Cabinet Refinishing · Sep 2021
Kitchen cabinets: white to olive green
Kitchen cabinets: white to olive green. These are before, in-progress and after photos from the job, taken Sep 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
White Slab Kitchen Cabinets Painted Olive Green with Brass Hardware
This small kitchen had simple slab-style cabinets in white, photographed in Sep 2021. In the before photos, the doors and drawer fronts were already off, leaving open boxes packed with groceries, dishes and glasses, and small strips of blue tape marked spots on the frames. The room has black laminate counters, a black double sink, white square wall tile with a thin black stripe, and white floor tile with a dark grid. An in-progress photo shows a finished upper door up close, painted a smooth olive green with a small brass knob and a low, soft sheen. In the after photos, every upper and lower cabinet is olive green. Small brass knobs sit on the doors and brass bar pulls on the drawers. The green looks warm against the cream walls and works with the black counters and stainless range, microwave and dishwasher, giving the kitchen a vintage feel that suits its tile.
How We Took These Cabinets from White to Olive Green
- We removed every door, drawer front and piece of hardware and labeled them so each one would go back in the same spot on the right cabinet.
- The cabinet boxes were emptied as needed, and the black counters, wall tile, appliances and floors were masked and covered before any sanding started.
- All surfaces were cleaned with a degreaser to remove cooking residue, then scuff sanded so primer could grip the old white finish.
- A bonding primer went on the boxes, doors and drawer fronts. Because the color was changing, an even primer coat helped the olive green cover fully.
- Doors and drawer fronts were finished on their own, laid flat to avoid runs, while the boxes were coated in place in the kitchen.
- Two coats of olive green cabinet paint were applied with light sanding between coats, giving the slab doors a smooth, even surface.
- After the paint cured enough to handle, we installed the brass knobs and pulls, rehung the doors and adjusted the hinges for even gaps.
Paint Colors Similar to These Olive Green Cabinets
These are similar green and earthy shades to consider for cabinets like these, not the exact paint color that was used in this kitchen.
Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage HC-114
A muted sage green that is lighter than these cabinets. It keeps the same earthy feel and suits a kitchen with less natural light.
Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog SW 9130
A gray green that sits between sage and olive. It pairs well with brass hardware and black counters like the ones here.
Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze SW 7048
A deep bronze brown for anyone who wants a darker, moodier take on these olive cabinets with the same warm undertone.
Questions About Painting Kitchen Cabinets Olive Green
Does olive green work with black countertops?
It does. Olive green has warm yellow and brown undertones that soften black counters and keep the kitchen from feeling too dark. Brass or gold hardware adds warmth, while white or cream walls and tile keep the room bright. Viewing a large sample next to your counters is the best test.
Are flat slab cabinet doors easier to paint?
Flat slab doors have no grooves or raised panels, so paint goes on smoothly with fewer places for drips to collect. That also means flaws show more easily on the wide flat surface. Careful sanding, a good primer and thin, even finish coats are what make slab doors look factory smooth.
What sheen is best for painted kitchen cabinets?
Satin and semi-gloss are the most common choices. Satin has a soft glow and hides small imperfections, while semi-gloss is a bit shinier and wipes clean easily. Flat finishes are not a good fit for cabinets because they mark easily and do not hold up to frequent cleaning.
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