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I would like to know where to start, what all is involved and some paint suggestions.  My cupboards are a medium oak and about 22 years old in very good condition.  The counter is a dark brown/black/beige laminate that looks like granite (I've seen it in a lot of kitchens) and is just a year old and I like it.  The flooring is golden oak laminate just a year old too.  The walls are painted sisal and I really like the colour and it blends well with the surrounding rooms.  Appliances are white.  The room style is galley 7 x 23' with 2 bright windows. Now the question, should I go an off white or dark brown on the cupboards?  Is painting easier than staining? What colours would you suggest? Thanks for the help :)

 

 

I think painting would be easier than staining. Clean with TSP, use a good primer such as Fresh Start form Benjamin Moore then paint. I know people have used melamine paint for cabinets which is very durable. A good paint dealer can help you with this.

Now colour. Your wall colour Sisal is beautiful which is staying and since you have white appliances I would not use white but probably a white with a beige undertone.

Here are some ideas you can look at all BM colours:

Barely Beige CC140, Muslin CC110. Natural Linen CC90, Clay Beige OC11, Manchester Tan HC81.

Let us know what you decide, Good Luck

 

Having painted kitchen cupboards myself, I can tell you that it is very do-able if somewhat fiddly.   I found it necessary to strip and sand multiple layers of paint off before repainting (there were so many layers that it was getting to the point that the cupboard doors didn't want to close.)  Considering that this is the first time that you've painted them, it probably won't be necessary for you to sand down to the wood; but I would suggest starting off with a thorough sanding first.  After that VivianR gave the same steps that I would follow.

 Good luck!

I know there is a problem with using Fresh Start on finished wood surfaces.  Keith is very knowledgeable with this and will probably be around to advise. Painiting is easier than stripping and restaining. As for colours I would look at montery white hc 27 or ivory white c130.  What about painting them black? Or even just the bottoms black.  Think this would look amazing against the counters and the sisal wall colour.

I painted my oak cupboards (circa 1986) about 2 years ago.  This is what I did on the advice of Keith: (1)Removed the cupboard doors, removed all the hardware (hinges and knobs). (2)Wiped the doors and cupboards down with TSP and rinsed well.  (3)Sanded the doors and cupboards well to remove any shine. 

 Now you're ready to paint:primed all surfaces with 1 coat of Benjamin Moore Alkyd Enamel Underbody (product # 217 00) applied with a good quality pure bristle brush and a small foam roller.  Allowed 24 hours to dry. (Keith says not to "pick" at the paint after it's dry to see if it's going to stick, so I didn't     Then used Satin Impervo (it has a new name now, but the BM dealer will know what you mean when you ask for it) in whatever colour you choose (I used Thousand Islands).  I gave the doors, drawers and cupboards 2 coats of Satin Impervo, allowing 24 hours in between coats to dry. *tip: I set the doors flat on newspaper lined tables and used soup cans underneath each one to hold them up off the paper so they wouldn't  stick.  I am totally happy with the results.

 

It's been 2 years since I've painted, and the cupboards have not chipped or scratched at all, even with 2 boys banging into them and slamming them.      

Good luck.  Hope this helps.     

I'm going to try to link you to a couple of my "before & after" pics so you can see how it turned out.  The first two are the before (hopefully), the last two are the after.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w23/Shannon_12_photo/kitchenpaint012.jpg

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w23/Shannon_12_photo/?action=view&current=kitchenpaint023.jpg

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w23/Shannon_12_photo/?action=view&current=kitchen003.jpg

http://s172.photobucket.com/albums/w23/Shannon_12_photo/?action=view&current=kitchenpaint036.jpg

Thanks for putting up the pictures., could you please tell me what colour your dining room is painted? Looks cozy and inviting.Also what colour is your kitchen walls , and by the way, your kitchen cupboards look very nice. Thanks

The cupboards are painted Benjamin Moore Thousand Islands (CC 308), the kitchen walls are painted Forest Floor (CC 570), and the diningroom is painted Tyler Taupe (HC 43), trim and ceiling painted  White down (CC50).

Thanks for the good ideas, now I'm torn between an off white or going for a dark brown!  I want something striking and am not afraid of colour.  It is just so much work I would hate to get it done and then say what was I thinking!  Thanks for the kitchen pictures, you did a great job.  I guess I will head off for some sample pots and do some testing. 

Thanks so much for your reply to my question. Is Tyler Taupe a dark colour , I have seen sisal painted at someones home and I was thinking when Iseen your pictures that it might of been that colour. Would you know the undertones on tyler taupe, I am interested to know. You gave such nice ideas and so refreshing to see someone post pictures of their work, especially Kitchen cupboards, its a big job , in choosing the right colour and then getting the job done, great work.Thanks

Tyler taupe is a mi-tone, and a very beautiful colour.  It has  a yellow sort of gold undertone to it.  That could change in you home since lighting can affect the appearance of a colour.  A beautiful dark brown for painting kitchen cupboards is mink 2112-10.  The nice thing about the enamel underbody primer is that its sandable.  I don't know how often you have painted furniture but you can bet you'll get a coat of primer on and notice a spot that you should have sanded better or where a hair or fuzzy has landed.  You can sand this down again, recoat and have an even better flawless finish.  Other primers you can't sand without ruining your finish. The great thing about the impervo (btw its an oil base) is that a satin finish meaning its less shiny than a semi gloss, comparable to a pearl finish in the latex paints. Thanks for posting those kithcen photos again Shannon, its a great inspiration for people scared to paint them. 

Divadesign ,I appreciate you letting me know about Tyler Taupe. I have  a few questions in regards to painting kitchen cupboards, my sister is wanting to know a few things , and she has no computer, so here goes. Her floors are grey tile, her countertop  has  a little grey, some black and some taupe running through it,her cupboards were painted BM Almond Bisque and walls too, this is a home bought recently, she does not like the colours, finding it rather dull.Any help would be appreciated, also did you ever use Frest Start first before painting cpboards,someone told her to use this product?Oh forgot to say  alarge window above sink, also skylight, but does not get sun there.Hope you post some of your work, would love to see, did see the mural in your sons room. very nice.Thanks, and sorry this is  sooooooooo long.

The ladies gave you the correct advice.

 

The only problem with using primers like Fresh Start or Bullseye 1-2-3 is that they can sometimes soften old varnishes (not so much polyurethanes). Then when you apply your paint you'll have a crinkled look. It's always safer to use a slow-dry oil primer. The fast dry products have a lot of solvents in them and can also damage varnish. Any good oil primer will do. Shannon did an outstanding job on hers but she put in the hours too.  

 

Thanks  Keith, I will me giving this info to my sister.

I was just wondering if anyone knew how hard/easy it was to paint kitchen cupboards? We currently just have regular cupboards but some spots are worn and we would like to paint them black and I was wondering if there was certain paint or steps that you should do to make them turn out?

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oliviaharis

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I am very interested in painting my kitchen cupboards but am leaning towards a darker colour.  I have oak cupboards in great shape and will be putting in hardwood floors, as well as new countertops.  The floor will be a med-dark shade of wood and I haven't picked the countertops yet.  I loved seeing the photos of the painted cabinets.  They are the same as mine and looked so good that it inspired me to finally tackle this project.  I plan to take the cupboard doors off, sand them, then use a primer like Fresh Start.  Will that be ok?  And has anyone seen these same cupboards painted black?  I'm not sure if black would be too stark or dark but am not sure what other colour would be better.  Any suggestions?