Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Last spring, I had my kitchen cabinets painted and would recommend the project to anyone!

Updated functional kitchens can contribute 30-50% of a home’s market value.  Professionally painting your cabinets will add value – not nearly as much as a larger remodel, of course – but the satisfaction level is high for homeowners and that is priceless in my opinion.

I researched companies, looked at testimonials on their websites, then contact the business I chose.  The project manager came to my house to explain the process, timeline, and guarantees, and discuss price.

Before I pulled the trigger, I asked for the phone number of a client who had cabinets done 7-10 years ago so I could assess the durability. He told me his kids were hard on the finish and the edges of the cabinet doors had worn. I appreciated his honesty but since I do not have children and I had the cabinets of my wet bar painted 8 years earlier and they still look like new, I was satisfied that this was the cost-effective option for me since my cabinets were in still in excellent condition, the layout worked fine, and a simple spruce up would make me happy.

The painter took the cabinets and drawer fronts to his shop for cleaning, sanding, and spray painting several coats. Before the painter returned to my home to paint the cabinet boxes, I needed to remove the items from the front three inches of each cabinet shelf.  This part – sanding and painting multiple coats – was done by hand.  (Some companies will do this part with a spray gun instead which is quicker but can be a bit more disruptive for the homeowner.)

As you undertake this process, it is a good time to decide if you want new soft-close, hidden hinges, new handles or drawer pulls, and any glass-front upper cabinet doors. I opted for all three. I added new decorative knobs to four cabinets I changed out for glass fronts. 

The whole process took about three weeks from start to finish with most of that as drying time. I could not be happier with the outcome. The light paint really brightened my windowless kitchen, but it’s the glass-front cabinets I love the most.

With many satisfied clients since 2008, Barbara Graceffa owns and operates Secretary of the Interior in Quincy, MA offering decorating services at reasonable rates. If you want to suggest a blog topic or have a decorating, downsizing/decluttering or home staging project needing professional help or are interested in hosting a workshop or quilt show, please contact her via her website www.sec-interior.com or phone 617.921.6033.