Ever get half-way through a project and wonder if you had to be half-crazy to have started it in the first place?
Yeah… That was me about a month ago.
My road to crazy was a gradual one… Thanks to too much time spent on Pinterest, I’ve had my eye on white kitchen cabinets for about a year…
The problem was that I couldn’t exactly justify ripping out my current cabinets and springing for brand new ones. Although I wasn’t a fan of the builder-grade orange oak, they were still in good shape and I didn’t exactly have a couple thousand bucks hanging around for a full kitchen remodel.
Lovely orange and red…
So there I was– with orange cabinets… and a whole bunch of paint brushes in my basement.
You can see where this is going, right?
Hubby wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea at first– but after I showed him pictures of crisp, farmhouse kitchens with creamy white cabinets, he started to “feel” my vision…
There are a lot of cabinet painting shortcuts online, and although I was tempted by them at first, I decided to avoid them. My kitchen is the most-used room in my home, and I couldn’t risk having paint that would rub off it a year or two…
I decided to follow the process that Young House Love outlined in their cabinet-painting tutorial. They have multiple in-depth posts on the subject- I definitely recommend checking them out. (I think I read the series about 582 times before I started…)
I originally figured that the project would take about two weeks…. *cue hysterical laughing*
Another “before” shot
It actually ended up taking over two months… I somehow failed to include the fact that I have two small children, a homestead to run, and a blog to maintain into my initial time estimate.
Since Young House Love did such a splendid job on their cabinet-painting series, I won’t go into every detail here, but here is a quick run-down of the process:
How I Painted my Kitchen Cabinets (in a nutshell)
No more doors…
1. First, I removed cabinet doors, hinges, and drawers.
2. I sanded the drawer fronts, doors, and cabinet boxes with 100-grit sandpaper. (An electric sander will be your best friend.)
3. Wipe off sawdust with a damp rag.
4. I then applied a liquid de-glosser. This basically coats any leftover polyurethane or finish and makes sure that the paint sticks to it. Some folks just do sanding OR de-glossing– but I did both just to be safe.
I can’t believe I’m showing the world wide web the inner guts of my cupboards…
5. Apply two coats of quality primer. Let each coat dry completely according to the manufacturer’s directions. (I used Zinnser primer.)
6. Apply 2-3 coats of quality paint. Let each coat dry completely according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Now– the type of paint you choose is very important– do NOT skimp on quality here! I know that some folks just use regular latex paint, but I had heard great things about Benjamin Moore Advance, so I went with it– and I wasn’t disappointed. (I’m not affiliated with Benjamin Moore in any way– but I’m still singing the praises of this paint!)
It’s basically a latex paint that acts like an oil paint. It’s self-leveling and dries to a very hard, very wipeable finish. (And if you don’t have to use paint-thinner to clean your brushes!) It wasn’t cheap (expect to pay $40-$50 a gallon), but it was worth it since I do NOT want to have to re-do this project in a year or two…
7. I chose to spray paint my old hinges instead of buying new ones… I priced replacements, and it would have ended up costing several hundred dollars for new hardware… We’ll see how the spray paint holds up, but so far– so good. (I used Rustoleum Professional High Performance Enamel)
8. After giving everything a couple more days to dry, we re-hung the doors and attached new knobs and drawer pulls.
A Few Tips I Learned Along the Way:
1. Give yourself lots of time…. LOTS. This isn’t a weekend project– expect to live in chaos for a while.
2. Keep stuff in the cabinets. Since my kitchen had to stay functional during this whole process, it wasn’t really an option to box everything up… (Although maybe if I had, it would have been completed sooner!) Instead, I chose to leave the contents of my cupboards in place… I did have to remove everything and rinse it off after the sanding was complete, but otherwise, I was still able to cook during the remodel. (And hey, my cupboards needed a clean-out anyway…)
3. Use quality brushes and paint. I know, I know– I’m a frugal gal too. But this is one area where you don’t want to skimp– unless you plan on re-doing the project in a couple years. Like I mentioned above, I was very happy with my choice of paint, even though it wasn’t cheap (Benjamin Moore Advance in Acadia White). I also bought quality 2″ paint brushes and a small foam roller for the process.
