Cabinet Refinishing · Mar 2021
Oak kitchen cabinets painted white
Oak kitchen cabinets painted white. These are before and after photos from the job, taken Mar 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
Honey Oak Kitchen Cabinets Painted Bright White
This compact U-shaped kitchen had honey oak cabinets with simple recessed panel doors, a raised breakfast bar and a white refrigerator, black microwave and black-and-white range. The before photo shows the warm orange oak against beige walls and a light laminate countertop. In the after photos, the upper and lower cabinets are a bright, clean white. Granite counters with gray, tan and black speckles now sit on top, so the kitchen looks new. Close-up shots show a smooth finish with a soft sheen. If you look closely at one door, a faint hint of oak grain shows through the white, which is normal when painting open-grain wood without a grain filler. The silver hinges remain visible on the door edges, and the doors have no pulls or knobs. The white cabinets brighten the room and contrast with the black appliances and the warm stone-look floor.
How We Painted These Oak Kitchen Cabinets White
- We removed the doors and drawer fronts, labeled each one by location and set them up in a separate area for spraying.
- The cabinet boxes, counters, appliances and floor were covered with paper and plastic so the kitchen stayed protected during prep and painting.
- We degreased every surface. Kitchen cabinets near the range collect a film of cooking oil that must come off before any primer goes on.
- The oak was scuff sanded to dull the old clear coat, then primed with a bonding primer that also blocks tannin bleed from the wood.
- We caulked small gaps where the face frames meet the walls and filled any dings so the white would look clean and continuous.
- Two coats of white were sprayed on the doors and drawer fronts, and the face frames were finished in place to match.
- Once cured, the doors were rehung on their hinges, adjusted so the gaps lined up and checked for any spots that needed a touch-up.
Paint Colors Similar to These White Kitchen Cabinets
These are similar whites to consider for oak cabinets like these, but none of them is the confirmed color on these oak doors.
Sherwin-Williams Extra White SW 7006
A bright, clean white close to these cabinets, and it holds up well next to black appliances without looking yellow.
Benjamin Moore Simply White OC-117
A warm, bright white that pairs nicely with speckled granite that has tan and gold in it, like the counters here.
Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004
A soft white with a slight gray undertone that suits beige walls and keeps white cabinets from feeling too stark.
Questions About Painting Oak Kitchen Cabinets White
Will the oak grain show through white paint?
Oak has deep, open grain, and some of it often shows through paint as a light texture. Many people like that it still looks like real wood. If you want a perfectly smooth finish, a grain filler can be applied before priming, though it adds time and cost to the project.
Why does oak need a stain-blocking primer?
Oak contains tannins that can bleed through light paint and leave yellow or brown spots. A stain-blocking or bonding primer seals the wood and helps the paint stick to the old finish. Skipping primer is one of the most common reasons painted oak cabinets fail.
Should I paint cabinets before or after new countertops?
Both orders can work. Installing counters first avoids scratches on fresh paint from the install crew. Painting first can make it easier to work on the cabinet tops without covering stone. The most important thing is protecting whichever surface is finished first.
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