Painting kitchen cabinets

[Bubblegum53]

Hello! I am considering painting my kitchen cabinets. I am conflicted as I don't want to ruin it (I've never painted a kitchen before!) however, I think it'd look really good in blue. We would be getting a professional, not doing it ourselves, I just don't know how effective painting kitchens are in general! I was thinking StiffKey blue F&B. Has anyone painted their kitchen cabinets before? Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!

I've just done mine this weekend! I can really recommend Frenchic paint. If you look in Facebook there are loads of ideas, the paint is really easy to use and good coverage.

This is mine, not to everyone's taste but a few days ago it was dark brown/orange 1980s pine!

Wow that looks great @snaxinyourslacks

Thanks, I need to try find a before picture.

Make sure you take the time to prepare the doors first. My sis in law painted her kitchen but the paint started chipping off...it would not have been the Frenchic stuff though...

Your cupboards look great @snaxinyoursacks!! I've never heard of them before, I'll take a look. Does anyone have any experience of using F&B for cupboards?

Thanks for the advice @Blueuggboots!

Yes, I used F&B on my cupboards and it wasn't hardwearing at all. I did all the prep, primed, undercoated etc and it was still quite easily marked - needed touching up all the time. I would get a professional to do it and colour matched to F&B paint, rather than use F&B itself.

F&B is chalk based therefore notoriously crap on things like kitchen cupboards. Agree with PP - you're better off with a colour match rather than F&B itself. Apparently they have a range - Moderm Eggshell - that is hardier but no experience with it, sorry.

@snaxinyourslacks Your cupboards look lovely! What shade was that?

@Morecookiesplease it's 'wise old sage' Frenchic alfresco range. The day before painting I washed them with sugar soap and a kitchen sponge with the green scrubby part. When it was dry I very lightly sanded them, wiped down and then painted. They looked awful after the first coat and I was really worried that I'd messed up! This picture is after 3 coats. The door knobs I took off and scrubbed really well then painted in Frenchic finishing coat mixed with 'cool copper' Frensheen.

Apparently you need to be a bit gentle with them for the first few weeks as the paint takes 3 weeks to cure, but once it's cured it's really hard wearing.

I've painted my own cupboards a few times.
www.traditionalpainter.com has loads of interesting reading. A lot of it is in the preparation and your painter should know what primer/prep to use.

Oil-based eggshell is best for a smooth and durable finish, I've used Little Greene Oil Eggshell very successfully, they have some good blues.

Farrow and Ball don't do an oil based eggshell any more so not ideal. Obviously don't use the wall emulsion type paints.

Haven't used Frenchic. Some people recommend Mylands, not sure which paint.

Various water based eggshell paints are available but you will have a brushed finish.

Super helpful, thanks @NotMeNoNo

You're welcome. Its so satisfying and very sustainable. The other thing to say is that wooden cupboards take paint much better than any kind of plastic coating/melamine/vinyl. For those you want a paint that will actually bond to the plastic rather than sit on top and chip off - getting them sprayed might be better.

The other thing is if you are updating/making over an old kitchen, it's easy to update drawer boxes, pull outs and interior fittings inside the same cabinets, makes a real difference, if you hadn't already considered that.

Frenchic After Midnight is reasonably close in colour to Stiffkey Blue. It is 'sold out' though!
I can recommend Frenchic Alfresco range for painting of kitchen cupboards; I did my 30 year old oak doors in their Dazzle Me (bright white).

I did mine about 6 years ago. I used water based eggshell, the Brand is Colour Trend. Don't think a chalky or Matt paint would be good, you need it to be wipeable for a kitchen.

My kitchen was solid wood & had already been painted, a really cheesy 80's sponge job. I had it professionally sprayed. Its lasted really well apart from the door under the sink. That could really do with being repainted. I might take it off the hinges & have a go but I won't be getting it done professionally.

Otherwise it looks great. No chips or stains on the actual doors. Some chips on door handles.