Anyone ever regret painting kitchen cabinets?

CD+AL

We have very standard, older medium oak stained cabinets.  You know the type...They're in every other house built between 1970 and 1999.  I'm thinking I'd really like to paint them (replacing is not an option at this point) and do a DIY solid wood counter top to replace the laminate counter top that is there now and that I hate.

FTR, our house is a smaller and very old farmhouse, so we have kind of a rustic look going.  I have stainless and black appliances, and the kitchen is a soft, neutral yellowish color. 

I'm just a little nervous about painting the cabinets because I don't want to have buyer's remorse once I do it.  I think it will really update and clean up the look of my kitchen, but I guess I'm just a Nervous Nelly. 

AC100

I would go ahead and paint them. I know what you mean about being a nervous Nelly. I fret about decisions that aren't easily undone too, but the odds of your regretting this seem pretty slim. Those oak stained cabinets have never been the most attractive and they tend to date kitchens really quickly. You'd probably think the white ones look fresh and updated. With a new wood counter top they'd look really nice, and it would still fit the farmhouse style.

 Good luck!

judy201

Posting a picture would help us understand more the concern. In general if you think that painting will only enhance the look the future buyer would think the same. A buyer likes to come in a fresh looking house.

LoveKiss

I am pretty fearless with these sorts of things. If I find myself questioning a decision, I usually ask myself "What do I have to lose? Can it really look any worse than it already does?" My answer is usually "I have nothing to lose. This thing makes me want to vomit and/or kick something. I'm going for it." If you don't like the first color you paint on them, you can always sand the cabinets down and try another color.

Sisugal

I painted the old cabinets in our first house.  You MUST use a quality paint.  I prefer an oil based paint as it has a harder, more durable finish that holds up better than a latex.

Take your time.  So the tedious prep work (sand, prime, paint, sand, paint -- and maybe sand and paint a 3rd coat)

A soft shade of white wold look great in your kitchen.

MaineWifey

Sisugal:

I painted the old cabinets in our first house.  You MUST use a quality paint.  I prefer an oil based paint as it has a harder, more durable finish that holds up better than a latex.

Take your time.  So the tedious prep work (sand, prime, paint, sand, paint -- and maybe sand and paint a 3rd coat)

A soft shade of white wold look great in your kitchen.

All of this exactly. 

I used a regular latex paint on some cabinets at my old house.  It came out terrible, and it took so long to do.  I ended up just tearing them out and buying new cabinets a few months later. 

John+OurHomefromScratch

Just make sure you prep well and use quality cabinet or furniture paint.  DO NOT use a regular latex wall paint.  It will look terrible.  You want something that levels well and holds up to a lot of contact (hands, dishes, cups, etc).  I used Satin Impervo from Benjamin Moore a few years ago to paint my the cabinets in my first home and in our parent's vacation home.  You can see those results on our blog.  Satin Impervo comes in a water based AND an oil based.  Both work exceptionally well.  Oil based paints can yellow over time too, so you may need to repaint in a few years.  The Satin Impervo will leave a very minor amount of brush marks, but not like a wall paint.  That's not a bad thing either.  I used a BIN primer from Lowes and sprayed it on using a shaker can before I applied the Impervo too.  You don't want to brush on four layers of paint.  Spray two coats of primer and then spray or brush two coats of finish paint.

Good luck and get started!!

 

TarHeels&Rebels

Nope, no regret.  B&A in the cosmetic updates link in my siggy.

kac

Used Rustoleum cabinet transformations and love the results! We painted our honey (aka orange) oak black.  Very time consuming process, but not hard.  We did it about 8 months ago and no comlaints yet.

Kristen

TheWop

kac:

Used Rustoleum cabinet transformations and love the results! We painted our honey (aka orange) oak black.  Very time consuming process, but not hard.  We did it about 8 months ago and no comlaints yet.

Kristen

Black huh?  I would love to see pictures of this!  I love the look of black cabinets. 

2bjam

Try not to be nervous! We painted ours black over a year ago and I love how they came out. We also added trim molding to the tops and bottom and what a transformation! 

PsIB 

CD+AL

Thanks all!  I hadn't really thought of going black with the cabinets, but I've been checking out some pics on Pinterest.  I really like that idea, and it may be a good one.  I, like the PP, was originally thinking something more like a soft white, so either way, I think this is what I need to do.  Now if I can just find the time to do all of my projects.