Cabinet Refinishing
Built-in desk cabinets painted dark
Built-in desk cabinets painted dark. 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.
Oak Built-In Desk and Wine Rack Cabinets Painted White Above and Charcoal Below
This built-in desk area sits in a corner off the kitchen, with tile floors and black granite counters. Before the work, every cabinet was golden oak. The uppers have cathedral-arch doors, an open shelf cabinet, a diamond-lattice wine rack and a row of small mail cubbies under one cabinet. The lowers include a desk drawer with a knee space and raised-panel doors on both sides. In the before photo, several doors are already removed and leaning against the wall with blue tape tabs marking where each one goes. In the after photo, the uppers, crown molding, wine rack lattice and mail cubbies are a clean, bright white. The lower cabinets and desk drawer are a deep charcoal gray. Dark knobs and black hinges show on both tones. The white uppers blend into the white crown and soft gray walls, while the charcoal lowers sit well under the black granite top.
How We Painted This Built-In Desk Two Colors
- We removed the doors and drawer fronts, marked each with tape tabs by location, and bagged the knobs and hinges so nothing went missing.
- We covered the tile floor and black granite counters with drop cloths and paper, and masked the walls and outlets around each cabinet box.
- We cleaned the oak with a degreaser, then scuff sanded the boxes, doors, wine rack lattice and cubbies so primer would bond to the old finish.
- We applied a stain-blocking primer to all of the bare and finished oak, which keeps wood tannins from bleeding into the white uppers.
- We painted the uppers, crown, wine rack lattice and mail cubbies white, working carefully into each diamond opening and every cubby edge.
- We painted the lower cabinets and desk drawer charcoal in two coats, then rehung the doors and reattached the dark knobs and hinges.
Paint Colors Similar to These White and Charcoal Desk Cabinets
These are similar colors to consider for a two-tone built-in desk. They are not the exact colors used on these cabinets.
Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC-166
A deep charcoal close to these lower cabinets. It looks rich under black granite and hides scuffs in a busy desk area.
Sherwin-Williams Gauntlet Gray SW 7019
A slightly lighter charcoal with a warm cast. It works for lowers when you want contrast but not a very dark tone.
Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004
A soft white similar to the uppers and wine rack. It blends with white crown molding and keeps a small corner bright.
Questions About Painting Built-In Desk Cabinets
Can a wine rack or lattice be painted to match the cabinets?
Yes, but it takes patience. Each diamond opening has inside edges that need primer and paint, and drips can form in the corners. Painters often use a small brush or a sprayer for these details. Painting the lattice the same color as the cabinets makes the whole built-in look unified.
Should built-in cabinets match the kitchen cabinets?
Not always. Many homes paint a desk or bar area as its own feature, like the two-tone look here. If the built-in is in the same room as the kitchen, picking colors that relate to the kitchen keeps things connected. Matching counters or hardware also helps tie the spaces together.
How durable is paint on a desk drawer and lower cabinets?
A good cabinet paint holds up well with normal use once it fully cures, which can take a few days to a few weeks. Desk drawers and lower doors get bumped and touched often. Darker colors like charcoal help hide marks, and a small jar of touch-up paint is useful for edges.
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