Your kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in your home. It’s only natural for you to want it to feel comforting, warm, and reflective of your own style. Many homeowners assume a new kitchen means a full remodel. Fortunately, this is not the case for every project. Professional cabinet painting can dramatically transform the look of your kitchen.
You’d be surprised by the difference one color change can make on your kitchen’s appearance, while saving thousands of dollars on new cabinets.
That’s exactly the story behind this kitchen transformation in Katonah, NY. C.E.T Painting was introduced to this project through a great interior designer, M.J Harkins, who was leading the overall kitchen remodel. In this project, the C.E.T Painting team helped a homeowner transform her outdated kitchen to a brighter, modern kitchen, by giving her existing cabinets a new finish. The simple change in color made the room instantly brighter giving the kitchen a look of being more spacious.
An Outdated Kitchen in Need of a Refresh
This cabinet painting project was part of a larger kitchen renovation. Before the transformation, the kitchen featured sandy-colored tile flooring, warm maple cabinets, white marble countertops, and a white kitchen island. While the kitchen had a great foundation, the homeowners no longer felt as if their dark finish reflected their style and were ready for a new look. They envisioned a brighter, more modern look that better suited their style.
Because the cabinets were structurally in great shape, cabinet replacements were unnecessary to achieve their vision. Painting gave their cabinets a new look while still preserving the craftsmanship already in place.
The Importance of Choosing the Right Color
Color selection matters a lot when renovating a kitchen.
It’s what determines the mood of the space, how well it pairs with the other finishes, and how the kitchen feels day to day. Lighter colors can make a room feel larger and spacious whereas darker colors tend to make a room feel smaller and cramped.
Choosing the perfect color might be challenging when looking at them in store. However, sampling them on your cabinet directly is helpful as you are able to see how it coordinates with other finishes and how it looks under the natural light available to you. In this case, professional interior designer, M.J Harkins, assisted in choosing the perfect color that the homeowners envisioned.
Bringing the Vision to Life
The biggest challenge on this project was the dramatic color change the cabinets underwent. The cabinets went from a warm maple brown to a bright white finish. Going from a dark color to a light color is significantly challenging than going from a light color to a dark color. To overcome this challenge, careful attention to detail and preparation is required to ensure there are no patches of brown left from the original color.
To get the kitchen ready for painting, our team:
- Remove all cabinet doors and drawer faces
- Thoroughly cleaned and lightly sanded every surface
- Applied one coat of primer, followed by two coats of high-end, specialty lacquer.
Rushing through these steps can risk a poor result. Applying thin coats of lacquer will ensure smooth texture and high durability.
The Transformation
About one week later, their kitchen was finally ready. While the majority of the cabinets were painted white, the kitchen island cabinets were painted a beautiful emerald green, giving the space a stunning unique look.
Despite the challenge of the color change, the cabinets matched exactly how the homeowners had envisioned their new kitchen: A brighter, more modern kitchen.
What Affects the Cost of Cabinet Painting?
A cabinet painting project can vary depending on several factors including, prep work, structure of the cabinets, and the color change. This project required proper prep work to ensure the paint would adhere perfectly onto the cabinets. Because the homeowners chose to paint over their existing cabinets rather than replace them, they were able to avoid paying the significantly higher prices of new cabinetry.
The homeowners invested approximately $9,000 for this project— a fraction of what a full cabinet replacement usually costs in Westchester County.
Why Cabinet Painting Isn’t Recommended to Everyone
While cabinet painting is a cost-effective alternative to cabinet replacement, it is not the right solution for every kitchen. Every project is unique in its own way, each bringing its own set of problems. The conditions of your existing cabinets is what determines whether painting them is a good option.
Cabinet painting is typically recommended to cabinets that are in good structural conditions but are faded, outdated, or worn out over time. Nothing that can’t be fixed by a professional paint job. This solution can save homeowners thousands of dollars compared to a cabinet replacement.
However, cabinet painting may not be recommended if:
● The cabinets have water damage.
● The cabinets are made out of low-quality materials that don’t hold paint well.
● The cabinets are structurally unstable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does cabinet painting cost in Katonah, NY?
Cabinet painting projects in Westchester County can vary based on kitchen size, cabinet material, and the degree of the color change. This Katonah project totaled to be about $9,000. Scheduling a consultation is a more accurate way to get a price tag for your project.
Is cabinet painting cheaper than replacing my cabinets?
Yes, in most cases. By choosing to get your existing cabinets painting, you avoid the expense of buying replacements.
Can I stay in my house during the cabinet painting?
Yes. In this case, the homeowners set up a spot in their basement while they’re kitchen cabinets were painted.
Can any cabinets be painted?
Not always. The answer depends on the conditions of your existing cabinets. If it’s low-quality, water-damaged, or structurally unstable, it’d be better to replace them. However, if they are in stable conditions, it’s better to paint them.
Final Thoughts
This Katonah homeowner achieved a completely new kitchen without replacing a single cabinet, ultimately saving thousands compared to a full replacement. What started as a kitchen that no longer felt like the homeowners style turned into a beautiful bright kitchen that the homeowners were proud of. They expressed to our team that it was well worth the price they paid.
If your kitchen is in need of a new look, a professional repaint might be all you need without the expense of a whole replacement. Every project is unique, so professional guidance is important.
Curious if your cabinets are a good candidate for painting?