I would also invest in a gallon of cabinet paint, rather than the rustoleum. I use rustoleum paint (painters touch) for several products, but, was never happy with it on any type of cabinet or furniture. Much better to spend a few extra dollars and buy the cabinet paint. I use valspar cabinet paint, and have had it on my cabinets for a little over 4 yrs now, and its still perfect.

when i paint over oak, I sand, prime, then fill the grain with joint compound, sand, prime again and then paint. For laundry room I would use a cabinet paint--Lowes has a quart for about $13. It's Alkyd so it will dry/cure harder. I like the look of satin. Good luck. It saves you a lot of money but its also a lot of work to get a good finish. Do the prep right, don't skimp on the sanding and you'll be really happy with the outcome.

Good point armchairshopper about the wood grain and satin. I used grain filler on the door fronts and a few other spots, but even with generous use of primer, some grain pattern will remain. A big vote for Satin!n

I am wondering what shortcomings you encountered with Rustoleum cat_ky?

I wasn't planning to use the Painter's Touch product, which I think is marketed as primer and finish coat in one, but instead their "protective enamel" product over 2-3 coats of Kilz tannin-blocking primer.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/paint-and-supplies/interior-paint/furniture-and-craft-paint/12687

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/paint-and-supplies/spray-paint/hobby/1121425

The advantage of this product is that I can buy it in spraycans (for the best finish on the door fronts) and in a can for brushing (on the everything else, so I have brush control and don't go nuts with the tedious masking). I haven't found any other paint sold "both ways." It's a little pricier than Painter's Touch, so maybe it's a higher quality product somehow?

In my online research for painting oak cabinets, it seemed everyone who posted a DIY story used a different combination of products and techniques, with many using paint spray equipment, but of course they were doing entire kitchens. Not like my dinky job!

I find the painters touch to be a bit more for crafts, etc, than for cabinets, or furniture, although, it does say its for that on the can. It chips on furniture, no matter how well its prepped. I prime everything, regardless what kind of paint I use. Primer in your paint, makes no sense to me. Its a lot of prep, and a lot of work, and a lot of time, to do cabinets, best to use cabinet paint that will hold up longer.

Years ago, a painter gave me the following tip for painting cabinets: apply the paint with a brush then go over it with an extremely short nap roller to smooth out the brush marks. The result will be an orange peel finish, similar to that obtained by spraying.

Spray cans are notoriously unreliable for an even finish, and sometimes even fail to spray at all.

Well, I guess I will skip the spray paint! I don't really like it since I prefer the tactile feedback of the brush. So I am thrilled to hear that I can brush first and then do the roller. Houzz Genius at work!

You could still use a paint sprayer. vs spray paint Unless you're really skilled with a brush, a sprayer might be a good option but will come with a learning curve. Good luck!

Yeah, I have many decades of

brush experience....

UPDATE on the cabinet painting project -- thanks to Houzz wisdom, I went with brushing the satin finish alkyd paint, and the oak grain is suitably subdued. Thank you everyone for your techinical and emotional support!

Other than some touchups, the painting is complete and the cabinets are installed in our laundry, with their charming seed glass panels in place. They will store a variety of utility items, so I will put something obscurant behind the glass -- most likely some kind of paper or fabric, possibly gathered. I'll have to experiment to see what would best allow visualizing the seedglass texture. (Feedback on any similar experiences you've had is welcome!)

Here is my MAIN question -- how should I finish the bottom corners of these doors, since they were made to be used without handles and I don't intend to add them? The door corners/edges don't feel particularly smooth to the touch now so I expect they will eventually become grubby. And then repeated scrubbing will abrade the paint.... Should I maybe should brush some alkyd gloss or semi-gloss on the underside hand-contact edges now, while I am doing other touchups? (I do not want to add handles.)

my 2cents, yes try a semi-gloss on the underside as you are thinking.

I would add knobs to the doors, easy to do and keeps the cabinets in better condition.

Knobs would be fun, since there are so many gorgeous ones out there, but I don't want to add knobs or handles now. Too late! It might have been easy when the frames were sitting on the work table in the garage, but it's another story now that the doors are attached, especially with the glass in place. No way am I going to risk irritating the glass with an electric drill nearby. And, I kinda like the way these doors look with out them!