Cabinet Refinishing · Jun 2021
Kitchen cabinets painted white, granite counters
Kitchen cabinets painted white, granite counters. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Jun 2021. 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
Oak and Cream Kitchen Cabinets Painted White With Gold Granite Counters
This kitchen had two cabinet looks before the work. The corner desk area and its uppers were a pale cream with raised panels and small dark knobs. The main run around the sink and range was light oak, and the before photo shows those boxes with their doors already removed and the shelves open. Gold and brown speckled granite covers the counters and the curved peninsula, which sits on a turned wood post. In the after photos, every cabinet is now one clean, bright white. The raised-panel doors and drawer fronts are smooth and even, with dark round knobs and black exposed hinges for contrast. The turned post under the peninsula is white too. The white cabinets make the warm granite, the tan walls and the reddish wood floors look brighter, and the sink wall now reads as one unified run instead of mixed wood and cream.
Our Process for Painting These Kitchen Cabinets White
- We took off the doors and drawer fronts, bagged the knobs and hinges by cabinet, and moved the doors to a clean area for spraying.
- We covered the granite counters, black appliances and wood floors, and masked the wall edges around the cabinet boxes and the sink window.
- We cleaned every surface with a degreaser, then scuff sanded the oak and the old cream finish so both would take primer the same way.
- We primed the oak and cream surfaces with a stain-blocking primer, which keeps wood tannins and old yellow tones from bleeding into the white.
- We filled small gaps with caulk where the cabinet frames meet the walls, and painted the turned peninsula post to match the cabinets.
- We sprayed two coats of white on the doors and drawer fronts and finished the frames on site, sanding lightly between coats for a smooth feel.
- Once the paint cured, we rehung the doors on their black hinges, reattached the dark knobs and checked every door and drawer for a clean fit.
White Paint Colors Similar to These Kitchen Cabinets
If you are planning white cabinets next to warm granite, these are similar whites to consider. They are not the exact color used in this kitchen.
Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW 7005
A soft, clean white close to these cabinets. It does not look stark next to gold and brown granite or tan walls.
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster SW 7008
A warm white with a creamy lean. It is a good choice when counters have strong gold tones and you want the white to blend in.
Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17
A popular cabinet white with a slight warmth. It pairs well with dark knobs, black hinges and reddish wood floors like these.
Questions About Painting Kitchen Cabinets White
Which white works best with gold or tan granite?
Warm or soft whites usually look best next to gold, tan and brown granite. A very cool, bright white can make the stone look yellow or dirty by comparison. Hold large paint samples against the counter in daylight and at night before choosing. The right white should make the granite look clean, not dull.
Why do white cabinets need a stain-blocking primer?
Wood like oak contains tannins that can bleed through white paint and leave yellow or brown marks. Old finishes and kitchen grease can do the same. A stain-blocking primer seals the surface first. It also helps the white paint cover evenly so you see a solid color instead of grain or old tones.
Can I keep my old cabinet hardware after painting?
Yes, if the holes line up and the hardware is in good shape. Many owners reuse knobs and hinges to save cost, and dark knobs look sharp on white doors. If you want new pulls with a different hole spacing, the old holes can be filled and sanded before priming.
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