4. Follow the directions and let things dry. Read the back of your paint/primer cans and obey. If you rush the drying times, you’ll end up with gummy paint that won’t be as durable.
5. When painting the doors, start with the back side first. This allows your final coat to be the front side, which is the most important in my opinion. And yes, the door-painting part of the project takes for-ev-er……..
6. Stick with neutral. Before I started this process, I was tempted to choose a fun, trendy color for my cabinets. However, I quickly decided against it since I didn’t want something that would be dated in a year or two. Instead, I chose a timeless, soft white that can really go with any future color scheme. The same goes for the hardware– I found some fun, trendy knobs that I liked at first, but ultimately ended up choosing a simple knob with an antiqued pewter finish. I really don’t want to have to re-do this project any time soon (I think I might have mentioned that once before…)
So… now that it’s all done, was it worth it?
Absolutely! My kitchen is much lighter, brighter, and larger feeling. You can still see a slight bit of the woodgrain in certain light, but for the most part, they look perfect. (Minus a couple little mess-ups that were my fault… but I guess that 100% perfection is rather unrealistic…)
The white is holding up great thus far. Yeah, I have had to wipe food splatters here and there, but the paint literally dries to an enamel-like finish, so everything wipes right off.
The couple hundred bucks I spent for paint, supplies, and hardware sure beats the several thousand I would have spent for brand new cabinets.
But, I’m sure glad it’s done. 
This post was shared at Frugal Days Sustainable Ways
About Jill Winger
Great job! They look fantastic!
I’m spray painting the hinges and door handles in our 5th wheel and it’s taking me forever. I can only imagine how long it would take to paint the cabinetry in a full kitchen….
Yes… it took waaaay longer than expected. But, I’m gonna say it was worth it!
I can not tell you how timely this is. My cupboards are a scarier version of yours and I am too tight to buy a new kitchen, this is sooooo inspiring.
Francesca.
Hope it’s helpful to you if/when you decide to take the plunge!
LOVE your new white cabinets!!! They look brand new at least. You did a great job. We had pine cabinets when we first built our house 30 something years ago. I decided I wanted a lighter kitchen after a few years. So my husband put kilz on them and painted them an off white. After years they begin to chip and look real bad. He said he was not painting them again. I still wanted them painted. Sooooo, one day I came in from work and water was all over the kitchen floor and in the basement too. We had a filter on our sink that sprung a leak and flooded the kitchen. Welllll, we got new cabinets, new appliances, and a new floor. GOD works in mysterious ways.
Ha– yes He does! Glad you got new stuff, but too bad it had to come as a result of a “flood!”
Good Morning Jill…Love Your Blogs…
I’ve been thinking of painting my kitchen cabs for awhile now. I Love the way they look but a freshening up and (If I get Gutsy) possibly new colors. All of my cabs were made by my brother in law. Bases are oak with a green wash (to see the grain), the tops are farmhouse red and the walls are a golden yellow, counter tops are a butcher block that I bought at a farm auction (was the farmers work bench top) Some doors are leaded glass bought at a yardsale. Love my kitchen, so taking on a new project to change it all, will take some forethought. Thank You for the Great tips and tricks. I’ll keep your blog at hand for when I take the Leap !
Enjoy your Day !
Pssst…I forgot to tell you, Your Kitcher Looks GREAT !!! Well, worth all of your hard work !!!
And Patience !!!!
Thanks Patti! Sounds like you have a lovely kitchen to start with– and it might be a fun project to re-do. Lots of work– but fun.
Ha ha! I am actually knee-deep in this myself! We just bought a small farm, and adding animals to three kids and managing “inside” chores, it feels like I will never be able to finish!! I’m re-encouraged to grab my roller
I have been using porch paint, which is covering like a smooth eggshell enamel, and it’s only $24 a gallon! I like the durability so far- it’s nice because its made with the intention of people walking on it, and lets be honest, in a house of littles, you never know what to expect!! 
thanks again!
P.s. dairy goats are next!
