Recently, our chief cabinet officer, Evan Levey, was advising some homeowners about a kitchen renovation. The homeowners felt the cost of new cabinetry was out of their budget and chose to look into other options. They were curious about painting their somewhat dated and tired wood cabinets. Evan advised them that, although it is a quick fix, painting your kitchen cabinets will not look right and can show more smudges and fingerprints than other finishes. The process involves a lot of work and expense to prep and paint the cabinets for a small result, especially if you hire a professional who must strip your cabinetry. Some homeowners opt to do the project themselves, but you run a risk of over-sanding or accidentally damaging your cabinets.

Evan and I both agree that painting your cabinets, whether by spray or brush, is a bad idea. And while paint can improve the look of your cabinets, it cannot hide all faults. Also, the paint will begin to chip over time and can lead to more upkeep than the average homeowner expects. One of the biggest reasons to not paint your cabinetry is that it can be a turn off for potential buyers. If you are trying to resell your home, it can diminish the overall value in the speed of a brush stroke.

If your cabinets are structurally sound and not to displeasing to the eye, we would recommend new countertop. Remember, once the countertop has been installed, you won’t want to change the cabinets anytime soon, so be sure they are structurally sound. You could also change the hardware on the cabinets. With a variety of wonderful countertop and hardware options, you can give your a kitchen an effective and beautiful makeover.

-Laura