I need to update my late 70s/early 80s cabinets

B
by B
Originally, all the cabinets in the house were stained; the ones in the laundry room are the original finish. The previous owners did a poor job of spray painting the kitchen and dinette buffet a high-gloss black. I need to decide what to do: strip and restain? Paint? Chalk paint? White? Matte black? Gray?
  11 answers
  • Dima Dima on Mar 08, 2015
    I think your kitchen would look lovely with white cabinets. For the buffet in the dining room, paint those white as well but put beadboard over the paneling in the back. If you have it in your budget, take the doors to a professional and have them sprayed with an oil based paint. Oil is kind of a pain to work with (it stinks and takes longer to dry) but it is extremely durable which is great in a kitchen environment. If you decide to paint them yourself, don't try to do it "in place"; take the doors off and lay them flat. Good luck!!
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 08, 2015
    You can also have the doors all dipped in stripper. I've had furniture done that way. The straight cabinets would be less of a hassle to strip, with a heat gun. Or go with a lighter color like baroco99 suggested. The originals are actually very pretty even if dated a bit. The look high quality (nee expensive).
  • Lucy Nunn Lucy Nunn on Mar 08, 2015
    Also, do cabinet refacers use real wood? That might be a simple option.
  • Kathy Kathy on Mar 08, 2015
    I don't know what style you are wanting, but if you sand your cabinets or degloss them you can paint over them...and then sand a tiny bit and distress...or just sand along the molding line for a small amount of contrast without having to glaze. I think the original cabinet color is a bit dated, so rather than go back to that, paint them also.....
  • Sheri Sheri on Mar 08, 2015
    Trying to strip these cabinets yourself would be very difficult ant time consuming. I think I would give them a good sanding to give them some "tooth" and paint them the color of your choice.
  • Sheri Sheri on Mar 08, 2015
    Trying to strip these cabinets would be very difficult and time consuming. I think I would give them a good sanding to give them some "tooth" and paint them the color of your choice. Good luck whatever you decide!
  • Darla Darla on Mar 08, 2015
    I like the original finish, but that black is just too dark for the rooms. If you'd like to strip them, why not take the doors off and do those, and paint the rest of the cabinets the same color as the walls? It gives a sort of "built-in" look, and it's MUCH easier to refinish the doors after you take them off.
  • Jody Jody on Mar 08, 2015
    Chalk based paints like Van Gogh Fossil paint are great for cabinets. You don't have to sand or strip, just paint. Dries in 20 minutes, no odour and use the Table Top Finish to seal and protect. I've seen some amazing makeovers that were quite in expensive.
  • Elizabeth Elizabeth on Mar 08, 2015
    The room (kitchen) is just too small a room for dark cabinets...I too think they would look good off white or vanilla colored. You could use cabinet refacing and just do the cabinet doors if you would like. The floor is bad, have you scrubbed it good and the stainage is still there? Replacing the floor is the only thing I can think of if that's the case, you could use area rugs on the floor and they will take away the stained look...but not sure if you want any rugs on the floor or not.
  • Christine Christine on Mar 08, 2015
    I feel you pain!! Your kitchen cabinets definitely needs work. But before you start repainting and or resending the kitchen make sure you know how you want your kitchen to look and feel first. Decide on the look of your kitchen first and then think of a way to refinish your kitchen. And keep in mind that your existing kitchen needs to look the same as the new kitchen cabinets that you are planning to install. From my experience as an interior designer they will never look the same because of the different finish of the cabinets. Depending on how you are laying out your kitchen, you might be able to use one color for the existing area and another color for the new cabinet. I would scrape off the pop corn ceiling and make it nice and smooth. For more kitchen ideas you can check this out - https://www.pinterest.com/christinetse/kitchens/ As for the laundry room cabinets - I would paint them all in a white color! Let me know if you need additional help or guidance - I would love to invite you to a my 30 min. free design consult. You can email me at Christine@christinetse.com http://christinetse.com http://christinetse.com/landing/10-minute-makeover
  • Teresa C Teresa C on Mar 09, 2015
    I agree with a light cream color and maybe a little dark glaze over it and wipe off to make it look old world.