What cabinet painting changes
Painting covers the existing finish with a solid color. It works on wood, MDF and many previously painted cabinets, and it's the easiest way to go from a dark or dated stain to a light, modern color.
You can paint the whole kitchen one color or go two-tone, for example a navy or slate-blue island with white perimeter cabinets (pictured above). Adding new knobs and pulls at the same time makes the change even more noticeable.
Why prep matters more than paint
Kitchen cabinets get grease, steam and constant hand contact, so a cabinet finish needs much better prep than a wall. In general, good cabinet painting includes thorough degreasing and cleaning, repairing dings, sanding for adhesion, priming with a primer suited to the surface, and applying a smooth, durable topcoat.
Doors and drawer fronts get the smoothest finish when they're sprayed. The photo above shows real cabinet doors laid out in our spray booth during a refinishing job.
Painting oak cabinets
Oak was the standard cabinet wood in many Utah homes built in the 1980s and 1990s. Oak has an open grain, and that texture can show through paint. If you want a smooth, modern look, the grain can be filled before priming; if you like a little texture, it can be left. Tell Brandon which you prefer and he'll explain the prep.
