timeless look.

it looks great

I couldn’t believe it when I happened on your post. My kitchen looks just like your old, dark one, only it also has an ugly backsplash! I have gotten quotes to have the cabinets painted and have been second guessing whether I should be painting “good cheery” cabinets even though I think they are ugly. Your before and after pictures were such a relief. Yes, I definitely need to do this. (We are also replacing the backsplash, but not the granite). Thank you!!!

Your cabinets are beautiful. I would get a glossy white back splash, paint your walls a light color and add bright colorful accessories. An area rug, teapot,canisters etc.

Sorry!! I just looked back on your post and see you painted your cabinets. Your kitchen looks beautiful. You couldn’t go wrong, they were pretty both light and dark!

@laurenk974, interested how much it cost you to have the cabinets painted? Also, how are they holding up?

Thanks for posting your photos! My kitchen is exactly your "before" with even the same countertop! So, I can picture now a finished product :)

@Risserbg when you redo your backsplash you should look into moving those outlets up to the top of the backsplash, just under the cabinet bottoms. I hate to see nice backsplashes spoiled with outlets all over the place.

I’m currently trying to decide the same thing...do I paint my cabinets (thinking light grey) and trim white and changing backsplash to a light clear glass look neutral . The rest of my house has white trim and grey walls and is more contemporary and all the floors need redone to flow best I’m looking at a vinyl wood look in a grey. Any comments suggestions welcome. If my counters were light granite I wouldn’t change the cabinets but they are dark and were expensive

It has been about a year now since we had the cherry cabinets painted white and we a so happy we made that decision! The kitchen looks so much brighter. Here is a photo of the new kitchen.

@risserbg, everyone always says that after the fact. I just renovated 2 of my apartments back to back. Top floor I had to paint the cabinets because I had no choice. They were to messed up. I literally just finished the middle floor a few days ago. To me the wood looks waaay nicer. Yes the white looks brighter but there is an over whelming feeling of cheap and generic in the space. Zero character. The wood is much more elegant and "homey" feeling. Guess what? The people on the top floor are moving in the middle today. Same apartment, different kitchen, same rent. The middle floor is actually a little bit smaller and the bathrooms are older and it has carpet instead of hardwood floors.

I always tell people they should treat their cabinets like fine furniture. After all, they are. Their furniture thats apart of the house. Would you paint fine furniture? If so, then your just stupid. I guess around here, HGTV hasn't brainwashed people into painting their cabinets. Here are some pictures to prove I'm not making this up. Pictures are just pictures. The way the space feels when your in it is different. I did all the work myself by the way.

White dove cabs, alabaster walls.

The wood cabs could use a coat of poly on them because they are a little worn but they should be good until next time.

I’m so glad you did what you wanted to. It looks fantastic. I love the backsplash too - it pulls together the white doors and dark granite. So glad you have a happy outcome. Enjoy your kitchen!

@laurenk1974 I love love the your Kitchen. We are painting cherry wood and I was just wondering what your process was and how is it holding up now? And how many coats or did you hire it out? Sorry for all the questions:)

Thanks! We are really happy with the kitchen. I think the main thing is to have the cabinets painted professionally. They took the cabinets apart and drawers, fronts were done at their shop. As far as I know, they sanded, primed, and the paint was an extra hard enamel finish. We had to vacate the house for several days. It was worth it. They have held up extremely well. Good luck!

@risserbg can I ask how much it cost to have your cabinets professionally painted?

noooo!!!! I would have changed the counters.