Paint nice cabinets or leave as is?

Question

I posted a question about my cabinets a couple of months ago, but the picture I included was old with bad lighting and didn't show the updates we'd already made. So I thought I'd ask again with better pics! We bought our house about 3.5 years ago. It's a cute 1948 brick house and the kitchen had been updated already (I'm guessing probably 12-15 years ago). The cabinets are Thomasville brand and very nice, but just not my style - I'm a white kitchen girl. I wanted to paint kitchen cabinets before we moved in, but everyone discouraged me because they were 'too nice to paint.' I don't really know how long we will be in our house - could be 5 more years or could be forever! But I am trying to keep resale in mind. I'm just a bit nervous about ruining nice cabinets by painting them, especially since we'd be doing it ourselves and while we would take care to do a good job, we aren't professionals. I'd love your thoughts on painting vs not painting! Thanks so much! :)

DianeM · Answer

I would paint them a nice white or cream color.

Michelle George-Dempsey · Answer

I think that the wood is lovely & rustic!! Theony thing I may change is the Hardware on all the wood cabinets to give it an ''instant' update'!! Other than that, you canpaint in the wood in a Cloud White (Benjamin Moore) & change the handlepulls to give it a modern look!! Especially with the light-coloured flooring! I think itwould be STUNNING!!!

Beverly Cady Cabaday · Answer

Since there's nothing wrong with your cabinets (good condition), this is really a personal decision...what your style is, what you like.

Pamela Metsala · Answer

Look at the baskets, is that's something you really like.  That feeling (style) screams paint and rough the rest.   It will make it yours, and much lighter in that room.

Charlotte Ray · Answer

I just painted my oak cabinets a creamy white. My kitchen is so much brighter. Absolutely love them.

Danielle Brault · Answer

If you are worried about the wood, why not cover the fronts with plain white removable wallpaper. You can even use a light design if that is more to your liking. Would love to see updates once you make your choice.

Merri · Answer

Thank you all for your input - I should add that I like a cottage style kitchen, which is the look I'd like. We already have a white subway tile backsplash, although you can't really tell - darkening the grout to make tiles stand out more is also on the list!

Christina Dorrego · Answer

Dark brown on the bottom, playing into the counter's colors. Then the palest color on top, again using the counter as your color guide. 
This will add drama, yet lighten the room-opening it up.

PainterNoni · Answer

you might try pickling......try on a obscure piece first. this would lighten the wood, but it would be easier for a new owner to restain a darker color if wanted.

PainterNoni · Answer

Or.........go ahead and paint them..........the granite counter tops are going to be outdated in a few years anyway.

PainterNoni · Answer

Granite is so obtrusive.......the colors generally overpower everything else. anytime anything becomes too popular, it will eventually date the kitchen. It is expensive, and isn't that easy to care for. It's too expensive too rip out, so many people will be turned off by such garish colors. right now people love Granite...because it's still in.......and looks upscale........but it is just getting too common.........there are too many other alternatives available. I personally would think twice before getting stuck with granite, unless it was a very muted, more neutral color.

Shari · Answer

If you are a 'white kitchen girl' (so am I!), I say paint them! If this were my kitchen, I would paint in a heartbeat. White kitchens are classic and never really go out of style...unlike wood tones which wax and wane in popularity. Essentially the 'cottage style' is fairly classic too. I have some old magazines devoted to cottage style decorating and interestingly, the featured rooms do not really look dated, even though the magazines are around 10 years old. Most everything shown is still extremely popular today. What other styles of decorating can you say that about? Not many (if any)!

If you are worried about 'ruining' the cabinets with paint because you are not professionals, don't! Plenty of non-professionals are successfully painting their cabinets with stunning results. Just do your homework. Read as much as you can and/or watch video tutorials. Talk to the professionals at your local paint store, or if you know any professional painters, seek their advice. Don't take shortcuts when doing the prep work, buy the best quality paint you can afford, and most importantly, take your time. Once you are done, I am willing to bet you will be wondering why you didn't do it sooner! :)

B. Enne · Answer

If you want to paint them than do it ! :) 
 I would personally leave them, because I like them as is, but it isn't my house. 
I actually believe the opposite of the last comment...wood cabinets are classic and stay in style...the popularity of white cabinets comes and goes, but you could always repaint them with another colour, if that were to happen. 
 If you are really concerned about resale, consult with a real estate agent, or check listings in your areas to see what is popular there, and what the demographic is.

Kate · Answer

I, too, love white kitchens, and have yet to see anyone regret changing out or painting their dark or dated cabinets. (Really amateurish paint jobs with lousy prep, no grasp of paint technique, nor attention to detail excluded.)

The way you asked your question and framed your dilemma tells me that, deep down, you already know YOUR answer to the question to paint or not. And that's the only one that should matter. 
 
Who is this 'everyone' who told you not to paint? Will they be using your kitchen day in and day out? Is 'everyone' going to take turns coming to your home to cook for you? Will they be the ones getting up to make the coffee, flipping on the kitchen lights and gasping, 'I love her brown kitchen!'

Every, single morning, for 8 years (until we moved), my heart did a little happy dance as I entered the kitchen we'd finally painted after 7 years. And I'd say to myself, 'I LOVE my kitchen!' Same kitchen, same layout. Just new countertops and beautiful new hardwood floor, and that glorious, silken white on those high-end, good-wood cabinets.

