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 Lake Zurich & nearby Palatine, Buffalo Grove
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Lake Zurich, IL
Make your Lake Zurich kitchen look new without replacing the cabinets — for a fraction of the cost.
- Crews working in Lake Zurich ZIP 60047
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Cabinet problems a paint job fixes
Cabinet painting in Lake Zurich gives you a new-looking kitchen without tearing anything out. We remove the doors, spray them for a smooth factory-style finish, paint the frames in place and put everything back adjusted — most kitchens are back in use within a week.
Mismatched cabinets
An added island or new uppers that don't match the old cabinets — one paint color makes them look like one set.
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.
Holes from old hardware
Old knob holes are filled, sanded and primed before painting, and new pulls are drilled with a jig so every one lines up.
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
Doors that feel tacky around the stove need a deep degrease first. It is the step that decides whether the new finish lasts.
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.
Dark kitchen
Dark cabinets make a small kitchen feel smaller. A lighter painted finish brightens the whole room.
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 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 panelsCabinet boxes are masked off and finished in your kitchen to match the doors.
- Reinstall and adjustmentDoors rehung, hinges adjusted so gaps are even, and touch-ups done on site.
- Island and bathroom vanitiesThe island, a pantry or bathroom vanities painted in the same visit, in matching or contrasting colors.
Options to choose from
Grain filling for oakGrain filler before primer makes oak doors look smooth like painted maple or MDF.
Two-tone kitchensDifferent colors for island and perimeter add depth without new cabinets.
Waterborne urethane cabinet paintA tough cabinet coating that stays white and doesn't smell up the house.
Painted with the wood grain showingSome owners like oak painted white with the grain still visible; we skip the grain filler for that look.
Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore cabinet coatingsWe use cabinet enamels from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, matched to the color you pick.
What the work looks like in Lake Zurich homes
Before
After
DetailBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich
The site: a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above. The main complaint was dark wood that made the kitchen feel small. After: the same doors sprayed in cream uppers and walnut-stained lowers, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. On site this meant bonding primer, sprayed doors, plus frames and end panels.
Before
AfterA Palatine two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Palatine. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim. The reason for the call: laminate doors that looked tired. The result: the same doors sprayed in deep navy, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. The job covered door and drawer removal, frames and end panels, plus reinstall and adjustment.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Palatine →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Buffalo Grove
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near Didier Farms. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs. The reason for the call: dark wood that made the kitchen feel small. After: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new satin brass pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were. On site this meant bonding primer, sprayed doors, plus island and bathroom vanities.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Lake Zurich
What changed: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a deep espresso-brown stain, grain still showing.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Lake Zurich →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Lake Zurich
New five-piece shaker doors in sage green on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Lake Zurich →How the job goes
- Estimate and colorWe check the cabinet material, count doors and drawers and help you choose color and sheen.
- Doors come offDoors and drawer fronts go to our spray area; the kitchen stays usable with open shelves.
- 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.
- ReinstallDoors go back on, hinges adjusted, hardware installed and touch-ups done.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting questions from Lake Zurich homeowners
Is painting cheaper than replacing cabinets?
Almost always. Painting keeps your boxes, counters and plumbing in place, so it costs a fraction of new cabinets and takes days instead of weeks.
How long will the kitchen be out of use?
Most kitchens take about a week. You can use the counters and appliances the whole time — only the doors are away.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Laminate, yes, with a bonding primer. Thermofoil that is peeling needs new doors; we can paint them to match.
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.
How long does painted cabinet finish last?
Many years with proper prep and a cabinet-grade coating. For the first couple of weeks the finish is still curing, so go easy.
Do I need a Lake Zurich-registered contractor for cabinet painting?
All contractors and subcontractors must register with the Village before work: form, $120 annual fee (Illinois-licensed plumbers exempt), signed $10,000 surety bond. Village pages show differing fee amounts ($110/$120/$125). We take care of that before work starts.
Which Lake Zurich homes do you most often see for cabinet painting?
In Lake Zurich we see Housing development began in the 1950s. 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 Lake Zurich?
It depends on the scope. Lake Zurich's rule in short: Permit required for remodeling (kitchen, bath, basement). We handle the permit when one is needed with Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department).
Do you work in my part of Lake Zurich?
Yes. Our crews work across Lake Zurich — ZIP 60047 — and nearby Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights.
Working in Lake Zurich
- A lot of Lake Zurich kitchens date from the 1980s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Lake Zurich homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Building and Zoning Division (Community Services Department) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60047
Kitchen Cabinet Painting nearby
More for Lake Zurich homeowners
- All kitchen services in Lake ZurichRemodels, cabinets, counters, plumbing, appliances and repairs
- Kitchen Cabinet Painting across ChicagolandEvery town we cover for this service
-
CabinetsCabinet Refacing vs Painting vs Replacement: How to ChooseIn cabinet refacing vs painting vs replacement, start with the boxes. Sound boxes and only a color complaint: paint. Sound boxes but a dated or…4 min read
-
Costs and budgetingCabinet Painting Cost: What It Costs to Have Kitchen Cabinets PaintedCabinet painting cost for an average kitchen usually runs about $2,000 to $6,500, or about $30 to $70 per linear foot and $70 to $125 per door…3 min read
-
CabinetsPainting Kitchen Cabinets: Options, Preparation and When to Hire a ProThe best way to paint kitchen cabinets is mostly preparation: remove the doors, degrease every surface, scuff-sand, apply a bonding primer, then two…3 min read
-
CabinetsCabinet Paint Cracking, Chipping and Peeling: Causes and FixesCabinet paint cracking at door joints is usually wood moving with seasonal humidity, not a failed finish. Cabinet paint chipping and peeling almost…3 min read
Other kitchen services in Lake Zurich
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.