Painting Maple Kitchen Cabinets: Before & After
Not everyone wants to paint their wood cabinets. In fact, thanks to their style, stain, and grain, many wood cabinets are so gorgeous that they’re worth more (visually and financially) left stained.
However, some wood cabinets have a challenging style, bossy grain, or an obnoxious stain color, which prevents them from looking updated. Others are just straight-up worn out. All of this has me flashing back to one of my favorite sayings (I have about 847 of them)…
Just because it’s wood doesn’t mean it’s good ~moi
Don’t get me wrong, I advise my clients not to paint their glorious wood cabinetry all the time. However, when paint is needed, it’s important to remember that these cabinets will still be wood; they’ll just look better.
This home’s bones were half-decent, but no screamin’ glory…
A few of its half-decent bones (sounds like my love life in my late teen years) included…
- the doors were solid wood (but that’s it)
- hidden hinges
- crown molding (on the top of the cabinets) and valance (the part that hides the under-cabinet lighting)
- a good general layout with a working triangle
Now, let’s talk about the challenges…
- The cabinet frames and side gables were NOT solid wood and had faded to a soft pinkish color
- The doors around the sink area needed some serious KLC
- the backsplash had ye ole racing stripe – great for NASCAR, not for a kitchen
- The over-the-range microwave was clunky and unattractive
This kitchen needed an update, but had to be on a bougie budget. Good thing that’s my wheelhouse.
But first, we had to hit the right color. Benjamin Moore’s White Dove is, hands down, my favorite shade of white. However, when painting kitchen cabinets, it’s not about choosing the white YOU love; it’s about choosing the white that your kitchen needs. White Dove wasn’t warm enough for the new finishes. But what wonderous white was?
Drum roll, please (or just tap your fingers lightly on your wine glass…)
Ultimately, we chose a more traditional, warm white paint color – Benjamin Moore Cloud White. This white was popular in the early 2000s because of its increased warmth (and suited many finishes popular in that first decade). Cloud White’s creamier warmth made it the perfect color for these cabinets, as it worked best with the new backsplash tile.
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF CLOUD WHITE
The walls needed a fresh coat of paint (or three). We wanted a color with a bit more personality—no white-on-white. Benjamin Moore Steel Wool was the final choice, a wickedly pretty mid-tone charcoal gray with violet-blue hues.
And yes, the pendant lights are fugly, but budgets have their limits.
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF STEEL WOOL
MAPLE KITCHEN UPDATE: THE GUTS N’ THE GLORY
The previous island was 3×5; while it worked, there was space to extend it by an extra 18″. This meant it would need some extra support (unlike my chest, which needs minimal, at best, #TMI); here are the details…
- The island countertop was extended by 18″ on the end to have three stools instead of two. This made the island space look much larger and more proportional to the room without remotely infringing on any pathways.
- A local Craftsman made an island base/support out of reclaimed wood—MAD love.
- To save money, we chose a quartz countertop for the island and an affordable laminate countertop for the rest of the space. While not all patterns coordinate (in fact, there are very few that do), I’m happy with the combo.
The Best Kitchen Island Paint Colors
Do you want to see what the island looked like before? Trust me, you don’t, but I’ll show you anyway…
It’s like a facial peel, revealing baby-soft skin underneath.
This happens when you don’t properly prep your cabinets by sanding and priming them. It’s like putting latex over oil-based paint – THE PAINT WON’T STICK and will peel off!
With some prep work and the right type of paint, this is what the cabinets should’ve looked like…
How to Update Your 1990’s Kitchen
HOW TO PREP CABINETS FOR PAINT
- Take the hardware off. If you’re putting a different size handle or knob on, fill the old holes with wood filler and drill new ones NOW (not after you paint).
- Clean with TSP (then wipe all the TSP residue off).
- Sand the cabinets to remove the surface sheen (you don’t need to sand down to consistent bare wood). 120 grit can be a bit aggressive for some smooth cabinets, especially laminate ones, as you don’t want to break through that top surface; I would start with 220 and see how it goes.)
- Wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust or residue from the sandpaper.
