What is the easiest, most durable way to redo old kitchen cabinets?

Clean your cabinets first to remove grease and dirt before you start sanding. Sanding is required to remove sealers, peeling paint and minor scratches. It's also a good idea just to give the current surface more "tooth" so the new paint sticks better. For cabinets that will be painted start with a 100 grit to remove old sealer or paint, then finish with 150 grit so you get a smooth finish. You don't need to remove every bit of color from the cabinet, but you should remove any shine. A semi-gloss is more durable for a kitchen, but you can use a satin gloss.

Make sure they are clean and dry. 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 with 120- to 220-grit sandpaper. Use a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust after sanding. Prime with a stain blocking primer like Zinsser 123, KILZ,or BIN and have it tinted to the color of the top coat. This will prevent dark or stained surfaces from showing through the top coat. Acrylic, or water-base, paints are low-fume and clean up easily with water. Alkyd, or oil-base, paints require good ventilation because the paint contains solvents that can irritate your lungs and make you feel sick. Alkyd options require mineral spirits for cleanup, but they provide a hard, durable paint finish. Whichever you use, buy the best-quality paint you can afford for a lasting kitchen cabinet finish. Seal with at least three coats with a water based polyurethane. Use a small foam roller and foam brush for a smooth finish.