Painting kitchen cupboards: Yes or No?

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

We have just had our offer accepted on a gorgeous 1920's property. It's immaculate throughout but I'm not really a big fan of the kitchen. It just isn't in keeping with the house and I would prefer a more country style (think white doors and ceramic handles etc). Trouble is, it's only a few years old and DH is never going to let me rip it out and start again (assuming the sale goes through!)
So, I've been thinking, can I paint it? Would it look shit? Could potentially change doors and worktop, but then how do I match the doors to the painted carcass? I'd have to paint it all wouldn't I?
Has anyone done it? Can you show me your pics?

Here is a pic of the kite hen. It's not great as it's the EA one but you get the jist.

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

Kitchen not kite hen!

[namechangedtoday15]

Cant see the photo!

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

Can you not? That's weird...

I'll try again!

[Cocochops]

Yes I have done this. It was wood laminate and painted it. Used a special primer that meant didn't need to sand. Took doors off to paint used mini roller. I was a bit like you wasn't sure how it was going to go but almost two years on there are no chips. Looks fab imo! Will try and dig out some before photos

[BattleaxeGalactica]

It's gorgeous. I'll have it if you don't want it

Back to the question though. I have done it twice over but it was to an ancient 80's melamine affair (still have it ) and it's quite a faff. You will need to take the doors off and lay them flat so there aren't any drips and however careful you are there will be wonky edges on the insides of the doors that look really naff when they are open. The paint will wear in places and the original colour will show through. I really wouldn't recommend it unless it's to tart up something truly ancient and/or dreadful.

[Ellypoo]

The kitchen in the house I bought gas been painted - it was a similar colour to yours before and is now an 'off-white' - it's made a fab difference and looks really good now - just keep some of the paint for touch ups etc.

[Ineedwineplease]

I don't know how good it is as not done it myself but alot of people recently are putting fabilon over old kitchen units (basically sticky back palstic) and I must admit it looks very good!! You can get it in lots of colours and the kitchen looks brand new after and no drips or paintbrush strokes. You can take it off if you don't like like it too

[BringMeTea]

We painted mil's. It is solid oak. Took us 2 days. Changed handles too. Looks great. Obviously it is worth doing properly, so all doors off, primed, at least 2 coats etc. Definitely doable.

[namechangedtoday15]

We did (solid oak cupboards), but used Farrow & Ball and it wasn't particularly hard wearing, knocks etc resulted in chips in the paint (despite undercoating, preparing properly etc). It was OK as a temporary measure but the style of the door was quite old fashioned and it still looked like an old fashioned kitchen, just painted. Yours looks much nicer.

Has since found out that we have a company local to us that is a car paint specialist (spray paints cars etc) and has a sideline going now for spray painting kitchen cupboards / furniture. A friend has had it done, much more professional finish and harder wearing paint. It cost a few hundred pounds but well worth it. It might be worth making local enquiries for a similar type of thing?

[NotMeNoNo]

I've painted two kitchens before. One was varnished pine, we sanded it to key the surface and used ESP or some grippy primer. Painted in F&B oil eggshell when it still existed. Various other MDF shelves etc painted to match.

The current kitchen is solid oak, raw sanded, painted in Little Greene oil eggshell. After 3 years, no chips or dings at all and cleans up nicely with CIF.

I would say use an oil based paint, the right primers, practice your technique (rolling and tipping/traditionalpainter.com) and you should be fine.

My painting fails have been with chalk paint - looks much more shabby, and trying to paint over lacquered Ikea furniture- has chipped very quickly. Bedroom cupboards are painted in a diamond acrylic eggshell, but they get very little wear and it's nothing to the velvety finish of the oil based paint.

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

Thanks everyone for your input. Will look into getting someone in to do it, if only so DH can blame someone else if it looks shit, rather than me!

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

A dd and her Dh painted some really horrible dark brown 70s style melamine cupboards in their 'new' kitchen. It will ultimately be replaced when an extension is done, but that's still quite a way off.

Just a few £, and the transformation - to an off white - was amazing.
I'd go for it, but it has to be prepared and done properly.