- Choose a quality, high-adhesion primer (my painter and I love Benjamin Moore Stix).
- Invest in quality rollers and brushes – don’t mess with cheap stuff – it’ll show.
- Not all cabinet paints are created equal. Do your research and choose a high-quality paint that others trust and has a history of being FAB (Benjamin Moore INSLX and Sherwin Williams Emerald are amazeballs in my books.
Just remember, at the end of the day, they’re painted cabinets – paint isn’t bulletproof, and it will chip over time (even a factory finish). That said, I have wood cabinets in our ensuite bathroom, and they look like shart (8 years old), and I need to paint over them – NOTHING IS FOOL PROOF!
THE LAMINATE COUNTERTOP
Choosing laminate perimeter countertops instead of quartz saved THOUSANDS of dollars on ye ole budget, which left room for other fun things—like wine.
The Formica Soapstone Sequoia countertop mimics the look of a lighter, warmer soapstone and is wicked pretty. I love the textured but not shiny finish.
THE UPDATED KITCHEN BACKSPLASH
The backsplash is gorgeous. Because the cabinets weren’t entirely level, the tiler had to hand-cut each perimeter tile—and I’m sure he did it with a smile (and probably an inside voice that was full of four-letter words).
This backsplash is not just trendy, but it has a wink of timelessness (you know how I feel about trends). I would love nothing more than to give you the name of the tile and where to buy it. Sadly, it was from Home Depot, and they no longer carry it.
Instead, you might like one of these white subway tiles.
Painted Wood Cabinets: Will They Last?
READ MORE
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors
How to Update Wood Cabinets WITHOUT a Drop of Paint!
ShouldYou Paint Your Wood Cabinets or Keep Them Stained?
Get the best paint color & home update advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting Services!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2016, UPDATED FOR GRAMMAR N’ STUFF IN 2026
Love, love, love!
I absolutely love that mirror! Can you tell me where you purchased it? Beautiful job on your kitchen. I painted my cabinets BM DEEP IN THOUGHT and it came out lovely. Thank you for sharing this remake!
Christine from Connecticut
Hi Christine, thank you! I know, it’s pretty wicked. It was actually from Home Sense, so of course it’s a total free for all as to where it came from!
And you should send me photos – I’d LOVE to see it!!
I love your new kitchen! Instead of Formica, I would like to use granite on my countertops. Which granite would be most similar to the Formica you selected? Thanks!
I love your work !,,,,.just a question …is the tile on your backsplash spot on with the cloud white painted cabinets. We moved to our new house and the backsplash is driving me nuts. (I don’t like it, too much going on in my view got blues greys and many more colours on the 1 by 2 tiles ) So when I saw your hexagon tiles it inspired me to ..maybe paint the existing 1 by 2 stone to Simply White ..I’ve painted the trim Simply White but the cabinets are from Ikea so they are more of the Benjamin Moore’s Paper Mache. OC25, which isn’t as nice as simply white) . Just curious if your whites are the same…..the counter is dark greyish with flecks in it and your photos really got me thinking maybe I can get a similar looking effect as your kitchen. Until I can change it to a subway tile… we moved in Nov 1st and the walls were painted a funny blue colour so I painted them Kendal Charcoal to get me through Christmas and then two days later I painted the kitchen Grey Owl instead to blend things better. Do you think I’m crazy lol. P.s. I worked at Benjamin Moore and I love the Advance Paint.
Hi Lisa! Nope, it’s not. The cabinets are brighter than the backsplash, but both have a similar warm base – so the undertones are in line with each other. Now without seeing photos it’s hard to tell, but personally, I would be inclined to go darker on the backsplash (like i did) with the brighter cabinets – not the other way around. Could you do it though? I think if the cabinets are close to Paper Mache though you might be able to get away with it, just because P.Mache won’t compete as much. My ONLY concern is that Simply White might make your cabinets/paint colour look MORE cool/gray than normal, simply because of the warmth (dash of yellow) in Simply White. And no, you’re NOT crazy at all, trust me, I go batty when I have to choose things for my OWN home, so I totally get it! (and I have MAD love for Advance – hands-down my fave cabinet paint!)