My husband actually apologized for being so resistant for so long! Neighbors and friends who'd cautioned me against painting were astonished at the improvement--even when they hadn't before recognized a need for improvement. Several never-ever-paint-wood types admitted they were now going to do their own kitchens.

You have a beautiful kitchen. But it's not you. Imagine how beautiful it would be if it actually was you.

Debi53 · Answer

Without getting too philosophic, live your life for now. Decorate for now. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Don't wait or worry about resale. No matter what you do, someone will tell you that you should have done it differently. Do what you love. You will be happy every time you walk into your kitchen. Just be sure to learn the proper prep & don't take any shortcuts. The prep is the most important part of a paint job. Best wishes!!

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

They look like ash, and the same style can be bought today. The white pillar and the open basket area break the flow. Am not a fan of painting good wood, but painting them white would look nice - and, more importantly, make your time in the kitchen more pleasant.

Bal910844 · Answer

I would LOVE to see what you do...I have the EXACT same kitchen (down to cabinets and colors/stainless, etc. I love white kitchens but I am too scared to paint for that reason...everyone says they are too nice. I am finally at the point where I realize that they might be nice, but if I do not like my own kitchen, then they are not too nice for me! If I do, I am going to really do it the right way and research how to do it so it sticks (I did it once before to another kitchen and it chipped bad). Also I am terrible at picking color...what kind of white? Ugh. I hope you are successful with it!

Pamela J. Sparling · Answer

Paint and change hardware on doors.

Wanda.ll · Answer

I would not change the cabinets just add some colorful stuff( green, red, yellow, blue some color)
Wood cabinets will be back in style in just a few years and you won't be able to get the white paint off to redo.

An as far a granite yes it will be a thing of the past too. The only thing I know that has been a stable for many many years is tile/white or color grout and corian..So it is really up to you and your pocket book now.

Debbie · Answer

I personally love the wood cabinets. You can add color to liven the space with accessories/rugs. It is however your kitchen. If you do decide to paint them. Do your homework and make sure the job is done correctly.

Colette Johnston · Answer

Merri, you have been wanting to paint these cabinets for a long time. The fact that you are asking this very question means that you still want to do it, but you just need a push. Don't listen to the naysayers, do what you want to do and don't worry about resale either. It took me a while to learn that I needed to treat my house as if I was going to be in it forever and enjoy it for me, not for someone who might live in it after me (or not). Our homes are our sanctuaries and we need to be happy within them. Oh, and don't worry about ruining the cabinets, if you use the right products that won't be an issue. Why don't you google some white kitchen images for inspiration. You will also come across blogs with instructions from people who have done it and this will give you more courage to GO FOR IT!!

Sharon · Answer

Paint them! If you can afford to, most say hire a pro. My realtor says a bad paint job can ruin your resale. But if you've painted furniture and have had great results, then go for it. Prep is key to getting the look of factory cabinets. One tip I would strongly recommend is to add Floetrol to the paint. It helps the paint level out better. I did a few small furniture pieces to improve my technique first. Rather than list all the tips, here's a link to a great step by step by John Dee of This Old House. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/m/how-to/intro/0,,20315665,00.html Good luck! I know you'll be smiling every time you walk in your kitchen.

Jeanette Lemke · Answer

Personally I like the wood. I think some contrast or color is what you are wanting. How about painting your walls a vibrant color and/or changing the light fixtures over the bar? The cabinets are a very attractive feature of this kitchen and changing wall color is going to be a lot less trouble.

Kathy Sorrentino · Answer

i say if you're not sure if you're going to stay, leave them alone and get white cabinet in your forever home, if you are going to stay and paint them yourself read up on it, plenty of youtube how to's to get the best result and go for it

Grace · Answer

Ever thought about painting the top cabinets to match the walls and leaving the bottom alone? Just an idea and you get the best of both looks! :)

Linda Parrish · Answer

If you are keeping resale in mind, than I suggest leaving the cabinets as they are.  They are gorgeous!  If you prefer white cabinets than REMOVE  the Thomasville cabinets, purchase some unfinished wood cabinets that you can paint right out of the box. Than you can recoup some of the replacement cost by selling the Thomasville cabinets.

Lani Priddy · Answer

I would keep the cabinets as is. A different wall color and a tile backsplash would do wonders.

Sherry wooten · Answer

I have cabinets that were nice in a 45 year old house, but just got through chalk painting them and it transformed the kitchen. It is modern and has added value for resale. I love them. I would suggest that if you paint yourself to clean them very good to degrease and sand them before painting.

Lynda Dexter · Answer

I actually had cabinets like this in a rental home and I could not paint them so I did a project where I cut fabric that I liked a nice light color with a print tht matched my decore and I used fabric starch in the liquid form dipped the material into it and hung it on the fronts of the cabinet doors. When we left I pulled it off and wiped the cabinets with no damage. It made a huge difference in the lightness of the kitchen and if it got dirty I pulled it off washed it and rehung them with the starch.

Ruth Rios · Answer

By any means, do NOT paint over those cabinets, if you do, you would have to sand them all very carefully, before you paint and still paint will come off after a couple of years, if you just want to change the look try contact paper, or something temporary, change the doors or just try to sell the whole kitchen cabinets first and then buy new set white.

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