Oh yes- I bet porch paint would be good too– it’s tough by nature. And hooray for goats!
They look SO GOOD!!! We’ve been contemplating a new kitchen re-do because the cabinets and counters aren’t that great….old and plastic. LOL I was scared to paint them – but since you’ve done it you have given me hope!
Oh yes– there is always hope when you are willing to “invest” some elbow grease!
Haha, that first sentence sounds VERY familiar! LOVE your new kitchen!
I painted mine about 9 yrs ago in a previous house. I was a HUGE job. Took me 2 MOS as well. I had glass put in a few of the doors. It was worth every crying episode and painful joints. I painted inside and outside, for the back inside corners that I couldnt reach well, I used spray Kiltz and spray paint. I used sherman williams cabinet paint as well. NOTE: I bought the expensive paint brushes recommended, but found that the cheap foam ones worked much better and smoother and I could throw away at the end of the day. I got boxes, turned them on their side and stacked to move all my dishes, foods into. I drew a template of the cabinets placement and numbered my doors so I knew where to return them. I didnt think of spraying knobs, great idea… I absolutely LOVED them when they were complete….you are right, dont skip ANY step. I love your cabinets.
Thanks Sherry! Good to know about the foam brushes– I know I really liked the foam rollers.
Oh wow your kitchen looks completely different! I had to keep looking back at the before photos a d see if all u changed was the paint lol
Beautiful job, Jill! Ah, the memories of revamping our kitchen! How well I remember doing that nearly 15 years ago. The kitchen sink and ceramic tile countertops and back splashes had to go, too — had to smash them up first, along with the substrate (temporary plywood served as countertops, and dishwashing was done in the bathroom). The kitchen never had a dishwasher, so I modified a base cabinet to accept one with wiring and plumbing as needed. Then I built ridiculous-looking workbench/painting/drying apparatus in the backyard for work on the doors and drawers. Fortunately, the late spring weather was perfect for the project, but only because I spray painted everything with an airless sprayer to save time. Kilz primer and two coats of “Bisque” oil-based Alkyd enamel was still looking good when we sold the place 3.5 years ago. Again, great job, Jill, and I wish that paint you used was around back then.
Yes– we put in our dishwasher too. There wasn’t a spot when we purchased it. Remodels are a lot of work, but the end result is so much fun.
It looks great!
Please don’t forget to realize how lucky and blessed you are by being able to do that. You already had beautiful appliances and counters. You already had “real” cabinets. A freshening up was doable.
I live in an old farmstead, on the short-grass prairie, too, but in another state. My house was built in 1906 and I’m pretty sure our cabinets are the original or near the original. We have old plywood hand built ones. The counters look added on. We have an unfinished edge on them. The cabinets are only about ten inches from the counters, which renders counterspace pretty much unusable. I’m personally holding out for a new kitchen. If I should paint mine, it wouldn’t change the plywood cabinets or the ugly counters.
So, yes, your kitchen came beautiful, but know that it did because of of course your hard work and resourcefulness but also because what you started out with was actually really nice.
well said
Yes– I am very thankful that we started out with a “clean slate.”
I’m pretty sure that the cabinets that were here before we purchased the house would have been a complete loss. Thankfully, the man we purchased the house from had gutted it and put in new appliances and these cabinets.
But yes, sometimes you just gotta rip everything out and start over!
Your kitchen looks AMAZING! Nice job you guys!
Thanks TJ!
Your kitchen looks fantastic! I have been “thinking” about this project for years. Our cabinets are circa 1979 so invision dark stain. I believe this will be the year of transformation. Great Job!
Ah yes… I grew up in a house with dark 1970′s cabinets.
beautiful! and i can completely relate. we moved into our house in november and its been non-stop half-finished projects…. we approaching two months of our stairway restoration and i’m itching for it to be done! part of the “fun” is the process though, right?
Indeed it is– even though you think it might drive you crazy sometimes!
Amazing! And even more so because you did all this yourself with a toddler and a baby! Love it.
Yeah… I still can’t believe I did this with a toddler and baby… But at least it’s done now.