Kylie
You’re cabinets look amazing! I was wondering how well the finish is holding up and if you are experiencing any chipping? I also have maple cabinets in my kitchen, and I desperately want a white kitchen but I can’t seem to work up the courage to paint them. They are brand new cabinets, only a year old, that were installed by my home’s previous owners as they were trying to sell the house (which obviously worked because we jumped so fast on a house with a brand spanking new kitchen). I’m terrified of ruining them, or that they’ll look beautiful at first only to be a disaster after a year or two. Unfortunately, replacing them will probably never be in the budget. They really are nice cabinets, I just don’t like the wood color. Would I be out of my mind to paint them? My family thinks I’m insane for even considering doing this to brand new cabinets!
JENNNN! I am seriously JUST working on a blog post about it RIGHT NOW! I’m hoping to pull it all together in the next few days and send it out, so make sure you’ve subscribed!(but fyi, they’ve done REALLY well…)
Stay tuned!
~Kylie
Hello!
I got to your post because I’m looking for durability in a bathroom vanity..I got great advice, which, thank you so much, I wil heed.
Anyway, I just had to comment on the kitchen makeover.. By removing the small splash edge on your backsplash, it looks like you gained a foot in cabinet height..Is seems to add such a more open roomier space! I really like the makover.. so modern and updated.
Good idea w the microwave. When we moved to our present home, there was 1 cabinet w an outlet under it. Have no idea why, but I purchased a small microwave & put inside w hole for cord. Recently had cabinet removed. Kitchen looks 50% larger & had painter paint med. dark solid oak cabs. in white. My husband kept saying no. Once he saw them, he loved it. Our house will go on market in abt 6 weeks. Think I may do those cabs white too. Agree 100% about laminate, but will probably use quartz or marble in bathrooms. Loved your article!
Barbara (Upstate NY).
Hi Barbara, thank you so much for your comment! I do receive so many questions that sometimes it’s just darned nice to get some feedback and ‘personal experience’ stories!
~Kylie
Hello! Wasn’t sure how to jump
In but could you pls tell me where you got the dining room
chairs??
Hi Lisa, those are from Muse and Merchant!
What gloss finish did you use on these cabinets? Satin or semi-gloss? We are moving into a house with a NW facing kitchen (as best I can tell) and are having the cabinets painted white (professionally). I am considering a pure white, something like Behr Ultra Pure, with no undertones, but am unsure about the gloss. I am leaning toward a satin since I am going for such a pure white.
Hi Beth, I started out with semi-gloss, to see what it looked like, but I found it WAAAAY too glossy so went down to the Pearl finish (BM Advance). I absolutely LOVE it (it’s similar to Satin finish…)
Thank you so much for the information. I have refinished cabinets in my current home with the Rustoleum kit product and ended up using a satin top coat. I felt like that was probably enough shine too but your confirmation helps seal the decision for this next project.
By the way, loving your site. I am finding it so helpful as I plan a total interior paint job on a new home in another state (yikes!). Your LRV post has been incredibly helpful!
I am planning a kitchen makeover and your kitchen layout is very similar to mine. I love all your ideas! I want grey walls and white cabinets too. I love the Steel Wool but am wondering if you can suggest a lighter grey that would not clash for my hallway? I am afraid the Steel Wool will be too dark there. Also, I have Cloud White for cabinets and trim right now and would like a bit of a change. Do you think Simply White would work with Steel Wool?
Hi Danielle, I’m glad you love it! When it comes to personal questions I do need to refer to my E-design, this way I can spend some time with your question, rather than going through things quickly. I can then take a look at your photos/lighting/questionnaire/flooring/etc… and come up with good answers, otherwise I’m just crossing my fingers! https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/product-category/exterior-paint-palettes/
~Kylie
I absolutely love that backslash! what is the material and can you tell me where you purchased it?
Hi Korey, thank you! That’s a porcelain tile and it was from Home Depot – although I don’t know if they have it anymore!
