First what material are the cabinets? IMO painting wood is never ideal unless the doors are slab so I need a bit more info and the cabinet maker IMO should have a finisher they work with and of course you should have asked about that before choosing the cabinet maker but too late now. Post a pic of the cabinets and also you need an actual cabinet finisher not just some guy who sprays whatever .

The cabinets have paint grade fronts (I believe MDF) with birch boxes and dovetail joints. Some of the vanities are rift white oak and don’t require paint. I don’t have photos of them yet because they are still in storage at the shop.

I realize now that this was probably a mistake to have it separate, but this is my first home remodel and I’m learning something new everyday! I went with a company that members in my family had used before.

WB 2k poly hire someone that knows how to use

You’ve hired poorly. You didn’t hire a cabinet maker. You hired a woodworker. A cabinet maker builds cabinets, finishes them, and installs them in your home. A proper finish on cabinets is 40-60% of the total cost. Meaning that 20k worth of cabinets is 8-12K worth of finish. Cabinets do not use paint. They use sprayed industrial wood coatings, after an extensive prep process. 2K polys like Ilva, Renner, Envirolak, Milesi, Centurion, etc.

Choose an actual cabinet maker instead of a halfass parts assembler.

Sorry but you spent a lot of money on wood boxes that are now going to be painted and there are many joints that are not dovetail and last just fine I have Ikea cabinets my old ones are almost 20 yrs old in my old house still look awesome my new house has Ikea IMO best bang for your buck and the factory finish is great . As forthe finish that needs to discussed now with the cabinet finisher there is IMO nothing as good as a factory finish and I don't even see the style of the doors

OP, try the woodworker forum - they can answer your question with less scolding. What 20 yr old Ikea has to do with anything - I dunno. My 20 yr old Ikea thermofoil is peeling off in large sheets, but MDF underneath is good quality ad pristine so I too happen to be interested in how this material is best finished.

paint grade is fine. I had my cabinet refaced w/paint grade maple and MDF center panels.

my cabinet guy painted them in his shop with a pre-cat lacquer.

Obviously the bases are done on site. doors/drawers? back in his shop

closeup of the island portion, I stained the walnut insert/shelf myself.

It's been 3 years and no chipping. (make sure the caulking he does on those center panels on the inside is done correctly. that can leave a slight gap. I had it on a few and the guy came out and fixed it)

You need a professional cabinet guy who sprays cabinets.

as for the paint on version, I guess it depends on the skill level and product used. I think a cat spray holds up better, but that's just me.

also, priming is important. make sure a quality primer is applied, and that also has to be sanded prior to painting. (the raw wood should also be super smooth before the primer goes on.)

Lucieanna- Good luck with getting your cabinets painted. I love painted cabinets and when done well, the finish is fine. I've painted my own and had no chipping, and a beautiful, smooth durable finish, whereas I've seen tons of chipping on factory finishes. But I am not professionally in the business of painting cabinets at this time, so I will not offer advice as to best product, but will say I hope you find someone good and enjoy your new kitchen. The remainder of my post is a comment on a comment, for which I apologize to OP in advance.

"You’ve hired poorly. You didn’t hire a cabinet maker. You hired a woodworker. A cabinet maker builds cabinets, finishes them, and installs them in your home." This is just a baffling statement. I don't even understand the distinction that is being attempted. The OP hired someone to make cabinets to their satisfaction, and now wants a PAINTER to paint them. Hold the phone! Are they really a cabinet painter if they didn't build the cabinets? Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Definition of cabinetmaker

: a skilled woodworker who makes fine furniture

Beth H- what stone is your kitchen island. Looks beautiful

E Ktz,,,Calacatta Marble. thanks!

Hi Lucieanna - I know it’s been a while … are you still working on this? I did some exhaustive research trying to figure out what to do when I couldn’t find a cabinet painter in my area. If you’re still looking for product options, Renner makes a great line of products. Timberlane Finishes in Ohio sells retail, will match your color choice and ship directly to you. They also make custom replacement doors. Their customer service is super helpful and they’ll work with you/your contractor to choose products that match your job. Their products (requires using a sprayer) use a hardening catalyst that makes them super durable, or they can be rolled/brushed without the hardening catalyst. I hope your project is going well!