Illustrative project

A lighter kitchen with refinished cabinets

Explore the planning behind a lighter kitchen with refinished cabinets. This illustrative project brief shows the decisions involved, not a completed customer commission.

All project examples Cabinet painting and refinishing

BodyTrimDoor

Slate blue cabinets, white walls, brass pulls

FinishedSlate-blue shaker cabinets with a smooth satin finish, brass pulls, and a light stone counter and backsplash. Illustrative project image.

The project brief

Surface condition and project goals

Update the look of your kitchen without replacing cabinets that still serve it well.

The starting point is a review of the existing space, project goals, budget, and constraints. The following considerations show how that discussion can become a defined scope.

Prep decisions

Preparation and finish decisions

Assess cabinet construction and existing coatings
Compare painted and refinished options
Plan door removal, hardware handling, and workspace protection
Confirm finish samples and care instructions

Product and sheen

Named on the estimate, so the can on the shelf matches the wall.

The sheen is the decision people skip. It is on the colour sheet next to the colour, by surface, and it is why the trim reads from the street.

Planning priority: Assess cabinet construction and existing coatings
Scope review: Compare painted and refinished options
Coordination: Plan door removal, hardware handling, and workspace protection

On the job, the room next doorClean mid-job living room with plastic-covered furniture, canvas drop cloths on the floor, blue painter’s tape along crown and baseboards, a ladder and paint supplies staged, and one wall half-rolled in warm greige. Illustrative project image.

What was protected

Protecting nearby surfaces

Define access routes and protect the surrounding finishes.
Plan temporary interruptions and arrangements for the occupied parts of the home.

Completion criteria

Reviewing the finished scope

Review the result against the agreed layout, materials, and scope.
Record outstanding items and confirm care requirements before closing the project.

The scheme, by name

Scheme: Slate blue cabinets, white walls, brass pulls
Days: Schedule confirmed after scope review

Front entry with a six-panel door freshly finished in satin oxblood red, brass knocker, lever, and door-mounted mail slot, sidelights, white brick, black lantern sconces, and potted evergreens flanking a woven doormat.

Illustrative projectA front door with a distinctive colorExplore the planning behind a front door with a distinctive color. This illustrative project brief shows the decisions involved, not a completed customer commission.

BodyTrimDoor

Explore this project

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