Cabinet Refinishing
Built-in kitchen cabinets: wood painted white
Built-in kitchen cabinets: wood painted white. These are before and after photos from the job. 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.
Pickled Oak Built-In Wall Cabinets Painted White Beside a Kitchen Eating Area
This wall of built-in cabinets sits next to a kitchen eating area, set into a recess in the wall. It has tall pantry doors on both sides, arched raised panel uppers, a desk nook in the middle with a granite top and a diamond-set tile backsplash. The before photo shows the oak in a pale, pinkish pickled finish with strong grain, framed by a gray-brown trim line at the top. The arched door tops and raised panels gave the unit a busy, dated look against the cream walls. In the after photo every door, panel and frame is a soft, clean white. The cathedral arches and raised panels still show their shape, but the grain no longer competes for attention. The original brushed nickel pulls and hinges went back on. The granite nook and tile backsplash now stand out as a small feature, and the white unit blends with the cream walls and beige tile floor.
How We Refinished These Built-In Oak Cabinets
- We removed the doors, pulls and hinges, labeled each door by its opening and kept all of the hardware bagged for reuse later.
- The granite nook, tile backsplash, nearby walls and tile floor were covered so sanding dust and paint stayed on the cabinets only.
- We cleaned the oak and scuff sanded it, paying close attention to the arched tops and raised panel edges where old finish is thickest.
- A stain-blocking primer was applied to every surface to stop oak tannins and the old pickled tint from showing through the new white.
- We caulked the seams where the built-in meets the wall recess and where face frames join, so the unit looks like one piece.
- Two coats of white were applied to the doors and frames, and the reused brushed nickel hardware was reinstalled once the paint cured.
Paint Colors Similar to This White Built-In
These are similar whites to consider for built-in cabinets next to cream walls, but they are not the exact color used on this unit.
Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17
A soft white close to these cabinets, with enough warmth to sit nicely against cream walls and beige tile.
Sherwin-Williams Alabaster SW 7008
A creamy white that keeps built-ins from looking stark against cream walls and works well with reused brushed nickel hardware.
Sherwin-Williams Dover White SW 6385
A warm, slightly golden white that would help a built-in blend into cream or yellow-toned walls like the ones in this room.
Questions About Painting Built-In Cabinets
Can pickled or whitewashed oak be painted?
Yes. Pickled oak has a light tinted finish over the wood, often with a clear coat. It needs cleaning, sanding and a stain-blocking primer like any oak. The pink or gray tint can bleed through white paint if it is not sealed, so priming is an important step.
Can I reuse my old cabinet hardware?
Usually, yes. Brushed nickel, chrome and similar finishes clean up well and look fine on painted cabinets. Reusing pulls also avoids filling and redrilling holes. If you want new hardware, choose pieces with the same hole spacing to keep the job simpler.
Should built-ins match the kitchen cabinets?
It depends on the room. If the built-in is in view of the kitchen, matching or near-matching colors make the space feel unified. A built-in in a separate area can be a contrast color or match the trim instead. Looking at both from the same spot helps you decide.
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