How do I paint cabinets? With what paint?

2 years ago

We've recently moved in and I'm kind of regretting my island being brown. I feel like it needs to be white with the uppers to lighten up the space!However, I'm torn on how to do it? How do I avoid them feeling 'tacky'?

Featured Answer

Beth H. :

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

those look like custom, rift sawn, white oak cabs.why would someone pay money to have those made and then paint over the wood?! that's just silly.

You have enough white in the kitchen as is! White cabs, white tile, white walls,,,,why do you want the island white too? To perform surgery??

Just NO. Sorry. it's a beautiful kitchen. It's not finished.

And please, for the love of god, don't attempt a DIY job on this wood if you're not familiar on how to do it. You'll ruin it.

Where is the cabinet hardware? (I see two knobs, but I'd nix those and do pulls)

Everything looks so bare because you have no "jewelry" on the doors/drawers

here. like yours. the long pulls on the drawers make a huge diff. so does the rug

Look at the diff w/yours and this one. almost the same.

bring in a runner to break up the wood on wood,

decorate the island top

go w/something light if you prefer. (all these white cabs/tile/countertop is just too much white. but the runner is pretty!)

The gold is pretty. again, nice runner, pendants too

I would switch out the pendants to something w/more design, maybe in the gold/brass range. this metal looks beautiful w/the warm oak and all that white.

these plain black/glass pendants really don't do much w/all of the oak in the room. it's falls flat and cold. Sorry.

it would be cheaper to change out the lights. and please, lose those knobs above the oven. they are completely wrong.

here's two diff oak islands w/white cabs. this first one is stunning w/the gold

They mixed metals on this one. similar color pendants like yours, but they went w/nice gold pulls

Here,,,gave you a photoshop with what I could. it already looks warmer. now imagine the soft gold hardware! gorgeous.

these are two tone like yours. do you think the island needs painting in these too?? lord, no.

Romatee knurled pulls. all finishes

Get your hardware on, a runner bought, and finish the kitchen before you start painting things that don't need painting.

Personally I'd paint out the walls and the kitchen door before I'd touch that island

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Comments (9)

Karly Moores
Original Author
2 years ago
Louise Smith
2 years ago
It's not really as easy as this article makes it seem, but it is doable as DIY.

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets in 9 Steps - This Old House
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dan1888
2 years ago
If you research this and do the prep.
deegw
2 years ago
If you don't have a lot of DIY experience, I would tackle a smaller cabinet in a less visible area before I painted the island. Half bath, kid bath, laundry room, etc.
susan49417
2 years ago
Absolutely agree with Beth H....your kitchen is beautiful and just needs the finishing touches as she suggested.
PRO
Design Interior South
2 years ago
I think you need to put your other finishing elements in the space before you pull out a paint brush.

The island is lovely.

Where is your hardware?

I would brighten up the space by doing a warm brass/gold or a polished nickel hardware. the black falls flat and dull with the warmth of the wood.

it may be the angle of your photo but the island pendents look oddly placed. again is may be the the photo but they shouldnt be that far apart

Painting that isand will equal regret down the road.
decorpatti
2 years ago
I totally agree with Beth H. Your wood cabinets are beautiful, and I do not think more white in your lovely kitchen will add any value at all. My kitchen perimeter cabinets are a creamy white, but I purposely did the island in stained wood to "ground" it. I alternately considered stained perimeters and white island, but I really didn't like how the white island looked in inspiration photos...it seemed to float, rather than be grounded in the space...just a personal opinion.

So many pros on this site have always maintained that painting cabinets should be done by professionals who have the right equipment and techniques, and certainly, I have never heard anyone suggest painting brand new gorgeous cabinets like yours. Finish your kitchen. I also agree the black pendant looks odd next to the other pendants, but it may be the angle? Is the black one over the table, not the island? Finally, you say painting the island white will help 'lighten' the space. It looks quite light in the photo, with natural light, pendants, recessed lighting, and the still-to-be-installed lighting over the sink. I think you've done a really nice job.
kandrewspa
2 years ago
I don't know how long you have been living with it the way it is, but I suggest you give it more time before painting the island. I think it looks fine and intentional the way it is. It may just be too different from what you're used to and you need some time to get used to it. If you've just moved you have a lot to deal with, so leave it alone for at least a year.