Anonymous wrote:No, it never looks good up close and long term - and long term I mean within a few months.

I have seen it in homes where they had professionals do the job painstakingly with attention to detail and it still looks bad.

Just don't do it. Everyone who has it done always believes it looks better than it really does.

Kill joy! I am just fine with my painted cabinets and don't care if I am just in denial.

No, it never looks good up close and long term - and long term I mean within a few months.

I have seen it in homes where they had professionals do the job painstakingly with attention to detail and it still looks bad.

Just don't do it. Everyone who has it done always believes it looks better than it really does.

We have an 18 year old kitchen with white cabinets that had yellowed. Had them painted a year ago professionally (white again). They look great.

I think you are limited to shades of white for the cabinets if you're keeping the orangey oak floors. That's not a bad thing. If you end up biting the bullet and restraining the floors to a darker tone (which I would do), you could also consider light grey. It's the hot thing now (search for "gray kitchen cabinets" on pinterest and you'll see what I mean). That said, I would go darker/neutral brown floors and white cabinets. Not Ultra White, but a slight off white like DM Dove White or similar.

We used american cabinet refacers. Its only been 2 months, but so far, so good. totally changed the kitchen. do bargain with them. we paid much less than the initial quote they provided.

My friend had her cabinets professionally painted and they look great! We just had our bathroom vanity sanded and stained a dark chocolate brown...looks gorgeous, but it's not cheap. I inquired about having our kitchen cabinets done, and it was going to cost well over $5k.

Our house had 40 year old birch cabinets, stained with kitchen grease, when we moved in 20 years ago. We hired a struggling beginning house painter who used a sprayer to paint them at a pretty bargain price. We did wash them down with mineral spirits and maybe she did a bit of sanding--but I actually think not. They still look great. I think the sprayer was probably the key for the even finish.

When I said "garage doors" -- I meant the door to the pantry and the door leading to the garage (which are essentially in the kitchen). They are both bright white. Am I limited to bright white on the cabinets?

OP here -- I would not do it myself -- have painted plenty of rooms in my life and don't even want to think about tackling the detail work of doing cabinets right. We would pay someone to do it (like Piccaso?). Sounds like you pretty much have to go with white or off-white. With the pantry and garage doors (as well as all the house trim) being bright white can we even consider an off white?

I used the Cabinet Transformation kit from Rustoleum to re-do some builder grade oak bathroom cabinets. Made a huge difference, would definitely recommend doing it.

That being said, we moved right afterwards, so I can't speak to how they will look after being used for a couple of years.

Definitely paint, don't reface. But have an expert do it. It has to be sanded, and the right kind of paint used so it doesn't chip. My SIL painted and it chipped in like a month. I knew she wouldn't get it done right.

I've seen refacing look absolutely awful, like doors falling off and it peeling.

You can change just the doors? barkers doors or scherrs online will work with you and your cabinet dimensions. More expensive than painting of course but less work I think. Works best if you had or will go to full overlay style doors to not see any of the old cabinets.

Mine looks awesome! Had painter do them in glossy white.

Forgot to mention that everything is 11 years old and in good condition. Hate to tear it all out if there is another way... but don't want to spend a lot just to have a poor looking product.

You know the story -- builder grade orangy oak floors and kitchen cabinets (well, bathroom cabinets too)... typical brown/beige/black granite. What can I do to update?

The floors and cabinets are in good condition. Refinishing the floors seems like a HUGE hassle as the entire house on that level would have to be refinished. So that leaves me looking for ways to update the cabinets...

Is there any hope?