What color paint did you use in the kitchen and dining room? Looks like a blue…
Hi Rachel, that was BM Steel Wool. It’s a gray with a decent blue-purple undertone – if you look at a few other posts, you’ll see it in my entryway as well!
OOPS! After I posted my question to you I finally looked up the color of my new cabinets on the maker’s website. I’ve been calling them “honey oak” BUT they’re actually Quartersawn White Oak. My question is still…could they work with Soapstone Sequoia countertops?
Hi Paula, I’m a HUGE fan of Quartersawn White Oak and they can work with Soapstone Sequoia for a soft approach. Just get a big sample of the countertop as my ONLY hesitation is that the greige/taupe of the countertop could make your cabinets look a bit MORE yellow (depending on how they’ve aged/stain/etc…) Overall though, no big red flags!
Hello, Kylie. Love your site and your work. I was wondering how your Laminate countertop is working out, e.g.durability, staining, etc. Would you do it again? Thanks much.
Hi Ellen, it held up SUPER well. Like any laminate, I didn’t put a hot pot directly on it once it had been on the stove. I didn’t have ANY staining problems or areas where the finish was wearing off. I did choose a durable finish (honed), but I would imagine that after many years it could wear in areas that were consistently rubbed at. Short of being quartz/granite (which you pay 3-4X for) I’m super happy with the way it holds up! MOney well spent!
Kylie, your blog is AWESOME! Wondering what type of flooring is in this kitchen. The whole kitchen is beautiful. Thanks for your answer in advance.
Hi Betty, thank you! Well, it was a few years ago, but I do remember that it was a laminate flooring from Lowes that was the Mowahk brand!
Hi! I totally decided to get the Laminate Counter tops in the Soapstone Sequoia thanks to your help! I’m painting my cabinets White Dove and I am pondering my wall color. I love your site!
Kylie, I really love this kitchen. Could you tell me what color the ceiling and the trim are? Thanks!
Hi Barbara! It’s been a few years, but I’m positive that we used BM Cloud White! The ceiling is actually original and Cloud White seemed like a good match to it 🙂
Love this kitchen – I am getting ready to re-do mine! What paint colors were used on the walls and cabinets? I know my cabinets will be white, and I love these dark grey walls pictured. as it looks so crisp with the white cabinets.. My main concern is lighting, as my kitchen & dining area do not get a ton of natural light (2 north facing windows, 1 south facing window, and 1 small west facing window). I don;t want it to look too dark or make the space look smaller. Hoping to get a few samples of these colors so I can slap them on the wall and see… Thank you for your time! I love your blog and since I found it, I refer people to your site all the time. Your tips and recommendations are incredibly helpful and your style is amazing!
Hi Machele, thank you! The cabinets were BM Cloud White and the walls were BM Steel Wool, which is a crazy gorgeous colour!
About to paint our cabinets in cloud white – can you please post the link to your backsplash? Do you know if you can find it at a box store (Home Depot here in Canada?). Thanks!!
Hi Tanya! It was actually several years ago from Home Depot in Canada, but I’m not sure if they even carry it anymore! It was a porcelain hexagon…
Hi Kylie, Just purchased a 15yr old traditional home, because we only had one choice at the time. Fifteen years ago, if hardwoods were placed in homes, it seems to have been red oak. Now the red oak is orange. The kitchen has natural oak cabinets and that yellowy brown spotted granite with travertine backsplash. We can’t redo the entire house. If you had a budget, which I do, would you paint the kitchen cabinets and replace the granite and backsplash and live with the floors, OR, replace the floors and then eventually do something about the cabinets and granite? I’m thinking resale as well as livability. I’m enjoying your articles and videos! Thanks so much!
Oooo tough question. Well, the thing is, if you change the floors to something better and DON’T paint the cabinets in the near future, they will undoubtedly clash with each other as a more modern (not orange) floor will make the cabinets look even more dated. For that reason, I lean towards painting the cabinets, doing the backsplash, but only doing the countertop if you HAVE to. 🙂
Can you share details on the backsplash?
THank you
Hi Vonny, it was from Home Depot quite a few years ago and is no longer available, sadly…