Blogger Louisville, KY on Apr 14, 2012

How I painted my oak cabinets

Because my kitchen has only one small window, it tends to be very dark. I decided to brighten up the room by painting my cabinets.

I have a step by step process on My Repurposed Life http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/2010/12/how-...

I painted the cabinets about 18 months ago. Not a nick or a scratch anywhere. I really took a lot of precautions to make sure this paint STUCK.

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Before, note the one small window that allows very little light in the kitchen due to a patio and a huge tree.
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I did a lot of prep work before I started priming.
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I used a paint sprayer to primer and paint all of the doors and drawer fronts.
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After several coats of primer and semi-gloss paint.
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I painted my hinges and installed new knobs instead of the brass colored handles.
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After--so much cleaner and brighter looking, don't ya think?

66 Comments Displaying 25 of 66 comments | See Previous

Roxy D Gainesville, GA

That looks great!! Our house is 40+ years old, and, I didnt think I could tackle painting our cabinets in our long galley kitchen, so we hired someone. I think I could have done a better job myself. It's just not holding up. Did you use an oil base and what was the finish: eggshell, satin, high gloss? I may attempt to do them myself this summer.

on Apr 20, 2012 · Like 0
gail--My Repurposed Life Louisville, KY

I did use an oil based primer, then Dutch Boy Latex (semi-gloss) paint in sweetened white. please see my post for full instructions. http://bit.ly/HR0lcH

on Apr 20, 2012 · Like 0
Connie Nikiforoff Designs Mandan, ND

@Sue A...I've seen cabinets painted the way you've described yours..not so nice :-( But certainly better than all the honey oak. Know what? Some day when he's gonna be gone, get a friend over to help you remove the doors and paint out the dark space! You'll LOVE it! What's he gonna do when he sees it...divorce you? :-)
Seriously, I'm willing to bet he'll get used to it and if he does get mad, you can counter ...»
with "But honey, look at all the mantel, trim, doors, etc. that are still in wood tones! And even though they're painted, they're still oak underneath!" Then make a nice dessert :-)
You know what they say "Happy Wife; Happy Life!" Go for it Sue A! Then post pics so we can all see the befores and afters too.
Here are some pics of our painted cabinets. They were a medium oak stain over birch. I used latex paint and primer in SW Decor White. This was our former house and I loved it! We added quite a few details to the room. I wish I had before photos of when it was all wood! Dark!!!! This is a second "redo" where we completely lightened up the kitchen. You wouldn't believe all the "ooohs and ahhhhs" we got! If you like soft/minimal style, this may speak to you :-)
You can see/read more about it here on my blog.
http://cndesigns.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/an...
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on Apr 20, 2012 · Like 1
Pam D Alexandria, LA

Gail, your kitchen is bright and cheery now. I personally love painted wood better than stained. You did a great job.

on Apr 20, 2012 · Like 1
Linda M Clinton Township, MI

Times and style change. It looks fabulous.

on Apr 20, 2012 · Like 1
Pam D Alexandria, LA

Sue A: Does your husband do all the cleaning and cooking in that kitchen. Tell him you need a bright and cherry workspace. Unless he wants to take over all the kitchen duties. Tell him it's depressing to be surrounded wtih all that wood. Maybe this argument will work.

on Apr 22, 2012 · Like 1
Connie Nikiforoff Designs Mandan, ND

Amen on that thought Pam D! :-D

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
Tonja P Dayton, OH

i painted mine and the paint is coming off.i tryed sanded them but some places it is going into the wood.any suggestion? i want to paint them white again

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
gail--My Repurposed Life Louisville, KY

Tonja--I'm not an expert, but I know that if you can see "layers" you will still see those layers after painting. Other than stripping them, or sanding them back to wood, I wouldn't know what else to do.

on Apr 23, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Tonja...it sounds like you may not have prepped very well...nearly all paint job failures are due to poor prep. Kitchens are some of the worse due to oil and grease contamination. Sanding alone is not enough. I like to use TSP (Trisodium Phosphate) as a part of the prep process.

