Oak grain showing through
Open oak grain shows through paint. We can fill the grain for a smooth, modern look or leave a light texture if you prefer it.
Serving Aurora & nearby Batavia, Warrenville
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Aurora, IL
Make your Aurora kitchen look new without replacing the cabinets — for a fraction of the cost.
- Crews working in Aurora ZIP 60506, 60502, 60505, 60504, 60503
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Cabinet problems a paint job fixes
We paint kitchen cabinets in Aurora with durable cabinet-grade coatings, not wall paint. Proper cleaning, sanding and primer are what make the finish last — that is where most of our time goes.
Sticky, greasy cabinet doors
Doors that feel tacky around the stove need a deep degrease first. It is the step that decides whether the new finish lasts.
Brush marks and drips
Brush strokes and paint runs from an earlier job are sanded out, and the doors are sprayed smooth.
Worn finish around handles
Bare wood around pulls and the trash pull-out gets repaired and primed, and new hardware keeps hands off the paint.
Dated oak or honey maple
Orange-toned oak and honey maple date a kitchen more than anything else. A painted finish in white, greige, green or navy changes the whole room.
Peeling or chipped paint
Paint peeling near the dishwasher or chipping on the edges usually means it was applied without proper prep. We strip the failing areas, prime and refinish.
Mismatched cabinets
An added island or new uppers that don't match the old cabinets — one paint color makes them look like one set.
Holes from old hardware
New hardware rarely matches the old holes. We patch the old ones invisibly and drill clean new ones.
What's included
- Door and drawer removalWe remove and number every door and drawer front so each one goes back in its spot.
- Sanding and repairsScuff sanding, filling dents and gouges, fixing loose trim and edge damage.
- Bonding primerA bonding or stain-blocking primer that grips the old finish and stops tannin bleed.
- Sprayed doorsDoors and drawer fronts are sprayed in a controlled setting for a smooth finish.
- Frames and end panelsFace frames, end panels and crown molding are painted in place with masking and floor protection.
- New hardware and hingesWe can drill for new pulls and swap in soft-close hinges while the doors are off.
- Filling old hardware holesOld knob and pull holes filled and sanded flush before priming.
Options to choose from
Grain filling for oakFilling the open oak grain gives the smooth finish most people expect from painted cabinets.
Satin vs. semi-gloss sheenSatin hides small flaws and fingerprints; semi-gloss is easier to wipe but shows more.
Catalyzed finishesTwo-part coatings sprayed on doors for maximum hardness in busy kitchens.
Waterborne urethane cabinet paintA tough cabinet coating that stays white and doesn't smell up the house.
Popular colorsOff-whites, soft greens and deep blues — we bring large samples so you can see them in your light.
Before and after: kitchens near Aurora
Before
In progress
After
DetailBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Aurora
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near West Side. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above. What bothered the owners most: dark wood that made the kitchen feel small. The result: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. On site this meant sanding and repairs, bonding primer, plus frames and end panels.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Batavia
The site: a 1980s two-story in Batavia. What we started with: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim. The main complaint was laminate doors that looked tired. The result: the same doors sprayed in forest green, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. On site this meant door and drawer removal, bonding primer, plus new hardware and hinges.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Batavia →
Before
AfterWarrenville kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen cabinet painting
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Warrenville Lakes. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs. The reason for the call: orange-looking wood that made the room feel old. After: the same doors sprayed in white uppers and dusty blue lowers, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. Work included bonding primer, sprayed doors, plus filling old hardware holes.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Warrenville →
Before
AfterAurora kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: cabinet refinishing & staining
Wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Aurora →
Before
AfterAn Aurora 1980s two-story: before and after
Finished: new five-piece shaker doors in warm white on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Aurora →How your cabinet painting goes
- Estimate and colorWe check the cabinet material, count doors and drawers and help you choose color and sheen.
- Doors come offWe take the doors with us; you keep using the kitchen with the boxes open.
- Prep and primeDegreasing, sanding, repairs and primer on frames in your home, doors in the shop.
- Finish coatsDoors get sprayed finish coats while frames are painted in place.
- ReinstallWe rehang, align and do a final touch-up walk with you.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting questions from Aurora homeowners
Is painting cheaper than replacing cabinets?
Typically yes — you skip tear-out, new counters and plumbing work. We'll tell you honestly if your cabinets aren't worth painting.
Will there be brush marks?
No. Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed; frames get a fine finish on site.
Can you paint cabinets that are already painted?
Yes — the key is what's underneath. We check adhesion and strip failing paint before refinishing.
Painted or stained cabinets — which is better?
It's a look and maintenance choice: paint for color, stain for wood grain. We do both and can mix them, e.g. painted perimeter and stained island.
Do you paint bathroom vanities too?
We do. Many clients add the vanities once they see the kitchen.
Which Aurora homes do you most often see for cabinet painting?
In Aurora we see Victorian, Prairie School, Sears catalog homes and Lustron steel houses. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Do I need a Aurora-registered contractor for cabinet painting?
Contractors must be registered/licensed with the City (application, required testing if applicable, proof of insurance naming the City as additional insured). Homeowners may act as own contractor if owner-occupied 6+ months with a Homeowner Liability Waiver. We take care of that before work starts.
Do I need a permit for cabinet painting in Aurora?
It depends on the scope. Aurora's rule in short: Interior remodels, structural changes and interior plumbing always need a permit; electrical/mechanical may. We handle the permit when one is needed with Division of Building and Permits, City of Aurora.
Do you work in my part of Aurora?
Yes. Our crews work across Aurora, including Near Eastside, Tanner, Riddle Highlands, Palace Street — ZIP 60506, 60502, 60505, 60504, 60503 — and nearby Batavia, Warrenville, Naperville.
Working in Aurora
- A lot of Aurora kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Aurora homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Near EastsideTannerRiddle HighlandsPalace StreetWest SideFar East Side
ZIP 60506ZIP 60502ZIP 60505ZIP 60504ZIP 60503
Kitchen Cabinet Painting nearby
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Other kitchen services in Aurora
Cabinet Refinishing & StainingRe-stained wood cabinets with the grain still showing.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer RepairHinges, drawer slides and water-damaged sink bases fixed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.