Your kitchen looks GORGEOUS! You did a great job!
Thanks Melissa!
I love your new kitchen and was so happy to see this article in my email this morning. I have been wanting to do this for about 4 years to ours. We have good solid wood cupboards, but they are completely flat and have no definition to them. I still have to figure out how to add the definition, but glad to have the refinishing part already handy – and bookmarked.
I’ll have some tips for adding embellishments in one of next week’s posts.
Nice job! So pretty!
You did an Awsome job! It totally changed the look without the big out lay of money, just alot of hard work but in the end it is always worth it and you can say I did it. The only thing I would add is( where your two piece of wood come together on your doors their is a gap) that you can caulk (paintable ) or use a One time spackle that dries hard. Let dry overnight to be safe. Alway remember less is more when filling in, if you can fill in the fist time great, bigger gaps require more and must dry inbetween application or they will sink . Use a wet finger when you smooth caulk ( only with paintable caulk) ,let dry prime spot and touch up with your paint in these spots. I usally do this as I prime.
Thanks for the tip Mcovill!
Your kitchen looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing the before and after photos :0
you d id a great job thank you for sharing
Your kitchen looks amazing great job. I’ve been trying to convince my carpenter husband to paint our cabinets for years. He made the cupboards 10 years ago when we moved into our home and the finish is out dated now. Maybe when I show him the great results you got he’ll be more convinced to give up the wood grain!!!!
Yes, sometimes it takes a while to convince the hubbies.
WOW!!! Awesome before and after!!
I know of a paint that requires NO sanding, stripping or priming…and it has very low VOC and cleans up with soap and water. I have used it on EVERYTHING…even Formica! It is called Caromal Colours. They sell a textured paint for a more primitive look and Reclaim…for a smooth look. There are lots of pictures on my FB page Little Village Interiors. I LOVE this paint!!!! I use it on plastic, laminate, glass, metal, wood…well almost anything. Your kitchen looks amazing by the way!
Oooh, I’m intrigued. Will definitely have to check that one out. I’m always painting something!
I can’t believe all you did was paint the cabinets! It looks so amazing…like a whole new kitchen : ) Great work!
Yes, it feels like a whole new kitchen too!
Beautiful kitchen!! Are those essential oil bottles on your counter?
Yes they are! That is my collection– I tried keeping them in a case, but I use them 2-3x per day, so I found it’s easier to just have them out on the counter.
Love the little stand!! Where can I find one?
They look GREAT!!! You will have to come help me when we move one day
You betcha!
This is very inspiring. I’m in the process of repainting my cabinets right now too except we’re painting and then distressing and antiquing them… which was all way more work than I anticipated, but I’m so excited for it to get done so I can get photos up on my blog. It just gets us one step closer to making our house a home!! Thanks for sharing!
PS…. I TOTALLY agree with you on spending the money on good brushes and rollers!
Oh yes– I was totally tempted to antique/distress mine… Who knows- I may still end up doing that in the future.
Wow! Your cabinets look fantastic!!
I’ve been toying with this idea for a few years, but haven’t been able to strike up the courage yet. You may have just changed my mind. My cabinets are just like yours, so now I can actually show hubby what the change would look like. My mother-in-law painted her cabinets a couple of years ago, but hers were repurposed barn boards that were stained a very dark brown (almost black) color. She applied several coats of a good quality white paint and what a wonderful change it created. So much more brighter now. It’s nice to see our resources re-purposed or re-finished instead of thrown out and replaced. And what a huge cost savings too! Again, your kitchen looks great and very welcoming…great job! 
Thanks so much Sharon! Yes, the brightness is sooo nice! It took me a looong time to work up the courage too– but sure glad I did.
Personally painted wood makes me wish to hurl but that is just me. I would move in and strip it all or replace it all just saying. You made it look really nice and am glad you shared it and I am sure it will be very easy to take care of. Have heard of the saying that the joy is in the process, in this case was that true? Am sure you are glad it is done and you can enjoy it now.
I did mine a few years ago. I put a couple of coats of clear polyurethane on my finished cabinets. It was an extra precaution because it was such a tough job that I didn’t want to be re-doing it any time soon. My boys were younger and they could deal some damage.
