Oak grain showing through
On 1990s oak cabinets the choice is grain-filled and smooth or painted with the texture showing — we show you both on a sample door.
Serving Crystal Lake & nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Crystal Lake, IL
Make your Crystal Lake kitchen look new without replacing the cabinets — for a fraction of the cost.
- Serving Crystal Lake ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098
- A new look without tearing the kitchen out
- Clean, protected work area every day
Cabinet problems a paint job fixes
We paint kitchen cabinets in Crystal Lake 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.
Holes from old hardware
New hardware rarely matches the old holes. We patch the old ones invisibly and drill clean new ones.
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.
Dark kitchen
Light painted cabinets reflect light across the room — the cheapest way to brighten a dark kitchen.
Peeling or chipped paint
Peeling paint usually means it went on over grease or gloss with no primer. We remove the failing coat and refinish properly.
Yellowed white cabinets
Oil-based white paint turns yellow over time, especially in darker corners. We repaint with a non-yellowing waterborne cabinet coating.
Sticky, greasy cabinet doors
Grease near the range never quite wipes off. A deep degrease is the first step, before any sanding or primer.
Painted without removing the doors
If the last painter left the doors on, you'll see paint on hinges and edges that never got coated. We remove, strip where needed and refinish every surface.
What's included
- Door and drawer removalDoors and drawer fronts come off, hinges and hardware are labeled and bagged.
- Cleaning and degreasingEvery surface is cleaned with a cabinet degreaser before any sanding.
- Bonding primerPrimer matched to the surface — wood, MDF or old paint — so the topcoat bonds.
- Sprayed doorsSpraying the doors off-site gives an even finish with no brush marks.
- Frames and end panelsFace frames, end panels and crown molding are painted in place with masking and floor protection.
- Filling old hardware holesWe patch old hardware holes so they vanish under the new finish.
- Island and bathroom vanitiesWe can paint bathroom vanities and the island along with the kitchen.
Materials and finishes
Grain filling for oakGrain filler before primer makes oak doors look smooth like painted maple or MDF.
Popular colorsOff-whites, soft greens and deep blues — we bring large samples so you can see them in your light.
Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore cabinet coatingsCabinet-grade enamels such as Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane or Benjamin Moore Advance, tinted to any color.
Painted with the wood grain showingIf you like texture, we paint oak without filling the grain so it shows through softly.
Catalyzed finishesThe hardest sprayed finish — chosen for high-traffic kitchens and rentals.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting before and after — Crystal Lake homes
Before
In progress
After
DetailCrystal Lake kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen cabinet painting
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Coventry. 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 bonding primer, sprayed doors, plus frames and end panels.
Before
AfterA Lake Zurich 1980s two-story: before and after
This one is a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above. What bothered the owners most: orange-looking wood that made the room feel old. Finished kitchen: the same doors sprayed in cream uppers and walnut-stained lowers, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. The job covered cleaning and degreasing, frames and end panels, plus filling old hardware holes.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a 1980s two-story, Elgin
A 1980s two-story near West Side, a typical kitchen for Elgin. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs. What bothered the owners most: orange-looking wood that made the room feel old. The result: the same doors sprayed in pale mint green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. Work included bonding primer, sprayed doors, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Elgin →
Before
AfterA Crystal Lake two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
Wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Crystal Lake →
Before
AfterCrystal Lake kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: cabinet refacing
What changed: new flat slab doors with a thin edge in white uppers and deep green lowers on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Crystal Lake →Day by day
- Estimate and colorA quick visit to check what your cabinets are made of, then color samples in your own light.
- Doors come offDoors and drawer fronts go to our spray area; the kitchen stays usable with open shelves.
- Prep and primeClean, sand, fill and prime — the steps that decide how long the paint lasts.
- Finish coatsTwo finish coats sprayed on doors; frames finished on site with dust control.
- ReinstallDoors go back on, hinges adjusted, hardware installed and touch-ups done.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting questions from Crystal Lake homeowners
Will there be brush marks?
No. Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed; frames get a fine finish on site.
Painted or stained cabinets — which is better?
Paint gives a clean, solid color and hides wood tone; stain keeps the wood look. Painted edges can chip with hard use, stained wood shows wear less.
How long will the kitchen be out of use?
Usually 4–7 working days, depending on the number of doors. The kitchen stays usable while the doors are in the spray shop.
How long does painted cabinet finish last?
Years, if the prep is right. Be gentle for the first couple of weeks while the finish fully hardens.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Laminate takes paint with a bonding primer. Peeling thermofoil needs replacement doors instead.
What kind of Crystal Lake homes do you work in?
In Crystal Lake we see Many older lakeshore homes varying in size and style and Downtown homes range in size and age. Each comes with its own walls, wiring and plumbing, and we plan the job around them.
Do I need a permit for cabinet painting in Crystal Lake?
It depends on the scope. Crystal Lake's rule in short: Kitchen alteration handout (Nov 2019) requires a contractor list and two sets of plans showing floor plans, electrical layout, structure and plumbing changes; inspections for rough electrical, plumbing, framing, insulation and final. We handle the permit when one is needed with City of Crystal Lake Community Development - Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Crystal Lake?
Yes. Our crews work across Crystal Lake, including Downtown, Coventry, Four Colonies, The Villages — ZIP 60014, 60012, 60098 — and nearby Lake Zurich, Elgin, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Crystal Lake
- A lot of Crystal Lake kitchens date from the 1990s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Crystal Lake 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.
DowntownCoventryFour ColoniesThe VillagesWedgewoodBurtons Bridge
ZIP 60014ZIP 60012ZIP 60098
Kitchen Cabinet Painting nearby
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Other kitchen services in Crystal Lake
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.