Cabinet Refinishing · Jun 2022
Kitchen wood cabinets painted dark
Kitchen wood cabinets painted dark. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Jun 2022. This cabinet refinishing project was done by Larry Gaytos and the My Personal Painter crew. We are based in Florence, Kentucky, and our work is covered by a 2-year touch-up warranty.
Before and After Photos
Stained Wood Kitchen Cabinets Painted Dark Charcoal
The before photos show a large kitchen full of reddish-brown stained cabinets with cathedral-arch upper doors, raised-panel lowers, and antique brass bail pulls on every drawer. The finish had a glossy, orange cast that looked dated next to the green walls and oak floors. A peninsula with a gas range, a tall pantry wall around the refrigerator, and a corner unit with open curved shelves were all part of the job. In the finished photos, every cabinet box, door, drawer front and open shelf is a deep charcoal with a soft satin sheen. The arched door profiles still show clearly under the paint. The brass bails were swapped for brushed pewter shell cup pulls and round knobs. New white countertops and a shimmering mosaic tile backsplash now sit against the dark cabinets, and the warm wood window trim and oak floors stay as they were.
Our Steps for Painting Stained Kitchen Cabinets a Dark Color
- We removed every door, drawer front and piece of brass hardware, labeling each one so it would go back in the same spot with the hinges lined up.
- Cabinet boxes, end panels and open shelves were degreased to remove years of cooking film. Paint will not bond well to stained wood that still has grease on it.
- All surfaces were scuff-sanded to dull the old glossy finish. Then we vacuumed and tack-clothed the dust away, paying close attention to the grooves in the arched door panels.
- A bonding primer went on next. On reddish stained wood, a good primer also blocks tannins and the orange tone from bleeding through a dark charcoal top coat.
- We applied two smooth finish coats of cabinet-grade paint in a satin sheen, working the brush and roller into every panel edge so no wood showed through.
- After the paint cured enough to handle, we rehung the doors, set the drawer fronts and installed the new pewter cup pulls and knobs where the old bails had been.
Paint Colors Similar to These Charcoal Kitchen Cabinets
These are similar dark colors to consider for cabinets like these. They are not the exact paint color used in this kitchen.
Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore SW 7069
A soft, deep charcoal very close to these cabinets. It reads nearly black at night but still shows the door panel details in daylight.
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC-166
A balanced charcoal gray with a little warmth. It pairs well with white counters and oak floors, much like this finished kitchen.
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain 2134-30
A dark gray with a hint of brown. It would suit cabinets beside warm wood window trim and pewter hardware like this room has.
Questions About Painting Wood Kitchen Cabinets Dark Gray
Can stained cabinets be painted without stripping them?
Yes, in most cases. The key is cleaning off grease, scuff-sanding the shine, and using a bonding primer. Stripping is only needed when the old finish is peeling or badly damaged. Skipping prep is what causes paint to chip later, so most of the work happens before any color goes on.
Will dark cabinet paint show scratches and fingerprints?
Dark colors can show dust and fingerprints a bit more than mid tones, but a satin finish wipes clean easily. Cabinet paint gets harder as it cures over a few weeks, so it is wise to be gentle at first. Small chips can be touched up with leftover paint from the job.
Do I need new hardware when I paint my cabinets?
No, but many homeowners change it. If the new pulls use the same holes, no filling is needed. If they do not line up, the old holes are filled, sanded and primed before painting so they disappear. Changing from brass to pewter or black can update the look a lot.
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