Refaced Kitchen Cabinets Before and After

You guys—this kitchen transformation is really coming together! After installing a new black sink and beautiful quartz countertops, one of the biggest updates so far has been the refaced kitchen cabinets. My kitchen is a cozy little space and had those dark orangey oak cabinets that just screamed, “paint me!” Well, I debated all the usual options: painting, replacing, or refacing. In the end, I chose to paint the existing cabinet bases and reface the cabinets with new shaker-style doors and drawers—and I’m absolutely thrilled with the results.

Here’s a little peek at mid way through the kitchen cabinet renovation. I still need to add the hardware and install the tile backsplash. But, right now I’m enjoying the transformation. I cannot express just how much I’m loving this dark paint, which probably surprises no one as I’m a card carrying member of the black paint club.

Cabinet Remodel Options

Ok, before I jump into all the details, I’ll share with you the options for updating kitchen cabinets. There are three mains ways to change the cabinets and usually, it comes down to what makes sense for the existing kitchen and the budget.

Painting Cabinets

Painting cabinets means keeping everything (boxes, doors, drawers) and simply changing the color. It’s budget-friendly but doesn’t update the cabinet style. It can be hard to create a professional look but is a good option if the cabinets are solid wood and in good shape.

Refacing Kitchen Cabinets

This remodel option involves keeping the base, but changing the kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts. You can also paint the cabinet bases to match to the new drawers and doors. It’s the perfect middle ground– you get a totally fresh look without the cost of full cabinet replacement. This is a great option if you’re not changing the layout and the cabinet bases are a good quality.

In my case, the original cabinets were solid wood and structurally sound—just stuck in a time warp of orange oak. So, I had the bases professionally painted in Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (a favorite black paint I’ve used in other rooms), and I ordered new shaker-style doors and drawer boxes to give everything a fresh, modern look.

Replacing cabinets

Replacing kitchen cabinets is the most dramatic and costly option for a remodel. It involves removing the existing cabinetry and installing entirely new boxes, doors, and drawers. This is usually best if the layout isn’t functional or the cabinets are in poor condition.

I chose this option in my previous home kitchen remodel. Originally, I planned on just painting the cabinets but we needed to change the layout and upon closer inspection the cabinets were a very cheap material and not in good condition. In that case, it made sense to replace them. I saved some money by replacing the uppers with wood shelving.

Refaced Kitchen Cabinet Details:

Here’s how my little kitchen looked before. It’s a pretty cozy space but with lots of natural light. The cabinets are an older orange oak but solid wood and in overall good shape. Older homes, like this 1930’s bungalow, can have a lot of charm and good materials, like the solid wood cabinets, but remodeling them can lead to even bigger projects.

Given the age of this home, I decided that opening up this space could lead bigger issues (flooring, repair walls, etc.) that I wasn’t prepared to take on – so going with refaced kitchen cabinets was the best option. Here’s what I did:

• I used Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams in a flat finish – its one of my very favorite black paints and more of a dark, rich charcoal
• I refaced with new Shaker style cabinet doors and new drawers for a more modern look – I could have just replaced the drawer fronts, but the drawers themselves were in bad shape
• I hired professional painters to spray the cabinets with an enamel paint for a durable, smooth finish
• Lastly, I added the hardware myself to save a bit of money and challenge my DIY skills- I choose these matte black knobs and these rectangular drawer pulls

What Kind of Paint to Use on Kitchen Cabinets?

This is a great question. I know many people use regular latex paint. But after a lot of research and chats with many paint pros, it’s clear to me cabinets need an enamel paint for durability and that overall smooth, hard finish. For this project, the same folks who made my cabinet fronts also had a paint crew for the whole refacing. That’s something to ask about when looking for cabinet refacing near you.

I’ve painted cabinets on my own before and was never completely satisfied with the results. There was the wood grain and all the little cabinet details to deal with. That said, I recently discovered Benjamin Moore’s self-leveling enamel paint and will be trying it on my bathroom vanity makeover. Self leveling means it sort of fills in any grooves and creates that smooth finish that we’re looking for with cabinets. It might be a lot to tackle for a kitchen but seems like a good option!

Final Thoughts:

It was a bit of a process but I am absolutely over the moon in love with how my refaced kitchen cabinets turned out. Keeping the cabinet bases but adding new drawers and doors along with a fresh coat of black paint was exactly the right decision for this space. I saved some money yet achieved a modern, minimal look which is just what I was going for with this kitchen cabinet renovation.

If you’re looking to update kitchen cabinets, I hope this helps explain all the options to make the best decision for your remodel. Be sure to check out the finished project on this Small Kitchen Remodel for the finished space and list of sources.