Our older kitchen cabinets have been defaced can I paint over them?

Yes you can . Clean them really well first. Remove all the hardware and doors , labeling them so that you know where to them back. Prime them with Kilz and paint away.

Hi Svilardo : )I did it with excellent results. De-grease your cupboards (wash carefully with TSP {tri-sodium phosphate} and rinse thoroughly) next, lightly sand the cupboards, and use a tac cloth to remove any residue wood dust. You can buy paint that doesn't require the sanding, step, but I don't know if it works very well. . Flat paint is not a good choice, it really can't be cleaned effectively. Double check with a paint shop person just to make sure you will get the results you are looking for

Use acrylic latex paint. Remove the doors and hardware. Mark the doors and cabinets with tape where they go. Lightly sand the doors and cabinets to remove any gloss and roughen the surface for paint. Prime with a stain blocking primer like Zinsser 123. Then paint with your color. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.

For kitchens get either satin or semi-gloss finish, flat will not hold up to grease, oils and scrubbing. If you get poly for top coat, make sure its non-yellowing.