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 1
Pam D Alexandria, LA

I use TSP to pre-clean all surfaces prior to painting. If ther is any bit of lil or grease especially from cooking over the years, the paint will not adhere, even witha primer. First step, TSP.

on Apr 24, 2012 · Like 2
Karen L Wentzville, MO

Pam, you are so right! Tsp not only removes oil and grime, but also removes shine from woodwork which discourages adhesion. I like to use a gripper primer after the Tsp in scrubable areas especially ugly backsplash tiles It works great.

on Apr 26, 2012 · Like 1
SheilaG, Plum Doodles Acworth, GA

Karen, is there a particular primer you like to use?

on Apr 26, 2012 · Like 0
Karen D Anna, IL

There are three Karens here. Which one of us are you talking to? :)

on Apr 26, 2012 · Like 0
gail--My Repurposed Life Louisville, KY

I washed my cabinets, used TSP, sanded, and used oil based primer to prep them for painting. :)

on Apr 26, 2012 · Like 1
Nancy B Wesley Chapel, FL

Looks Fabulous!

on Apr 27, 2012 · Like 0
ANITA G Oak Lawn, IL

these cabs are beautiful

on May 08, 2012 · Like 0
Nancy P Rochester, NH

just stunning what a dif it made wish i could do that to mine i hate them

on May 14, 2012 · Like 0
Jan C Duluth, GA

WOW - that is great - you must really enjoy cooking in there now every day!! Congrats on a wonderful job.

on May 15, 2012 · Like 0
Karen L Wentzville, MO

I remember that it is called gripper primer. That is not the brand. I got it at Home Depot, and now have a brand new 5 gallon bucket in the rental house next door. They recommended Gripper as the best product for the on our kitchen three years ago. We know that works on shiny porcelain tile behind sink and stove. In the rental, we are going to use it in on kitchen cabinets, kitchen tile , bath tile (floor to 6 ft from floor) Both wall to wall, plus one side of the hall is paneled ...»
half way up. Paneling , all doors and woodwork in the house will be included. The wood is all exposed wood. We are painting the entire house white, inside and out. We are adding a few burgundy accents, starting with new shutters in front, and back door coming out to carport . I am thinking about adding other burgundy accents like planters for curb appeal.
I copied an excerpt from yahoo ask :" How does Glidden gripper primer comparable in quality to Kilz premium and Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 . Water-Based White Interior/Exterior Primer and Sealer ?" . "Best answer" was: They are all the same it is all in the name your paying for the name.
I am too tired to walk next door to make sure, but the only paint that came up on my gripper primer search was Glidden brand.
( Behrs, Kilz Premium and the Zinsser product all are close to $20 vs Glidden Gripper at $22 at my Home Depot today.)
Make sure you use TSP wash and neutralize the TSP with a vinegar bath before applying the gripper (Heavily scrubbed areas) or walls and woodwork could be regular Kilz II Primer. The TSP is important part of the process. Ask Lowe's, Home Depot or other "Knowledgeable" paint store professional what they recommend. I am pretty sure you will get the same guidence. I used TSP routine for the first time in the 70' s when my painter uncle told us how to clean the paneling we wanted to paint. They did not have gripper primer then, but we did use latex paint.

on May 17, 2012 · Like 1
Becky T Columbia, MO

Has anyone painted both inside & outside of cabinets? I have done this in the past & have had problems with the doors sticking slightly to the cabinet fronts. I followed almost the same process (I didn't sand the surface before the first coat of primer).

on May 23, 2012 · Like 0
gail--My Repurposed Life Louisville, KY

That's one reason why I didn't paint the inside, and I'm really happy that I didn't. I knew they would just get scuffed up.

on May 23, 2012 · Like 1
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Becky T...a lot of the trouble with doors sticking to painted fronts has to due with using them too quickly after they have been painted...paint may be "dry" to the touch in a few hours but it can take days or weeks to fully cure to its most durable state.

on May 24, 2012 · Like 1
Pam B Jaffrey, NH

Nice work

on May 27, 2012 · Like 2
Peace Painting Co., Inc. Alpharetta, GA

Precautions, always better than alot of touching up later.
Nice job!
CP

on Jun 24, 2012 · Like 2

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