I also got some corner molding and painted and finished it the same way, and attached it to the more exposed end corners. I’m happy to say that after 8 years it still looks fresh.
It cleans up well. I have had to touch up a few drawer faces where the kids skinned it going through. Once I skinned a door face with a knife (I was so mad at myself!) but as far as stains, I splattered some greasy tamale sauce on one once and didn’t notice it until the next evening. It wiped off cleanly. Same with some pomegranate juice. I’m happy with them still. Yours look great!
Wow, I have been enjoying your blog for a while now, but the transformation of your kitchen has motivated me to comment…your kitchen looks fabulous and makes it look worth the effort! Excellent job…I just may have to paint mine now!
Thanks so much Lise! (And thanks for the comment)
Your kitchen looks like a completely different kitchen! Fantastic! I love your counter top with the white cabinets. I think it was worth the time (of course because I wasn’t helping paint) – great job!
Yes… I think it was worth the time too– Of course, it’s easier to say that now since I’m not in the middle of it!
I think the before & afters are fantastic! Smart to stick to a neutral colour. I love seeing doTERRA oils on the counter too, I hope to have a rack of that splendor on my kitchen counter soon too:-)
Yes– I tried storing my oils in a case in a drawer, but I use them so often, it was a pain to keep pulling them out! Hubby made the rack.
Wow!! Your kitchen looks beautiful! I too, have the exact same “builder’s special” cheapo cabinets and have been wanting to paint them forever. I think you are right about the white…I was gonna go for a sagey green and darker on the bottom, but seeing how awesome yours turned out, I think I may do the same. Thanks for the post…now to get motivated….
I did this in my first home (a condo where I would have had to pay a huge fee to have a dumpster placed for a full remodel). For me the key was using a very high gloss paint – it made all the drips and splatters easy to wipe off!
Yes– I think the high gloss is very important– the Advance paint that I used is high-gloss by nature and it wipes beautifully.
Your kitchen looks great. I painted my cabinets about 2 years ago. The project took me longer than 2 months, I had family help
Really glad I did it though, and I have a better relationship with my daughter in law because of it.
Absolutely beautiful! I have wanted to paint my hideous cabinets since we bought or house, but haven’t been brave enough. Thanks for the inspiration!
You can do it Jerica!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I just started this project myself and your tips and steps will really help me out. So far I have been on the same page with you. I am changing my blue cabinets to white ones and I want to paint my hardware also because, like you said, it’s $$$ for new ones.
I’m doing research tonight as I’m going to embark on my own cabinet painting journey in a few weeks
and I came across your blog. Your kitchen turned out beautiful! Great job! I’m a little nervous…I have 3 kids 4 and under and am planning on doing this myself. The good (? hopefully?) part is that we haven’t moved in yet – we will have a month between closing on our new house and the end of our current lease so I thought it might be nice to tackle the project before we actually move in and have to move food around etc. My big question is how many gallons of primer or paint did you end up using? I’m trying to calculate costs of all materials and I am thinking 2 coats of primer and 2-3 of paint – but how many gallons? If you could get back to me I’d greatly appreciate the tip! Thanks so much!
I would DEFINITELY do it before you move it if you can! I think it’d be much easier.
For my kitchen, (2 coats of primer, and 2-3 coats of paint), I only used about a 1/2 gallon of each. So, unless your kitchen is massive, you should be fine buying 1 gallon of each to start out. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much! It’s not a huge kitchen, but it does have a little island in the middle. I’ll start out with one gallon of each – thanks so very much for your help and quick reply!
OH! I just looked closer at your photos – and noticed you have an island also. We were thinking of adding beadboard to ours – is that what you did? Was it hard to do? I know you can buy it pre-primed, which makes me think it couldn’t be too hard…
Nope- It wasn’t hard at all (Ok, well– I didn’t do it– my hubby did– but it didn’t *seem* to be hard, ha!)
We actually built the island from scratch and then lined the frame with the beadboard, but I think it would be fairly simple to cover an existing island with beadboard too.