Have you tried paintable vinyl kitchen doors?

[JessicaCH]

I’ve recently bought a small flat in a period property. The kitchen has white gloss cupboard doors with chrome handles, which I think look rather out of keeping with the old building. I can’t afford wooden cupboard doors, so am thinking of getting paintable vinyl ones, in the hope that once they’re painted they’ll look indistinguishable from wood. Has anyone done this, and if so did the doors look good?

I’ve wondered about painting the existing doors - I don’t know whether white gloss is paintable - but I want to change the handles and it might be very hard to get ones the right size to fit the existing holes. Also, it would be nice to get a slightly more traditional-looking door design.

If you sand the gloss just enough to take the shine off, prime and paint, they should be fine. You can also fill the handle holes with a suitable filler before priming and painting and drill new ones, you don't need to match up the holes to handles. (Lots of work though.)

No experience on painted vinyl doors, sorry! Can we see a pic?

You could spray paint the handles too! Lots of colour choices and metallics

Thank you for your replies! Here’s a picture - please excuse the mess! There are also cupboards above the worktop. I’m about to get a new worktop (probably wood effect laminate). I’m not sure whether the style of the cupboards is inherently modern-looking or whether they could look traditional when painted and with different handles - what do you think?

If I get new doors, I would probably get these: kitchenandbedroomdoors.co.uk/kitchen_door_design_detail.asp?name=Premier-Slab&id=53 and these handles:
They would cost £191. Any thoughts on whether it’s worth it, or whether my existing ones look fine?!

Have you looked on your Facebook marketplace/gumtree? You get loads of people selling cupboard doors/kitchens.

The kitchen isn’t awful but it is modern.

I think plain slab doors like yours are fine in a period property, but definitely not with those v modern handles! It's not just the chrome, it's that extra-long style that makes it look modern. I'd be inclined to do simple brass knobs (maybe Ikea Bagganas knob?) or much smaller bar handles, like these:

www.thehandlestudio.co.uk/cabinet-bar-handles/28-134mm-in-length-polished-brass-cabinet-bar-handle.html

Painting the doors would also up the period factor – what colour are you thinking? (Also: you need a plinth/toekick/kickboard/whatever you call it!) I know some people don't like them but I love a tuxedo kitchen – pale uppers (to keep the light/space feel) and dark lowers, like a moody forest green.

With wood floors I'd steer clear of a wood-effect worktop too, might be overkill? What about grey-white marble-effect laminate, with subway tiles? Or regrouting your square tiles with black. I'd also think about changing the tap, Ikea or Amazon have (relatively) cheap gooseneck styles:

www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/kitchen-taps-sinks/insj%C3%B6n-kitchen-mixer-tap-brass-colour-art-70370130/

Thank you very much for replies! I'm thinking to stick with white for the doors, to keep the room light, and so that the washing machine and fridge and freezer blend in slightly. Dark forest green for the lower ones does sound nice, though! I've just had the room painted in Dulux Jasmine White, a very pale cream. (Btw, I have bottoms to the cupboards - they've just been taken off to lay the floor!) That tap is lovely!

Good point about the wood effect work top. Do you think it's a definite no-no with a wood floor, or do you think that if I get one that doesn't clash with the floor it could look ok? I prefer wood effect to stone effect.

I've been looking at this site for worktops, as my decorators said they're good quality, and the prices are really good compared to other retailers:
www.worktop-express.co.uk/laminate-worktops

I have a real wood worktop from Worktop Express and it's very good quality! Whatever worktop you get I would make sure to get samples first rather than going off internet pics. (Wouldn't recommend real wood if you don't like the maintenance, plus it darkens over time.)

Wood floor + wood-effect worktop is fine if you want it! It's just a bit much wood-on-wood for me but whatever floats your boat :)

Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear your worktop from there is good! :)